By DAVE WOODALL
Slidell sports writer
SLIDELL – It was a start to the playoffs that the #14 seed Northshore Lady Panthers will try and build from as the Panthers used the strong left arm of Jordan Vivien, an error-free defense and stout hitting to rout the #19 seed West Monroe Lady Rebels 10-0 in a five-inning, mercy rule game at the Northshore diamond Tuesday afternoon.
The Lady Panthers used an 11-hit barrage that the Rebels couldn’t match.
In the first inning, Northshore’s Alyssa West reached on a Rebel error and with one out moved to second on a wild pitch. Panther catcher Mallory Subervielle walked and Camryn Cottingham reached on a fielder’s choice.
An Alora McInnis single plated Subervielle for a 1-0 lead after one.
Northshore scored two more in the third on singles by West, Cottingham, McInnis and Sydney Tycer with J.K. Burriss and Tycer picking up RBI’s pushing the Northshore lead to 3-0.
The fourth inning saw the Lady Panthers add three insurance runs when West reached on a fielder’s choice an another Subervielle.
Cottingham followed with an RBI single that scored West and McInnis continued her torrid hitting with a two-RBI single that swelled the Northshore lead to 6-0 at the end of four innings.
But the Lady Panther hitters weren’t quite finished.
S.J. Mull opened the fifth with a single and moved up on a wild pitch and later scored on a wild pitch.
With one out, West singled and Subervielle picked up her third walk of the game.
Cottingham kept up the pace with a two-RBI hit that plated West and Subervielle.
Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Tycer ended it with two-RBI hit for the 10-run, mercy-rule win.
“Our kids came in today focused and took care of business,” said Northshore coach Melanie Eades.
“And Jordan (Vivien) threw the ball well and kept them off balance which was the key to the game.”
“Our bats came alive and that really helped for us to get an early lead,” said Panther winning pitcher Jordan Vivien.
Leading the hit parade were Cottingham with three hits and three RBI’s.
McInnis also had a big day at the plate with three hits and three RBI’s.
West had two hits; Burris had a hit and an RBI; Tycer had two hits and three RBI’s and Mull picked up a hit.
West only allowed three hits and no runs in her complete game win and issued only two walks while striking out two.
West Monroe’s Jenna McKee had two hits while Kaymay Bennett picked up the third hit for the Rebels.
Northshore will play the winner of the #3 seed St. Amant/#30 seed John Ehret.