Things looked dark for New Iberia Senior High in its District 4-5A softball opener Thursday under lowering skies at the NISH softball diamond.

Pineville pitcher Kelee Grimes was marching steadily toward a perfect game against the Lady Jackets, not having allowed a baserunner through 5 1/3 innings while striking out 12.

Then, one little crack gave NISH all the momentum it needed to steal a 1-0 win over the Lady Rebels behind a strong pitching performance from Erin Stutes and solid defense that committed two errors but was otherwise spectacular.

(Use arrows above to view more photos) Advertisement

Grimes (7-2) hit New Iberia first baseman Lauren Trahan on the left elbow of the pitch with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to finally give the Lady Jackets a baserunner. She then struck out the next batter, but leadoff hitter Brittany Stein and No. 2 hitter Chaney Trahan overcame their earlier struggles with clutch opposite-field base hits that brought home the game’s only run.

“I was very, very frustrated” with the hitting, said NISH coach Mitzi Lalande. “This is probably the first legit pitcher we’ve seen this year. We knew they were tough coming in.

“But they kept fighting, fighting, fighting, and finally we got one break. That was all it took was one break.”

After pinch runner Kayla Iguess took Lauren Trahan’s spot on the basepaths, Stein slapped a 1-1 pitch over third baseman Rachel Zeagler, who was lined up inside the basepaths to field potential bunts. Iguess could not advance past second on the line drive base hit, but came home on Chaney Trahan’s slapshot grounder past the diving Zeagler along the third-base line. The throw was slightly off target, allowing Iguess to score the only run on the RBI base hit by Trahan.

Stutes (8-4) closed out her victory in the pitching circle with help from her fielders. Chaney Trahan provided the first two outs, fielding a pop fly and then making a nice running catch of a line drive hit, her second such catch of the game, for the first two outs of the seventh inning.

Kasye Brister followed with a base hit to the left side of the infield, the only hit off Stutes, to give the Lady Rebels one last chance to tie or go ahead. But NISH catcher Tiffany Dugas caught Brister drifting a little too far off base on an 0-2 pitch, whipping the ball to Lauren Trahan, who chased Brister down for the 3-2 pickoff that ended the game.

It was the kind of win that Lalande has come to expect, if not exactly revel in.

“That seems to be the way this team operates,” said Lalande. “It was certainly a nailbiter. I don’t like all these come-from-behind seventh inning things. I think that’s our third one this year.”

But Lalande certainly appreciated the win to open district play, and her team’s gutty performance despite a recent hitting slump.

“We knew they were well-coached,” said Lalande. “They’re very disciplined at the plate. Erin did a very good job. She pitched her spots.”

Stutes gave up the one hit and hit two batters while striking out three. Twelve of the 21 outs she got were either fly balls or line drives.

Pineville coach Tim Smith said his hitters weren’t disciplined enough at the plate.

“We didn’t do a very good job of swinging at good pitches,” he said. “We got under a few. That’s just us not being disciplined at the plate.”

Grimes also allowed two hits, striking out a dozen and hitting one batter in suffering the loss.

“She has a lot of movement on her ball,” said Smith of his senior starter. “She did a real good job on the mound. They were fortunate enough to put a couple of base hits together. In a game like this, one run is all it takes.”

New Iberia (8-4, 1-0) plays in the Sulphur tournament Saturday at 2 p.m. against Brusly. The Lady Jackets then face Live Oak at 4:30 and Ponchatoula at 5:45. Pineville (11-3) plays in the Teurlings Catholic tournament.

“It’s too early in the season and district (to be frustrated),” said Smith. “Seven more have to be played. We’ll learn from this.”