By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

ST. JAMES – West St. John avenged a season-opening loss to rival St. James on Tuesday, beating the Wildcats 19-16 thanks to a four-run surge in the ninth inning.

“I thought we were more aggressive in our baserunning and that was the biggest difference this time around,” said West St. John coach Brandon Dumas. “After the first slip up, everyone wanted to come out and get this win.”

Ormoni Favorite went 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Chasity Everson went 3-for-3 with two RBIs as well, and Pre’Shaun Trench was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Sydnei Young picked up the win on the mound for WSJ, coming on in relief of Donasia Bell.

West St. John (2-2) held St. James scoreless in the bottom of the sixth – the game’s final inning as the game was then called because of darkness.

St. James led 6-1 after the first inning but West St. John cut the lead to 8-6 after two. The Rams drew within one, 16-15, after four innings.

“It was an entertaining game, back and forth like the first one,” said Dumas. “We still have that nucleus from last year together, and these girls know what it takes to pull out a win in the late innings.

“We’ve got a great group of young girls as well. We have 16 on the roster, so we’re pretty deep.”

West St. John also played Thursday in its first district game but drew a tough assignment in defending District 8-1A champion St. John-Plaquemine, which took a 17-1 win.

St. John led 10-1 after an eight-run second inning and never looked back.

Favorite went 1-for-2 with a steal. Elexi Bailey scored the Rams’ lone run.

“St. John has a great pitcher, and she’s gonna throw strikes. She won’t walk you,” said Dumas. “We really didn’t make good contact on her.”

Dumas said that his team is still a work in progress.

“We’re getting a feel of where players need to be position wise. Some are playing multiple positions,” said Dumas.

“Right now we’ve got three eighth graders starting for us. That we’re deeper is making things very competitive.”