Softball Semifinals: Chapelle, John Curtis face rematch; Ponchatoula to title game

LHSAA SOFTBALL BRACKETS

Two area rivals will square off for the Select Division I state championship Saturday afternoon.

No. 2 seed John Curtis Christian and No. 5 seed Archbishop Chapelle earned that right and had to go overtime to earn it.

The Patriots did it in dramatic fashion as freshman Kinsley McInnis ripped a walk-off, two-run home run over the center field fence in the bottom of the tenth inning to lift John Curtis past No. 7 Pineville 9-7 at Frasch Park in Sulphur.

It was the second dramatic rally for John Curtis. Down to their last at-bat trailing 7-5 in the bottom of the seventh, the Patriots scored twice to force extra innings.

It was 1-1 heading to the second inning when the Rebels scored four runs to take a 5-1 lead, highlighted by a three-run homer by Madelyn Halle.

The Patriots responded with three runs in the bottom of the second to make it 5-4 and tied the game with a run in the third inning.

Savanna Johnson put Pineville ahead with a two-run double in the fourth inning and it stayed that way until the bottom of the seventh inning.

Senior Katie Kempton, who drove in the tying runs in the seventh inning, picked up the win, going the distance. Miley Percle had two hits and three RBI while Kai Goodman had two hits, including an RBI triple for the Patriots.

John Curtis (24-6) will face Archbishop Chapelle Saturday at 3 p.m. for the state championship.

Revenge is sweet.

A year ago, St. Thomas More eliminated Archbishop Chapelle 5-4 in the Select Division I semifinals and the Cougars went on to win the state championship.

This time around, the fifth-seeded Chipmunks fought through adversity and overcame, defeating the top-seeded Cougars 3-2 in nine innings at Frasch Park in Sulphur.

Tied 2-2, freshman pinch-runner Bayleigh Hammer scurried home with the game-winner in the top of the ninth inning, scoring on a wild pitch and a throwing error. Hammer pinch-ran for Mia Impastato, who reached on an error. Hammer advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.

The Chipmunks took the lead in the top of the fourth inning as Allie Domangue doubled, one of her three hits, and scored on an RBI single by Mia Impastato and it was 1-0. Impastato had two hits.

St. Thomas More took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run double by Logan Raupp to make it 2-1.

Chapelle tied it at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning on a double by Domangue and an RBI groundout by Kelsie Schmidt, setting the stage for extra innings.

Southern Miss signee Kayla Giardina went the distance, allowing six hits and struck out nine. Giardina issued six walks, four of the intentional nature as Chapelle elected to walk star cleanup hitter Shyanne Irvin four times.

Margaret Oge went the distance and took the loss for St. Thomas More, allowing two earned runs on five hits with six walks and two strikeouts. Emma Bailey had four hits for the Cougars.

Chapelle (22-7) advances to the title game for the first time since 2004 and will face a familiar foe in District 9-5A rival John Curtis Christian Saturday at 3 p.m. at Frasch Park. The Chipmunks are in search of their first state title.

“It’s been a five-year journey to get here,” O’Brien said. “Kayla was outstanding. Allie and Mia had big hits for us. We were not going to let Irvin beat us. We’ll give it a great shot against a great John Curtis team. They are a very talented team. Both pitchers are clearly tired and we may have to dig into the bullpen.”

John Curtis whipped Chapelle 10-2 on March 26 in district play.

In Non-Select Division I, No. 4 Ponchatoula staged a dramatic rally, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to defeat No. 8 Live Oak 8-7 in the semifinals.

The Green Wave led 2-1 after one inning and 5-2 going to the sixth inning. The Eagles rallied to take a 6-5 lead with four runs in the top of the sixth inning and added a run to make it 7-5 in the top of the seventh.

A Dagro belted a two-run home run while L. Polk and R. Wheat each had two RBI for the Green Wave. C. Curtis had three hits and scored three runs while Sydni Stanga and G. Schwaibold each added two hits.

Stanga got the win in relief of Dagro. Stanga went 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits. She issued three walks.

A Phillips went the distance to take the loss for Live Oak, allowing eight runs on 10 hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. J. Janise had two hits and three RBI while P. Guhn and Phillips each drove in a pair of runs.

Ponchatoula (25-7) will face No. 3 St. Amant at 3 p.m. Saturday for the state championship. The third-seeded Gators downed No. 3 Southside 8-3.

LHSAA Prep Softball Semifinal Results from Friday, April 27

Non-Select Division I

(4) Ponchatoula 8, (8) Live Oak 7

(3) St. Amant 8, (2) Southside 3

Non-Select Division II

(1) North DeSoto 11, (4) North Vermilion 1

(2) Lutcher 5, (6) Grant 4

Non-Select Division III

(1) Sterlington 3, (5) Jena 2

(2) Doyle, 13, (11) Many 0

Non-Select Division IV

(5) French Settlement 7, (1) Logansport 2

(3) Montgomery 8, (7) Oakdale 7

Non-Select Division V (1) (1) Quitman 6, (5) Converse 0

(6) Stanley 8, (7) Anacoco 3

Select Division I

(5) Archbishop Chapelle 3, (1) St. Thomas More 2 (9 innings)

(2) John Curtis Christian 9, (7) Pineville 8 (10 innings)

Select Division II (1) Buckeye 3, (4) E.D. White Catholic 2

(2) Vandebilt Catholic 2, (3) Archbishop Hannan 1

Select Division III (1) Calvary Baptist 8, (5) Notre Dame 5

(3) Houma Christian 5, (2) St. Charles Catholic 3

Select Division IV (1) Opelousas Catholic 4, (5) Ascension Catholic 3

(2) Catholic (PC) 13, (6) Sacred Heart 3

Select Division V (1) Grace Christian 9, (5) St. Joseph-Plaucheville 4

(2) Family Community 10, (3) Claiborne Christian 1

LHSAA Prep Softball Finals Schedule for Saturday, April 28

Non-Select Division I

(4) Ponchatoula vs. (3) St. Amant, 3 p.m.

Non-Select Division II

(2) Lutcher vs. (1) North DeSoto, Noon

Non-Select Division III

(2) Doyle vs. (1) Sterlington, 3 p.m.

Non-Select Division IV

(5) French Settlement vs. (3) Montgomery, Noon

Non-Select Division V

(6) Stanley vs. (1) Quitman, Noon

Select Division I

(2) John Curtis Christian vs. (5) Archbishop Chapelle, 3 p.m.

Select Division II

(2) Vandebilt Catholic vs. (1) Buckeye, 1 p.m.

Select Division III

(3) Houma Christian vs. (1) Calvary Baptist, 3 p.m.

Select Division IV

(2) Catholic (PC) vs. (1) Opelousas Catholic, Noon

Select Division V

(2) Family Community vs. (1) Grace Christian, Noon