NATCHEZ — After struggling to hit the ball in three games at the Centreville Tournament, Trinity Episcopal head coach Chris Hutchins wanted more focus and aggressiveness out of the Lady Saints.

And for the most part, he was pleased with what he saw Monday night in their home opener against the Porter’s Chapel Academy Lady Eagles at the Natchez-Adams Girls Softball Complex.

Despite battling a temperature in the upper 80s and a heat index of close to 100 degrees, Trinity’s bats were equally as hot and pitcher Katie Steele settled down after a rough first inning and the Lady Saints took care of Porter’s Chapel 16-3 in four innings for their first win of the 2011 season.

“Maybe they got their jitters out early at the (Centreville) tournament. They played with more heart and determination today,” Hutchins said. “Only having to play the one JV game and the one varsity game wasn’t as physically demanding as the three games, and I think they responded well.”

And if the Lady Saints continue to play like this from here on out, the rest of the competition in MAIS District 5-AA better take notice.

The Lady Eagles did get off to a good start by scoring three runs against Steele in the top of the first inning. But once the Lady Saints took the lead for good after scoring four runs in the bottom of the first, Steele was in control on the mound.

Porter’s Chapel can attest to that after being shut out in the last three innings of the game not only against the combination of Steele and Ashleigh Williams. Steele was the winning pitcher as she struck out two and walked none in three innings. Williams pitched the fourth inning and struck out two batters as well.

“Katie threw the ball really well and Ashleigh finished the game out in the last inning,” Hutchins said.

Williams also had her way at the plate against Lady Eagles pitcher Lindsey Collins, going 3-for-4 and finishing a home run away from the cycle. Mallory Lancaster went 2-for-3 with a double.

Trinity (1-3) put the game away by scoring eight runs in the bottom of the second inning and four more runs in the bottom of the third.

“I thought we did hit the ball better. I’d still like us to be a little more aggressive at the plate,” Hutchins said. “I liked their discipline because their pitcher struggled with her control tonight. I hope that this performance jump starts our season.”

Trinity Episcopal plays at Central Private today with the varsity game beginning at 4 p.m. and the JV game to follow at 5:30 p.m.

Central Private 13, WCCA 3

WOODVILLE — Three days after having its originally scheduled season opener at ACCS last Friday rained out and postponed until later this week, Wilkinson County Christian Academy started the 2011 season at home against Central Private School.

Well, the Lady Rebels from Baker, La., were not exactly gracious guests on a hot and humid Monday afternoon as they 10-run ruled the Lady Rams and needed just four innings to do so.

“I just thought we played with a lot of nerves. We had a big crowd. I think they let their nerves get to them,” Lady Rams first-year head coach Brandi McDaniel said. “That’s not the same team I saw in practice.”

Central Private (1-0) started off the game by scoring six runs before WCCA went to bat in the first inning. The Lady Rebels added three more runs in the top of the second and two in the top of the third to push their advantage to 11-0.

The Lady Rebels wound up with eight hits. B. Clary and Shelby Romero each went 2-for-3 while Bayleigh Anders was 2-for-4. They were also aided by seven Lady Rams errors and seven walks by losing pitcher Hannah Lanehart, who went all four innings and struck out four batters.

“Our pitcher pitched well enough to win the game. Defense couldn’t make the routine plays,” McDaniel said. “We’re a young team. Gotta get some experience in. I told them if we never make the diving catch, that’s OK. They hit the ball at us, and we couldn’t make the routine plays.”

WCCA finally got on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom of the third inning. But then Central Private, which held WCCA to just five hits, scored twice in the top of the fourth and shut out the Lady Rams in the bottom of that inning to end the game early. Mary Katherine Doucet was 2-for-3.

WCCA (0-1) travels to Bogalusa, La., to take on Ben’s Ford Christian School today at 5 p.m.