Vandy wins slot in state tourney

When Mindi Robichaux hit a long foul ball to left field, she showed her power.

A few pitches later, Robichaux again displayed her power, only this time she added control to her hit, connecting on a two-run homer over the right-centerfield wall.

The third-inning homer gave Vandebilt Catholic a 5-1 lead over Morgan City, and set the tone for Vandy’s 10-1 win. The victory clinched Vandebilt a ninth-straight trip to Sulphur’s Frasch Park for the State Softball Tournament.

The Lady Terriers continue their title defense when they face Zachary at 2 p.m., Friday afternoon.

“Everybody was kind of not looking for us to do too much this year,” said coach Margaret Johnson, “thinking that we lost a lot of people. We lost five good seniors, but these kids have been working really hard since the fall. They’ve got the hearts of tigers, and we’re just going to take it as far as we can.”

Although the Lady Terriers won the game 10-1, the game could have been closer. Morgan City left nine runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the first and fifth innings.

Morgan City coach Kelly Jo Aucoin said her team’s inability to score those runners cost them the game.

“It’s a nine-player game on offense,” she said. “Just a couple of runs, or a couple of hits will not win the ballgame. Everybody’s got to come together. All nine players have to be hitting against a ball club like (Vandebilt).”

What was a negative for Morgan City, was a positive for Vandebilt. “When we held them (after loading the bases), it showed a lot of composure from our young team,” said Johnson. “To come back and hold them scoreless on that, I feel really good about.”

Vandebilt took a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Lauren Crane scored Lauren Martinez on a fielder’s choice to second base, and Kacey Clark followed with a homerun to leftfield.

Neither team scored in the second inning, but in the third inning Morgan City’s Jessicah Johnson connected on a solo-shot to rightfield, making it 2-1.

That would be all the offense Morgan City could muster on the day.

The Lady Terriers quickly answered in the bottom of the third, scoring on a double by Maddi Constant, followed by Robichaux’s two-run homer, to make it 5-1.

Johnson said she was pleased with her team’s offense throughout the game. “I felt like we swung the bats really well,” she said. “I feel like we were a lot more patient (today). We came in knowing the pitcher, and were just a lot more patient.”

The Lady Terriers added three runs in the fifth inning. Martinez hit a two-run double to leftfield for a 7-1 lead.

One batter later, Alaina Guidry scored Elizabeth Prosperie for an 8-1 lead.

Candace Fairchild’s two-run single in the sixth inning made the final score 10-1.

Crane earned the win for Vandebilt. In six innings of action, Crane gave up three hits, one run and struck out five.

Lacie Hotard took the complete-game loss for Morgan City. Hotard gave up 10 hits and struck out seven.

Staff Photo by Matt LeBlanc * Tri-Parish Times * Vandebilt’s Kacey Clark takes a swing at a pitch against Morgan City, last Friday. Clark connected on a homerun that put the Lady Terriers ahead 2-0. They eventually won 10-1, clinching trip to Sulphur for the State Tournament.