By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

ST. JAMES — St. James overcame West St. John with a late four-run surge in the bottom of the seventh inning to walk away with a 7-6 win in the season softball opener for both teams.

St. James scored the final run on a bases-loaded walk.

Tajhanek Howard went 3-for-3 with four stolen bases and an RBI to lead West St. john. Treshaun Trench was 2-for-3 with two RBIs. Shalacy Sterling was 2-for-3 with an RBI.

“There definitely wasn’t a dull moment in that game,” said West St. John coach Brandon Dumas.

It was the latest in a line of games between the rivals that came down to the final out.

Both teams were depleted due to the success of the respective basketball teams, each of which have advanced to the state semifinals. WSJ was missing almost half of its starting lineup.

“It’s not a crutch,” said Dumas. “We started slow and picked it up as we went on … I’m definitely happy to see the success of the girls on the basketball team. In the meantime, we go to battle with what we have.

“It’s encouraging, though, to see the bats do pretty well even with so many out. But I know we’ll be that much better at full strength.”

The Rams led 6-3 before the final frame.

“We just didn’t finish,” said Dumas. “It’s something we can use as a learning point.”