12 Champions Crowned Saturday At State Softball Tournament
by Daniel Green // BWS Sports
SULPHUR – A total of 24 teams entered play Saturday with a chance to be called state champion.
But only 12 could win at the annual LHSAA state softball tournament at Frasch Park. And by the end of the day, the state tournament was in the books after a year hiatus as teams from across the state were crowned champions.
Locally, Barbe came away with the Class 5A championship after knocking off Airline, 3-1. LaSalle Parish came home with both the Class 1A and Class 3A titles thanks to LaSalle and Jena, respectively.
Here are some brief recaps from each game played:
CLASS 5A CHAMPIONSHIP
Barbe……3
Airline…..1
Madison Chretien and Nyjah Fontenot each homered in the fourth inning to hand the Barbe Lady Bucs a 3-1 Class 5A final win over Airline.
Halie Pappion gave up one run on six hits to pitch Barbe to the win.
Raelin Chaffin took the loss for Airline, while Paris Endris had a hit and an RBI in the game.
CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP
North DeSoto…..13
Beau Chene……7
Jordan Brewster and Madelyn Garrett combined for three extra-base hits and seven RBIs to lead the North DeSoto Lady Griffins to a Class 4A championship victory over Beau Chene, 13-7.
Brewster had two doubles and four RBIs, while Garrett homered and drove in three runs. Laney Johnson earned the win in the circle for the Griffins.
Beau Chene got a homer from Gracie Bellard, while Mallory Pitre suffered the loss in the circle.
CLASS 3A CHAMPIONSHIP
Jena…….12
Iowa…….10
Tori Shirley connected on a grand slam, while Janasia Jones blasted two home runs as they led Jena to the Class 3A state tile by beating Iowa, 12-10.
Alli Brunson took the win in the circle in the high-scoring affair.
Kylie Boudreaux hit a three-run homer for Iowa, while Ana Alexander had four hits and three runs scored.
CLASS 2A CHAMPIONSHIP
Many…..4
Doyle……2
The Many Lady Tigers gave their school their fourth state championship this year as they rallied to beat Doyle for the Class 2A crown, 4-2.
Many trailed by two runs entering the sixth, when they scored four runs to seal the title for the school, which has state championships in football, powerlifting and fishing as well.
Tia Holmes won the game in the circle, while also driving in a run with a double. Brook Jenkins also had a hit and two RBIs for Many.
Doyle got a solo homer from Elise Jones and an RBI from Kaitlyn Savant.
CLASS 1A CHAMPIONSHIP
LaSalle…..12
Oak Grove….4
Carli Estis hit her third homer of the state tournament and Savannah Valentine had four hits as second-seeded LaSalle buried top-ranked Oak Grove for the Class 1A state title, 12-4.
Landri Campbell held high-powered Oak Grove to just four runs in earning the win in the circle.
Marissa Smith led Oak Grove with two hits, while Brooklyn Nix had an RBI.
CLASS B CHAMPIONSHIP
Holden…..11
Anacoco….6
Holden scored eight runs in the third inning and that was more than enough for the second-ranked Lady Rockets to claim the Class B crown with an 11-6 win over upstart Anacoco.
Taylor Douglas homered for Holden and won the game in the circle despite issues with illegal pitches. Gracie Duffy added two doubles and two RBIs for Holden.
Bailey Davis suffered the loss, while Brooklyn Bryant reached base three times and scored a couple of runs.
CLASS C CHAMPIONSHIP
Calvin……12
Georgetown….4
Hannah Barber had three hits, including a home run to guide top-ranked Calvin to a 12-4 win over Georgetown in the Class C finals on Saturday.
Lilly Barnes and Camden Johnson each had two hits for Calvin, while Hayley Martin got the win pitching.
Sadie Hoadley had a homer and a single for Georgetown, while Cadence Griffith also got a hit in the loss.
DIVISION I CHAMPIONSHIP
John Curtis…..7
Mount Carmel….0
Kai Goodman fired a two-hitter, while Katelyn Kempton had three hits, including a homer, as John Curtis captures the Division I title with a 7-0 win over Mount Carmel.
Kempton drove in two runs, while teammate Megan McCartney also hit a home run.
Taylor Rumney and Rylee Landreaux each had a hit for Mount Carmel in the loss.
DIVISION II CHAMPIONSHIP
Archbishop Hannan…..12
Haynes Academy….2
Tristyn Baugh and Jenna Armstrong each had two RBIs to guide Archbishop Hannan to a 12-2 win over Haynes Academy in the Division II finals.
Baugh earned the win pitching as well for Hannan, which also got two hits each from Shelby Thompson and Alexis Dale.
Hailey Peterson and Aubrie Claverie each homered for Haynes.
DIVISION III CHAMPIONSHIP
Notre Dame…..15
Holy Savior Menard….0
Notre Dame finished off an impressive recird-breaking season by beating Menard in the Division III state title game, 15-0.
The championship for Notre Dame is icing on the cake as the Lady Pios set the national record with 95 homers this season.
DIVISION IV CHAMPIONSHIP
Calvary Baptist….1
Catholic-Pointe Coupee…0
In a game that lasted eight innings, Calvary Baptist got an RBI-double by Ramsey Walker to defeat Catholic-Pointe Coupee in the Division IV finals, 1-0, in extra innings.
Riley Walker outdueled Blaire Bizette to earn the win.
Bizette had a double in the contest, while Isabel Guerin had a pair of hits for Catholic.
DIVISION V CHAMPIONSHIP
Northside Christian….13
Claiborne Christian…1
Northside Christian jumped out to a big lead early on and never looked back as it defeated Claiborne Christian in the Division V finals, 13-1.
Kamrie Breaux and Brileigh Newman each drove in two runs with two hits, while Morgan Louviere limited Claiborne Christian to only one run.
Anna Cate Miller suffered the loss, while Annabelle Russell had a hit and an RBI in the game for Claiborne Christian.