By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

For the first time since 1996, the St. Charles Lady Comets can call themselves district softball champions.

It became official on Tuesday, as the Comets went on the road and defeated then-second place Brusly, 3-1.

Courtney Western (12-4) notched the win after allowing five hits and no earned runs in her complete game performance. She struck out six and walked two.

At the plate, Lauren Coniglio had a home run, and Katie Reine was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

“I told the girls that no matter what happens, they are the 2008 9-3A district champions. They’ll be that for the rest of their lives, and nobody can take it away.” said St. Charles Coach Ty Monica. “It had been a long time.

“But there are still more goals that we want to accomplish this season. We can’t stop working hard.”

St. Charles scored a run in the first inning, but Brusly tied the game in the second. St. Charles would take the lead for good in the second, and Coniglio would give her team all the breathing room it needed in the fifth inning, as her home run put the Comets ahead by two runs.

“The game wasn’t over yet at that point,” said Monica. “But it let us exhale a little bit.”

St. Charles hardly coasted in this one. In each of the first three innings, Brusly had at least one runner in scoring position.

But as is becoming a Comets staple, St. Charles escaped each threat relatively unscathed.

Monica says that habit comes back to preparation. And for that, he gives all the credit to his players.

“On the field, they get the key out, or turn the double play,” said Monica. “I can’t take any of the credit for that. It’s the girls and their heart, determination, and great work ethic. They put themselves in the position to succeed in those situations.”

All that’s left for the Comets this district season is to attempt to finish with an undefeated record in 9-3A. On Thursday, they came one step closer to that, defeating Port Allen 15-0.

Ashley Trosclair (11-2) earned the win, going two innings and allowing only one hit.

The Comets took control of the game from the start, scored seven runs in the first inning.

The win meant that the final obstacle for the Comets undefeated district season will come Tuesday, as Plaquemine will host SCC.

The two teams met on Mar. 20, with St. Charles winning 15-0.