With a showdown with Bogue Chitto looming, the St. Aloysius Lady Flashes fast-pitch softball team was hoping for a warmup against rival Cathedral.

It took sometime, but St. Al was able to 10-run Cathedral 12-2 in a six-inning game that was close for four innings.

“It took a while for our bats to get going,” Kerut said. “In the beginning of the season, we were really hitting well, then we went into a little slouch. Maybe this will get us going again. We need it, we have a big game tomorrow.”

Kerut dominated from the start on the mound. She allowed a one-out single to Megan Whittington in the first inning, then retired 14 straight Lady Irish before running into a small jam in the sixth. The reigning Vicksburg Post Softball Player of the Year allowed two runs on four hits and struck out 11.

Kerut ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a bases-clearing triple for the 12-2 score. It was the the final three runs of a six-run sixth inning and the closing flurry in a late-game St. Al surge.

Cathedral pitcher Mae Durkin kept St. Al off-balance with a slower-than-average fastball. She retired the first five batters she and had a chance to get out of the second inning unscathed with a looping pop fly from Taylor George, which was dropped allowing George to reach first. A walk and fielder’s choice loaded the bases for Hannah Barrett, who delivered a two-RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

“It was difficult, I know on me, adjusting to the pitcher,” Kerut said.

The Lady Flashes went quietly in the third, but scored a run in the fourth on a George flyout to take a 3-0 lead. Three straight singles by Barrett, Stephanie Gwin and Catelyn Park in the fifth coupled with

a Cathedral error led to three more runs and a 6-0 lead.

Cathedral broke through in the sixth. Ginny Daggett led off the inning

with a double and scored on Kalin Kirkwood’s triple. Kirkwood scored

on a Whittington single to cut the deficit to 6-2.

In the bottom of the inning, George, Sara Howington, Blair Tillman,

Barrett and Park all singled, and Gwin drew a walk that led to three

runs and left the bases loaded with no outs for Kerut.

Her driving shot to right-centerfield bounced against the fence

allowing three runs to score and ending the game.

The Lady Flashes are scheduled to match up with Bogue Chitto tonight

at 6 at Bazinsky Park softball field.