The LHSAA softball state tournament is underway, with six local teams (Notre Dame, Pine Prairie, Kaplan, Northside Christian, St. Thomas More, Opelousas Catholic) vying for a chance to compete for a championship. Division III action kicked off Thursday, with dramatic moments and tough defeats shaping the early rounds.
In Division III Non-Select, Kaplan’s hopes of returning to the title game for the first time in two years were dashed by a red-hot Doyle squad. The Tigers struck first in the opening inning when Alyson Fletcher laid down a bunt with runners on the corners, leading to an errant throw home that gave Doyle an early lead.
After building a 2-0 advantage, Doyle saw its lead cut in half in the bottom of the first when Kaplan’s Baleigh Landry drove a ball into left field to bring in a run. But that was as close as the Pirates would get. Doyle erupted for five runs across the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Fletcher’s two-run double, ultimately pulling away for a 13-3 win.
Elsewhere in the bracket, Pine Prairie battled Jena in a tightly contested matchup. Jena’s Callie Decker opened the scoring in the first inning with a shot to left-center, allowing Haylee Dangerfield to score all the way from first base. Pine Prairie answered in the third, plating two runs, including a sharp liner from Ella Fontenot down the third base line to take a 2-1 lead.
But in the fourth, Jena’s Autumn Sharp delivered the go-ahead RBI single, lifting the Giants to a 3-2 victory and a spot in the next round.
In Division III Select play, Notre Dame fell to D’Arbonne Woods in a high-scoring affair, 13-11. Despite the Pios’ offensive output, five costly errors proved too much to overcome in the loss.
Three remaining games ( St. Thomas More, Opelousas Catholic) were postponed due to inclement weather and are scheduled to resume Saturday, May 3.
Northside Christian faces Claiborne Christian in Class C at noon. Meanwhile in the 3:00 p.m. slot, St. Thomas More battles Mt. Carmel in Division I Select, and Opelousas Catholic takes on St. John in Division IV Select.
Championship games are set to take place Sunday, May 4.
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