Lady Rebels ascend to No. 1 in 2A power rankings
Published 12:03 am Wednesday, April 8, 2015
- Riverside’s Madison Watson fires to first base. Watson and the Rebels have rattled off nine straight victories. (Ryan Arena/L’OBSERVATEUR)
RESERVE — The Riverside Lady Rebels are on fire — and the Class 2A power rankings reflect exactly that.
Riverside has ascended to No. 1 in those rankings as it rides what climbed to a nine-game winning streak at the Rebels’ annual softball tournament over the weekend, going 3-0 and capping things off with a win over Hahnville, 9-7.
The win over Hahnville — in the midst of another strong season after appearing in three straight 5A title games from 2011-2013 — was the latest in a handful of Riverside wins over top contending teams. RA also boasts wins over Academy of our Lady, Doyle, Belle Chasse and Catholic Pointe-Coupee, each of those teams with records of at least nine wins over .500.
Riverside (14-5) also bested Dominican, 13-7, and H.L. Bourgeois, 5-4, at the tournament.
Against Hahnville, the Rebels entire lineup produced. Janie Milioto, Madison Watson, Hailey Tassin, Erica Delaneuville and Briley Becker each collected two hits. Toni Perrin hit a home run. Delaneuville drove in two runs, while Caitlin Roussel, Abby Bourgeois, Milioto, Tassin and Becker each drove in a run.
Hailey Tassin earned the win on the mound, going four innings. She and Cheyenne Triche combined to strike out three and allowed 11 hits.
Tassin, who started the game and later reentered to close it out, has been emerging, said Riverside coach Tamra Regalo.
“She’s able to spin the ball really well,” Regalo said. “She won’t blow you away with speed, but if we’re playing well defensively behind her, she makes it tough to get good contact. I thought she kept them off balance.”
The game snapped a four-game winning streak for Hahnville.
Regalo said the Rebels batting performance against a quality pitcher was a good omen. Riverside is in the midst of its best offensive stretch of the season, with eight runs or more in eight of its past nine games.
“I think we’re definitely playing our best at this point,” Regalo said. “We’ve had to fight back in a few games of late as well, and I think that’s good experience. When we get behind, we know we can rally.”
