Kaplan Lady Pirates stun Notre Dame with a victory

KAPLAN - The Kaplan Lady Pirates held the Notre Dame Lady Pios to two runs en route to an impressive 5-2 district victory on Tuesday.

The win improved Kaplan to 4-1 in district and 14-5 overall. The victory sets up a district showdown Thursday against North Vermilion for the start of the second round in district. North Vermilion is also 4-1 in district.

The Lady Pios jumped on Kaplan pitcher Abby Trahan early, scoring two first-inning runs. It proved, however, to be the only runs she would give up all game.

Kaplan, in the first inning, got back in the game on Kristie Thibodeaux's solo home run. Thibodeaux, the second batter in the lineup, hit what looked to be a pop up to left field. The ball, however, behind a strong north wind, carried over the left field fence for a home run. It was her first this season and her fourth career home run. In the game, she went 2-for-2 with a home run and a single, plus, she scored two runs for Kaplan.
"I thought it (home run) was pop fly," said Thibodeaux. "I realized it would be a home run when I crossed first base. I watched it go over the fence."
The Lady Pirates took the lead for good in the bottom of the third frame. Megan Hebert singled, and then two batters later, Olivia Gabor singled that put runners on first and second. Thibodeaux walked to load the bases. Caroline Touchet hit up the middle and the second baseman bobbled it at second base for an error. Hebert and Gabor would score on the play to make it a 3-2 game.
It stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth inning when Kaplan scored two insurance runs. Thibodeaux singled and Lindsey Schexnaider doubled to put two runners on base. Touchet singled home two big runs to make it a 5-2 game.
After giving up two runs in the first, Kaplan pitcher Abby Trahan was able to keep Notre Dame off balance for six innings.
Kaplan head coach Shay Herpin was happy to see his club come back after getting down two runs in the first inning.
"We have been struggling in the first inning," said Herpin. "We need to fix that. We need to come and be ready to play. We are giving too many runs up in the first inning. I like it when we come back and score runs. We did not get down. We still played."