A Northshore senior set a new stolen base record as the Panthers won their 13th straight

Northshore pinch runner Jada Johnson slides safely back to second against Slidell on April 9. Northshore coach Chelsea Nette couldn't contain her smile. Senior Mallory Senat had just belted a triple in the first inning as the Panthers cruised to a 19-3 District 7-5A win at Slidell on April 9. The Panthers' coach gave Senat a loving tap on the helmet as the right fielder showed off her speed by cruising into third.

Northshore has speed to spare as the Panthers stole seven bases in the game and have 155 swiped bags on the season. The Panthers' speed has played a major role in their current run, as Northshore has won 13 straight games while outscoring opponents 175-41. "I definitely think we're clicking offensively," Nette said. "I think we're just focused on having quality at-bats.

We're quick on the bases, and we have a lot of kids in our lineup who are really tough outs. We do a really good job of making other teams pay for their mistakes." Northshore (21-9, 7-1) had more to celebrate than just a 13th straight victory. Senior Ella Sanchez stole two bases to set a new single-season school record with 40 stolen bases on the season. "It feels really good," Sanchez said.

"I'm excited. I've always been aggressive on the bases, and I'm fast, so if there is an opportunity for me to steal, I'm going to take it." Senat, who has 23 stolen bases, said the Panthers embrace their role as speed demons on the base paths. "We have a ton of speed on our team, and we love that," said Senat, who drove in four runs. "We'll be stealing bases left and right.

It gets everyone hyped up in the dugout. I love it." Despite their recent surge, the Panthers struggled with a 1-5 start to the season against a tough schedule. But Northshore stuck to its training, and the wins started to come. Nette said the turning point came when the Panthers traveled to Lafayette and went 2-1 at the Acadiana tournament.

"I definitely feel like they're battle-tested," Nette said. "But I think the biggest thing is that they're having fun. They had a ton of fun in Lafayette that weekend, and they kind of came home a different team with a different mindset. Every game, I tell them that we're 0-0, and our goal is to be 1-0.

I think it helps keep things from getting too big. It's making the game fun for them again. Winning is fun." Senat agreed: "At the beginning of the season, I think we were just a little rusty, and then we started to get comfortable, especially with each other. We weren't playing as a team, and now, we are.

That has helped a lot." Northshore looked like a well-oiled machine against Slidell as the Panthers batted around twice in the game and took advantage of nine errors to cruise. All nine Northshore starters reached base at least twice, while Abbigail Allen allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in four innings to get the win. For Slidell (8-16, 2-6), Kyleigh Ardoin went 2 for 3 with an RBI, while Allie Dudenhefer also drove in a run. Northshore came into the game at No.

15 in the Division I nonselect power rankings. The playoff pairings will be released on April 14. Sanchez said the Panthers are focused on maintaining that momentum for a home playoff game. "I think we've bonded a lot better," she said.

"At the beginning of the season, it was kind of rocky because we're a younger team this year. But I feel like we've started to work more as a team. We've just jelled. We're very excited about the playoffs." LINESCORE Northshore - 911 8XX X - 19 | 14 | 1 Slidell - 002 1XX X - 3 | 6 | 9 TOP HITTERS Northshore (21-9, 7-1): Leanna Ellis, 4-4, 4 RBIs, 3 R, 3 SB, 2B; Mallory Senat, 2-5, 4 RBIs, 3 R, SB, 2B; Abbigail Allen, 1-4, 3 RBIs; Ella Sanchez, 2-4, 3 R, 2 SB, RBI, BB; Griffyn Troyer, 2-4, 3 R, RBI; Kylee Hylton, 2-4, 2 R.

Slidell (8-16, 2-6): Kyleigh Ardoin, 2-3, RBI; Allie Dudenhefer, 1-2, RBI, HBP; Sophia Scarfenstein, 1-2, R; Amari Williams, 1-2, R. DECIDING PITCHERS WP: Abbigail Allen, 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K. LP: Khloe Ross, 4 IP, 14 H, 19 R, 6 ER, 5 BB, 1 K.