HS softball: Tourtellotte has been snakebit

There were plenty of things that the Tourtellotte softball team did right on Wednesday, but those things aren't generally reflected in the final score.
The Tigers slipped to 9-8 on the season after they fell to St. Bernard, 1-0, in Thompson on Wednesday.
What the score doesn't reflect is that the Tigers threw out three Saint runners, allowed just six hits and committed just one error before losing the game when St. Bernard scored its lone run in the top of the seventh inning.
Unfortunately, that has been the case for much of the season for Bill Rahall's club.
"This is our sixth loss by one run, it's also our fifth loss in the seventh inning," Rahall said after the game. "We've been up 5-1, 4-1, and 3-1 and have lost it in the last inning. It was 0-0 going into the last inning (Wednesday) and we lost it. I would like to have some of those games back."
The Tigers hung in against a team that had beaten them, 7-1, just six days ago thanks to some nice defensive play.
The Tigers cut down Melissa Halloran at the plate attempting to score on a base hit by Mena Buscetto in the third inning.
In the fifth, first baseman Alyson Santerre made a good decision in throwing behind runner Lindsay Rolfe at third base, they eventually caught Rolfe in a rundown and in the sixth inning, catcher Stephanie Vogel throw out Buscetto as she attempted to steal second base.
"We're playing really good defense," Rahall said. "Laura Durand made a great throw from the outfield (Wednesday). I don't think there's anyone better than Haley Anderson at shortstop, Steph Vogel and Jess Mason do a great job behind the plate."
If there's one thing the Tigers didn't do very well, it was hit. Tourtellotte was limited just three hits by St. Bernard pitcher Alexa Gospodinoff and had runners on base in just three of the seven innings.
"We didn't string hits together," Rahall said. "We kind of juggled up our lineup hoping to get some kids some better looks, but (Gospodinoff) is good."
Rahall was also pleased with Stephanie Girouard (1-5) in the circle, limiting the Saints to the six hits with four strikeouts and just two walks.
"They've been beating up on us for the last four or five years," Rahall said. "We've played great games against them and then allowed four or five runs in the sixth or seventh inning. (Wednesday) we gave up only that run in the seventh, but that's all it took for them."
The win gave the Saints at least a share of the ECC Small Division title for the first time since 2007. St. Bernard can clinch the title for its own against Wheeler on Monday.