Avoyelles Charter, St. Joseph defeated in state softball quarterfinals

Last Friday (April 27), the Avoyelles Public Charter School Lady Vikings made their first trip since 2011 to the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Softball State Tournament at Frasch Park in Sulphur.

The team was happy to get to the tournament to make a run for the state championship, but ran into the Lady Dragons from Mangham to cut their dream short.

Mangham scored six runs in the third and fourth innings to knock APCS out of the playoffs in the Class-AA quarterfinals.

The 5th-seeded Avoyelles Charter ended with a 17-10 won-lost record. They had eight hits in the losing effort, led by Mallory Smith and Bianca Redmon with two hits each.

APCS scored in the third inning when Smith singled and scored on a ground out by Gabrielle Priester.

In the sixth inning, the Lady Vikings started with a double by Chloe Dauzat. She scored when Camryn Mayeux doubled.

The 4th-seeded Lady Dragons improved to 22-11 after the game. They were led on defense by senior pitcher Leann Franks, who pitched 12 strikeouts, and on offense by batters that pounded out 12 hits in the game. Eight of those hits, bringing in six runs, were in the pivotal third and fourth innings.

Sophomore Kara Wilcher went 4-for-4 with three singles while senior Rachel Collins was 3-for-4 with three singles and two RBIs.

Franks held the Lady Vikings to eight hits for the win. Madison Kelly took the loss for APCS.

Later in the weekend’s playoff action, Mangham defeated 9th-seeded Winnfield, 3-0, in the state semi-finals on Saturday but lost the title game to 3rd-seeded Doyle, 3-2, later that day.

FAMILY COMMUNITY 15, ST. JOSEPH 0

The St. Joseph Lady Eagles have been a fixture at the Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Softball State Tournament at Frasch Park in Sulphur, making it to the state semi-finals or finals for several years since 2005. Last Thursday (April 26) their trip to Sulphur lasted just three innings.

The 6th-seeded Lady Eagles suffered a 15-0 loss to 3rd-seeded Family Community of Winnsboro in the Division V state quarterfinals.

St. Joseph ended the season with a 9-13 overall mark while the Lady Warriors advanced to the state semi-finals with a 13-13 overall record.

“We have a very young team this year with four or five 8th graders starting,” Lady Eagle Coach Kenny Knight said. “We played better as the year went along but the atmosphere in Sulfur can rattle a young team. Unfortunately, I think that happened to us today.”

Family Community pitcher Caitin Jonas pitched a no hitter for the Lady Warriors. Only one Lady Eagle reached base on a walk. Jonas struck out seven batters in the game.

Family Community only had five hits in the game.

“We lost two seniors in Lexi Gremillion and Hadley Leonards. Both are Academic All-State softball players,” Knight continued. “We are going to use this as a learning experience as we move forward. This team will get better.”

AVOYELLES JOURNAL
BUNKIE RECORD
MARKSVILLE WEEKLY

105 N Main St
Marksville, LA 71351
(318) 253-9247

CONTACT US