Lady Jays roll in season opener

By Tom Dodge
tom.dodge@eunicetoday.com

One win does not a guarantee a successful season.
But for St. Edmund second-year head softball coach Ashley Ray, Friday’s 9-3 win over Jennings was a great way to start the year.
The Lady Jays jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and used pitching and defense to seal the win in the Lady Cat Invitational at Eunice High.
“I am very happy with the way we started,” Ray said. “I told them to go u there swinging because nothing would happen if we didn’t swing the bats.”
Heidi Bieber and Jada singled and both stole second, while Heather Bieber reached on a Lady Bulldog error.
All three Lady Jays would then score to push St. Edmund ahead, 3-0.
Baylee LaFleur walked and Sydney Thibodeaux then recorded a sacrifice RBI.
Jennings closed the gap to 3-2 with two runs in the top of the second, but the Lady Jays would get a run back in the bottom of the frame when Heidi Bieber doubled and scored on a hit by Jada Fontenot.
St. Edmund pushed ahead, 5-2 in the bottom of the third when Maddie Andrus doubled and scored off a hit by Kasey LaFleur.
The Lady Jays added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to forge ahead, 8-2.
Constance Fontenot and Heidi Bieber hit back-to-back singles and later scored on a hit by Thibodeaux.
Jennings closed the gap to 8-3 in the top of the sixth, but the Lady Bulldogs couldn’t get any closer.
St. Edmund added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth when Constance Fontenot singled and scored after back-to-back doubles by Heather Bieber and Baylee LaFleur.
St. Edmund finished with 16 hits as Jada Fontenot went 3-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Lady Jays.
Heidi Bieber went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Constance Fontenot went 2-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.
Heather Bieber went 2-for-4 and a run scored, while Baylee LaFleur went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Thibodeaux also went 2-for-4, while Kasey LaFleur went 2-for-3 and Maddie Andrus went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Kasey LaFleur had a strong opener as she limited Jennings to five hits with six strike-outs and two walks over seven innings.
Jennings went 2-for-16 through the first five batters in the line-up.
St. Edmund will travel to Mamou on Wednesday before participating in the Erath tournament on Saturday.