Second-seeded SJHS notches berth in state softball tourney with rout
Class 1-A second-seeded St. John High romped to an easy 9-1 victory over hosting Merryville High Saturday to advance to the State Farm/LHSAA Softball Tournament in Sulphur tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday.
Coach Cricket Crockett’s Lady Eagles pushed their season mark to an outstanding 27-5 behind the one-hit pitching and the three-hit, three RBI batting performance of senior Lauren Poirrier Saturday not far from Suphur’s Frasch Park where the annual state tourney will be held.
The Lady Eagles tallied two runs in the first, one in the second, and four in the third as they dominated their regional playoff hostesses from the start. Poirrier (22-5), a senior leader, was her usual tall and strong self on the mound, allowing only one harmless hit while striking out a dozen maroon and white Lady Panthers, walking only two in the process.
At the plate Poirrier joined with her battery mate, first-year varsity catcher Jessie Brown, in collecting half of the Lady Eagles’ dozen hits. Brown drove in a trio of runs with a home run and a pair of singles, while Poirrier plated a trio with three hits. Senior infielder Bailey Burleigh sent home two more Eagle runners with a pair of hits to lead the offensive attack.
The local girls begin state playoff action at 2 p.m. tomorrow against Hanson Memorial. The 1-A second round (if SJHS wins) will be at 11 a.m. Saturday with the championship at 5 p.m.
SJHS 16, ARCADIA 1:
The Lady Eagles opened their quest for a state tournament berth early last week with a 16-1 rout of 31st-seeded Arcadia High on their home field in Plaquemine.
The SJHS girls used a dozen hits, combined with AHS errors and Lady Eagle stolen bases, to roll up 16 runs with ease in a three-inning, 10-run rule first-round playoff victory.
Poirrier tossed a perfect game over the first two innings, striking out the side both times. First-year hurler Kamryn Theriot tossed the final inning, allowing a pair of hits and the only Arcadia run.
Theriot was a force at bat in her only appearance as she slugged a triple off the left field fence in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Shortstop Hannah Pitre added a double and a single.
Kaycee Hudson and Sara Raffray added a pair of singles, while Brown, Poirrier, and Maddie Bahry, collected a single apiece.
The Lady Eagles reached the state playoffs after dominating the District 8-A with a perfect record in league play. They turned back top-ten ranked Ascension CHS (a 3-1 loser in the regional to LaSalle High last week) and up and coming first-year softball-playing, third place finisher and parish neighbor White Castle High to win the district crown.