By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

RESERVE – When the seedings for the state softball playoffs were announced Friday, Riverside coach Kristy Hebert knew her team sat at eighth in the Class 2A power rankings and thought her team’s seeding might even climb a little bit higher.

Instead, the Rebels were ranked 10th, despite a strong record against a difficult schedule.

“I just told my girls that sure, we think we should be higher,” said Hebert. “But all that means is now you go out and show it.”

To say the least, the Rebels showed off plenty in Monday’s dominating bi-district playoff win over St. Thomas Aquinas, a 15-0 victory in four innings, ended by the 15-run rule.

“If there were ever a time to come together, this is it,” Hebert said. “If you want to send a message that this team isn’t about to lay down, this is the way to do it. It was an excellent all-around performance.”

Riverside will face the winner of No. 7 Sacred Heart and No. 26 Runnels.

Destin Vicknair threw a no-hitter and struck out four, walking no batters. Only two Falcons reached base, both via error.

“She pitched very well,” said Hebert. “Her location was really good, and she trusted her defense behind her.”

Shea LaFountain collected four RBIs, and Taylor Terrio knocked in three for Riverside.

“We’ve been facing a lot of live pitching over the last couple of days,” said LaFountain. “It really helped. We’re very excited to move on.”

Both teams went three up and three down in the first inning, but Riverside (20-10-1) got going in the second inning after Vicknair led off with a walk. Kelsi Roussel reached on an error before Kori Bourgeois drilled a double to the leftfield wall to bring home both runners. Kaitlyn Millet followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

After Kristy Milioto walked and Erica Delaneuville bunted her over, Terrio slapped a base hit for an RBI to push the lead to 4-0. LaFountain collected her first RBI on a sacrifice fly for the inning’s last run.

The third inning started in similar fashion to the second, as Vicknair again got on base to lead off, this time via double. Millet would notch her second RBI on a base hit to make it 6-0.

Riverside slammed the door shut on the Falcons (12-14) in the fourth behind perhaps their strongest single-inning effort of the year in a nine-run frame.

Terrio singled with one out to start things off, and LaFountain doubled her home to make it 7-0.

Katie Bailey reached on an error to bring home another run. Vicknair doubled home the ninth run of the game, and Riverside’s 10th would score via error.

“I guess everyone was pumped up today for the playoffs,” said Vicknair. “The ball looked like a big meatball.”

Bourgeois singled, and another STA error would make it 11-0. Milioto walked, and with two outs Terrio socked a two RBI double to right. LaFountain followed with a two RBI single to end the game.

“Everyone had a hand in this one,” said Hebert. “Great team effort.”