NEWS

SJHS softball season ends in regional round

Tryve Brackin

READY AT FIRST…St. John High first sacker Ashtin Wille goes low expecting either a ground ball her way or a throw from catcher Francesca Louviere to catch a Loreauville runner napping. The Lady Eagles won the state 2-A playoff opener 5-0 over their 7-2A district rival.

A 2-1 loss to South Beuaregard last Friday brought softball season to an end for the Lady Eagles late last week.

The loss came in the regional round of Class 2A state playoff action in this small town north of Lake Charles.

St. John reached the second round after defeatomg rival Loreauville High by a 5-0 score early last week in Plaquemine.

Against Loreauville, Eagle pitcher Lauren Poirrier tossed a one-hit shutout to lead the way and Bailey Burleigh’s fielder’s choice RBI in the first inning ended up all the SJHS girls needed for the first-round playoff win.

Jaimie Yerrick tallied on Burleigh’s infield liner following her steal of third base. St. John held on to the lead for the next five and a half innings, but then rallied for four insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning to give Loreauville too much to overcome in their final at bat.

Poirrier and Kaycee Hudson opened the sixth with back-to-back bunts and then Ashtin Wille drew a walk. Prior to that pinch runner Taylor Landry and Sarah Zeringue stole bases to frustrate and wear on LHS standout pitcher Loren Griffin. SJHS catcher Francesca Louviere then drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Shortstop Hannah Pitre came up and delivered an RBI single and Yerrick, who had a middle-inning base hit, stepped up and garnered another base hit. Outfielder Maddie Bahry provided a third-straight RBI at bat as she drove in the fourth run of the inning with a fielder’s choice.

Walks got Poirrier in a little trouble in the top of the final inning. LHS loaded up the bases with one out, but the game ended when an opposing batter hit a line drive right into Poirrier’s glove and she threw to first base to double up an advancing runner.

Poirrier’s only hit allowed came in the top of the sixth inning. She controlled most of the way and the infield turned another double play and had only one fielding error.

The Eagles put two on base in the second on walks, but no one could get the runners to the plate. Yerrick walked and stole second, but could not score in the third. Hudson got on in the fourth on an error by the pitcher, but was stopped after stealing second. Bahry singled and stole second and third, but never did score in the fifth. Burleigh also got on base via a walk and stole a base in the inning.

“I am very pleased. Lauren controlled them and we got the run scored in the sixth to take as much pressure as we could off of her. We advance to play South Beauregard High on the road,” noted Coach Cricket Crockett after the victory.