By JIM INCAPRERA
Slidell sports writer
SLIDELL — The Pope John Paul Lady Jaguars scored 17 runs in the first inning and went on to defeat Mt. Herman 21-0 in three innings.
The win brings PJP’s overall record to 14-7 and 6-1 in district. Defensively,
Ashley Saucier was almost perfect in the game as she pitched a one-hitter. In the three innings, seven Lady Jags got hits, including sophomore Rachel Edwards going 3-for-3, and freshman Chloe Cooper knocking out a double. The game was called after three as the Lady Jags exceeded the 15-run rule.
With the regular season winding down, PJP Head Coach Mark Jeanmard was so happy.
“The next two weeks are really two individual weeks as we are approaching them. As coaches, we have told the team that the remainder of this season is what will seed us in the playoffs. I told them the remainder of the teams on the schedule are all about getting experience against playoff caliber teams to prepare for the playoffs,” Jeanmard said.
This year’s PJP team has only two seniors (pitcher Ashley Saucier and catcher Sydney Loupe) and two juniors (Rebecca Mitton and Caitlyn Battistella.) Because of the youth of the team, Jeanmard knows how important these final games are to prepare for the playoffs.
“The experience of playing high level teams is needed experience for our young team,” Jeanmard said.
Currently, PJP starts two seniors, one junior, one freshman and the rest are sophomores.
Regarding the district championship, if PJP defeats Pine, and Hannan wins their final district game, then the two schools will be co-champs. However, if only one wins, then that school will be the sole district champ.
“We can improve our playoff seeding with the three games left – St. Joseph’s of Baton Rouge, Central of Baton Rouge and St. Charles are all traditional state powers and provide different challenges which will only help us improve as a softball team, as well as a softball program.”
Jeanmard and his team will find out today, April 17 where they are seeded in the Class 2A state softball playoffs.