Mandeville's Lady Skippers (18-11-2), the No. 21 seed in the LHSAA Class 5A softball playoffs, are in Sulphur today taking on the Pineville Lady Rebels in the quarterfinals. The game gets under way at 2 p.m.

Pineville (30-4), the District 4-5A champ, is the No. 4 seed. Pineville moved up to Class 5A this season after losing in the bi-district round last year competing as a wild card team.

MHS struggled early in the season getting off to a slow 1-7-1 start before the team finalized its roster adding basketball and soccer players once those seasons were completed.

Mandeville senior hurler Jennie Trepagnier sporting a 14-5-2 record will toe the rubber in today'€™s state quarterfinal softball playoff game in Sulphur. The Lady Skippers take on the Pineville Lady Rebels. (File Photo by Mike Pervel)

Mandeville coach Rodney Corkern said his players worked hard to get on track.

"We started out really slow. We were able to turn things around once those players joined the team. They continue to work hard and continue to improve," Corkern said.

"I'm extremely happy with the play of our girls. We are just taking it one game at a time. We're concentrating on the Pineville game and not looking any further," Corkern added.

The Lady Skippers began to gel three games into the District 7-5A season, running off eight consecutive victories. MHS finished with a 10-4 district record getting on a roll after the slow start and has been cruising along since that time.

Mandeville trimmed New Iberia, 2-1, in the bi-district round behind the strong pitching of senior Jennie Trepagnier. The Lady Skippers followed that up with a hard-fought, 1-0, regional round victory Saturday over the East Ascension Lady Spartans on Trepagnier's one-hitter at home.

Trepagnier (14-5-2) is peaking in the playoffs, having allowed just one run in the two games to this point. She scattered five hits against New Iberia, and spun the one-hitter allowing just an infield single with two-out in the seventh inning in the victory against East Ascension.

Trepagnier has relied on good location, staying ahead in the court during the playoffs, posting 10 strikeouts with just one walk.

"Jennie has done a great job for us. She has good command of her pitches. I'm really proud of the way the girls are playing defense in the field. They are giving Jennie great support," Corkern added.

"So far we have had solid pitching and good defense in the playoffs. We are hoping that continues against Pineville."

Corkern said third baseman Nicole Borkowski has done a good job defensively, especially in the playoffs.

Mandeville posted some good offensive numbers during its district run. Trepagnier, in addition to her stellar performance on the mound, posting a stingy .917 earned run average, batted .457 in district with an on base percentage of .613. Senior center fielder Heather Nastasia hit .396 with a team-high 16 runs and stole nine bases.

Senior second baseman Sarah Mahavier, an LSU-Eunice signee, hit .382 in district with 10 RBIs and scored nine times. Mahavier has wielded a hot bat in the playoffs, going 4-for-5.

Junior shortstop Mel Gaines batted .333 in district play with 15 runs scored. She drove in nine runs while posting a .929 fielding percentage. Gaines is 3-for-4 in the playoffs.

Lady Skippers' left fielder Joanna Rochelle hit .306 in district with eight runs and five runs batted in.

Pineville coach Tim Smith is in his eighth year as the Lady Rebels head coach.

Smith said he has six starting seniors, who are quality athletes and students. Senior pitcher Kelee Grimes (23-2) has posted a stingy 0.79 earned run average. She has thrown 169 innings allowing just 79 hits. She has posted 273 strikeouts with only 18 walks.

Senior third baseman Rachel Zeagler leads the Lady Rebels with a .399 batting average and leads her team with 30 runs scored. Zeagler also has 17 RBIs. Senior catcher Ashley Blackman is next with a .398 average. Blackman tops the Lady Rebels with 29 runs batted in and has scored 25 runs.

Coach Smith praised the defensive ability of his senior center fielder Cassie Decoste, who possesses good speed.

Smith said he has never seen Mandeville play.

"I've been coaching for 15 years, but I have never had an opportunity to see them. It will be a new experience since it is our first year in Class 5A. We have played against Covington High in tournaments a couple of times. We have great senior leadership, and I expect a lot from them. They have done a great job leading us on and off the field. Five are on academic all-state teams," Smith said.