By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

SLIDELL – After a pair of tough district losses, St. Charles has found its groove again.

The Comets won their sixth straight game Saturday by defeating Slidell, 9-8, in a non-district game.

St. Charles improved to 13-3 with the win. The team stands at 2-2 in District 9-2A and was scheduled to return to district action Tuesday at McGehee, then face a rematch with John Curtis Thursday – the Patriots upended the Comets on March 15.

“We had a little heart to heart talk,” said St. Charles coach Ty Monica. “Our practices have been a lot better and it’s showing up in games. We’re getting people on base and coming up with clutch hits. We’re swing the bats well.”

Megan Louque and Raven Becnel each hit home runs for SCC. Louque went 4 for 4 and added a double while Becnel finished 2 for 4. Katie Terrio also went 2 for 4.

Slidell (10-9) led 2-1 after an inning, but the Comets scored five runs in the second inning to take control of the game. That included an RBI triple by Heather Orillion and Becnel’s home run.

The Tigers pushed back to make it 6-4 in the third inning on an RBI triple to the wall by Mel Carter and another RBI by Tori Gough.

But the Comets created separation again via Louque, who helped her own cause with a two-run home run to left, making it 8-4.

“We had two outs real quick to begin that inning,” said Monica. “But we kept going and managed to put a couple of runs across. It’s kind of an example of a never say die attitude, and it’s really good to see as a coach.”

The Comets added another run in the sixth on a Becnel RBI.

St. Charles led 9-5 entering the bottom of the seventh but had to hold off a late Slidell flurry. Ellie Gonsoulin’s double plated one run to make it 9-6, then Slidell loaded the bases when Brittany Warren singled. Jackie Conners knocked in another run, and Gonsoulin scored on a passed ball.

But with the bases loaded again after a walk, the Comets got out of the jam when Ali Jung fouled out.

Carter finished 3 for 4, a home run away from the cycle. Gonsoulin also went 3 for 4.

Louque picked up the win on the mound. She struck out four and allowed 12 hits and six earned runs.

SCC garnered 11 hits on the day.

The Comets were coming off of an 8-1 win over Hannan (13-9) on Thursday.

Eight different Comets garnered at least one hit as St. Charles piled up 14 on the day. Emily Triche went 4 for 4. Karli Terrio went 3 for 4. Louque went 2 for 3 and Kati Duhe went 2 for 4.

“Our hitting is the best it’s been all season, without a doubt,” said Monica. “Since we played East St. John at the Lutcher tournament last week and had eight hits, every time out we’ve got it done. We’re doing a decent job at the plate and I hope it continues.”

Louque allowed one run on five hits and a walk. She struck out five in a complete game effort.

St. Charles scored three runs in each of the first and sixth innings before tacking on two in the seventh.

Sydney Finch and Maddi Shelton each went 1 for 3 for Hannan, Shelton knocking in Finch in the second inning for the Hawks’ lone run.

Monica said before district play that he hoped his team could hang around until the second round of 9-2A play, when ideally his young team would be rounding into peak form.

The Comets will have to be in top form, indeed – in terms of power points, 9-2A is the toughest district in the state with 12th-ranked SCC, second-ranked Curtis and top-ranked Riverside among the competitors.

“We’ve got the best in 2A in our district. Worst case, we’ll be better prepared for a run in the playoffs,” said Monica. “We’ll see the best and play in big games.

It can be good and bad in some ways. We need to be ready.”