By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – In a battle of the last two Class 3A champions, Lutcher snapped St. Charles’ 11-game winning streak as the Bulldogs rallied in the late innings to defeat the Comets, 3-2.

Pitcher Sara Schexnayder, who anchored the Bulldogs’ run to the 2009 state championship, collected the game-winning RBI on a fifth-inning single and notched the complete game win on the mound.

SCC’s Megan Louque took the loss after coming on in relief of starter Courtney Western, who left the game due to an injury in the fourth inning.

Louque allowed three hits and struck out three. Both runs charged to her were unearned.

“I feel like we stole one,” said Lutcher coach Blake Orgeron. “Obviously Courtney brings a lot to the table, and you know you’ve gotta get in and battle. But (Louque) is more than capable, too. I just wanted to make sure we didn’t lose focus.”

Western and Louque combined to lift St. Charles to an early 2-0 lead. Western led off the game with a solo home run, while Louque followed up with an RBI single to make it 2-0.

Lutcher trailed 2-1 in the fifth inning when it made its move. With two on and one out, SCC catcher Kadie Levatino threw LHS’ Emily Bland out as she attempted to steal third to record the inning’s second out. But Suzanne Louque reached on a Comet fielding error, allowing Kristin LaBauve to score and tie the game.

“We started to put it in play and got more aggressive,” said Orgeron. “That’s when you make things happen.”

The next batter was Schexnayder, who dropped a single into left field to bring the go-ahead run home.

From there, Schexnayder locked in on the mound, recording three perfect innings to nail down the win.

“We competed,” said SCC coach Ty Monica. “We squandered some opportunities. But credit Lutcher and credit Sara. They didn’t win state last year for nothing.”

SCC WINS THREE AT RA TOURNEY

St. Charles made an impact at this past weekend’s Riverside tournament, going a perfect three-for-three in wins over Hahnville, South Beauregard and Vandebilt Catholic.

The Comets toppled South Beauregard, 6-0. Western moved to 15-1 on the mound, allowing three hits over five innings. She walked two and struck out four.

At the plate, she was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Katie Duhe also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Jaymie Remondet was 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles. Kadie Levatino had one RBI.

Against Hahnville, the Comets won 3-0 behind Western’s 10-strikeout, four-hit shutout.

Levatino collected two RBIs in that game to lead the offense.

SCC also topped Vandebilt Catholic 2-0.

Meg Gustafson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Louque went 2-for-3.

Western pitched another complete game shutout, struck out 10 and walked one, allowing four hits.