By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

EDGARD – West St. John needed a victory Monday to stay on course to earn a playoff berth, and the Ram bats were up and ready for the task.

The Lady Rams lit up the scoreboard, scoring 18 runs en route to an 18-7 non-district victory against visiting McDonogh No. 35.

“It’s a big win. We’re right on that cutoff line for the playoffs,” said West St. John softball coach Brandon Dumas. “McDonogh 35 is a solid team that’s won more games than in years past, so we’ll get some help in terms of power points there.

“Finishing in that top 32 and returning to the playoffs is our main goal, and our players all knew how important this game was to getting there.”

The game ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.

Sydnei Young went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two stolen bases for West St. John (7-7). Tajh Melancon went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Young picked up the win on the mound, allowing just two hits and striking out four.

West St. John scored 15 runs in the first three innings of play.

 The Rams bounced back from a trio of district losses last week to Ascension Catholic and Ascension Christian.

Dumas said after the team’s last game, a 17-7 loss to Ascension Christian, that his team needed to tighten up defensively.

“We still need to cut down on the errors,” said Dumas. “We’ll get there.”

But Melancon gave the defense a shot in the arm from the catcher position, throwing out four baserunners.

Melancon, normally the team’s starting third baseman, was playing catcher in place of Harley Morris, who was out for Monday’s game.

“Tajh made some major plays for us today,” said Dumas. “She’s played there in spots before. We’re very comfortable with her behind the plate.”

The Rams were also aggressive on the basepaths against the Roneagles.

“We wanted to put their defense in a position where they had to make choices,” said Dumas. “That aggressiveness definitely helped us out.”

West St. John’s best ever single season mark (12-6) is out of the reach of this year’s team, but Dumas said that a strong finish by his squad can net the program its second-best mark of all-time.

“We definitely have all the incentive we need to push for a strong finish,” he said.

McDonogh No. 35 dropped to 8-9 with the loss.

Thursday, the Rams will return to action to face East Iberville at 4:30 p.m.