By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

After launching two rockets off her bat on Thursday, Riverside senior shortstop Marci Millet said that she and her teammates wanted to give potential future opponents in the Class 2A playoffs a little something to think about.

Certainly, if those teams are wise, they certainly have one eye on the Lady Rebels these days.

Millet had a home run, a triple, and five RBIs in the first inning to lead No. 5 seeded Riverside to a 15-0 win in three innings over No. 28 Springhill by the 15-run rule in a bi-district playoff game.

With the win, the Rebels advance to the regional round to face the winner of No. 13 Menard and No. 21 John Curtis – which is a rematch of last season’s Class 2A title game.

Millet hit a home run in her first at bat, then tripled off the outfield wall in her next to help give Riverside a commanding 9-0 lead after an inning.

“We said before the game that we wanted to give the other teams in 2A something to worry about,” Millet said. “It was big for us to come out and put 15 on the board quickly. It’s what we wanted to do.”

Springhill (9-9) was the third place team from District 1-2A, but simply couldn’t match up with the 10-2A champion Rebels (22-13), who swung the bats as well as they had in weeks.

“We’ve had some really good practices leading into the game,” said Riverside Coach Kristy Hebert. “We were focused on hitting, and it showed today.”

After the win, Riverside is 14-0 against Class 2A competition this year.

Chelsey Stein notched the win after pitching two scoreless innings.

Heidi Garcich relieved Stein in the third inning, seeing her first mound action since injuring her ankle in late March. She retired the side in order.

“She looks to be back in form,” said Hebert. “It’s very good to know that we have two good pitchers that can get the job done.”

After Millet’s home-run drove in Garcich and Brittany Schoen to make it 3-0, the Rebels didn’t slow down. A Jessica Price sacrifice fly scored Ayla Vicknair to make it 4-0. Bridget Petit’s RBI single moved it to 5-0, then a two-run single by Schoen gave the Rebels a 7-0 lead. Millet’s triple made it 9-0 after an inning.

Two-run doubles by Garcich and Kelsi Roussel combined with a two-run triple by Petit rounded out the scoring.

“We wanted to take care of business,” said Riverside Coach Mickey Roussel. “We’re a five seed, they’re a 28, and they had to travel five or six hours. You’ve got to be tough on them.”