By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

East St. John coach Monica Hebert knew the start to district play wouldn’t be easy, and undefeated St. Amant didn’t disappoint.

The Gators left Reserve with a 10-0 District 6-5A victory in five innings by the 10-run rule on Tuesday night, aided in no small part by five unearned runs allowed by the Ladycats’ defense.

“We made a lot of errors,” said ESJ coach Monica Hebert. “If we eliminate those, it’s a different game.”

It dropped Laura Scioneaux to 5-4 on the season. She pitched the complete game, allowing five earned runs and six hits.

“I think she was able to throw them off a bit,” Hebert said.

St. Amant (16-0, 1-0) scored two runs in each of the first and third innings, then finished with six runs over the final two.

Jasmine Brown came up with the lone hit for the Wildcats (5-11, 0-1).

But the Wildcats’ loss wasn’t for lack of momentum. ESJ came off of a strong performance in this past weekend’s Grace KingBonnabel tournament, where it came away with three wins in four games.

The first victory came Saturday, when ESJ rallied from a 4-1 fourth inning deficit to defeat De La Salle 9-4.

ESJ scored seven fourth inning runs to take control.

Jasmine Brown led the Wildcat hitters by going 2-of-3 at the plate with two RBIs. Symone McKinney and Troyonne Kendrick were each 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Scioneaux (3-2) picked up the win, pitching a complete game one-hitter. She allowed no earned runs – the Cavaliers scored four unearned in the first inning.

The second game was even more lopsided in ESJ’s favor, a 14-2 defeat of East Jefferson.

Kendrick led her team with a big day at the plate. She went 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs. Ashley Murray also homered. She, Samantha Owen, Brown and Scioneaux all went 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs. Alexis Banks was 3-for-3 with two RBIs.

Scioneaux (4-2) picked up her second win of the tourney, going the complete game and striking out five. She allowed three hits.

ESJ led 11-2 after a seven-run third inning performance.

On Sunday, the Wildcats trounced Ben Franklin 14-1.

Brown was 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs. Murray and Laci Roy each went 2-for-5 with 2 RBIs.

Scioneaux (5-2) turned in another strong performance, allowing three hits over five innings.

“She pitched great over the weekend,” said Hebert. “Her changeup was working.”

But the run came to an end later that day, as the ESJ bats went cold in a 1-0 loss to Academy of our Lady.

A first inning RBI single by AOL ended up deciding the game.

Scioneaux (5-3) struck out four in the loss.