CCHS rallies to defeat Ascension Christian, 8-3

Central Catholic’s young softball team grew up in a hurry during Monday’s Class 1A bi-district playoff game at the Bayou Vista Community Center as the Lady Eagles stormed back from a 3-0 deficit to overpower Ascension Christian, 8-3.
Ascension Christian (7-12), grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning, converting a leadoff double into the game’s first run.
Ascension Christian loaded the bases, but Central Catholic pitcher Sara Thomas battled her way out of the inning.
In the top of the third, Ascension Christian’s leadoff batter reached on a throwing error. The next Lady Lion’s batter followed with a two-run home run and a 3-0 lead.
Thomas battled back again for Central Catholic, getting the next two batters on ground balls to get out of the inning.
“When you get to the playoffs, you can’t underestimate anyone, and that scrappy club jumped on us,” Central Catholic coach Joe Russo said. “But we know we’re going to be in a battle in every game. But I have to give credit to these kids. After losing so many kids last year after a state championship and as young as we are, to win 16 games and a playoff game is fantastic. It shows the pride and dedication of these girls. I’m very proud of them.”
The Lady Eagles (16-12) got back in the game in the bottom of the third inning on Brooke Lipari’s two-run double. Ascension Christian led Central Catholic, 3-2, after three complete.
Central Catholic tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on Tori Estay’s RBI single, scoring Cameron McDaniel.
The Lady Eagles broke the game open with a three-run fifth inning for a 6-3 lead. The Lady Eagles also added two-runs in the sixth inning to push the lead to 8-3.
Emma Aucoin led Central Catholic with a 3-for-4 performance with a stolen base. Other top offensive contributors included Lipari, 2-for-3, a double, two RBIs, two stolen bases and two runs; Kaleigh Navarro, 2-for-3, a double, two RBIs and a run; Estay, 1-for-2, two RBIs; McDaniel, 1-for-3, a double, a stolen base and a run; and Kelly Russo, 1-for-3, an RBI.
“We had a lot kids that were nervous kids today,” Russo said. “You could feel the nervous tension, but we were able to use it to our advantage. We went to small ball, and we had some well-timed hits tonight.”
Thomas got the win on the mound for the Lady Eagles.
In a complete-game effort, she surrendered two earned runs on six hits with one strikeout.
“This kid had never pitched a high school game (before this year), and she came in here and she’s got 16 wins,” Russo said. “She’s just a sophomore; I’m very, very proud of Sara Thomas. She was hitting her spots and mixing her pitches up for us tonight. She does whatever she has to do for us. She’s only going to get better, and she’s going to be big for us in the future.”
Central Catholic will return to action Friday when it travels to face LaSalle High School. LaSalle, the No. 5 seed, run-ruled No. 28 Westminster, 13-1 in five innings Monday. First pitch in Friday’s regional round matchup is set for 5 p.m.