LHSAA Baseball quarterfinals begin Thursday

The LHSAA baseball quarterfinals get underway Thursday with one area team in action.

In Division I, No. 12 St. Paul’s (2-29) plays game one at No. 1 Catholic of Baton Rouge (20-13) at 6 p.m. in the first game of a best-of-three series.

The Wolves advanced by sweeping No. 5 Holy Cross in a pair of games after the Wolves were forced to forfeit all of their 21 regular season wins and were dropped four seeds, changing opponents. Sophomore Kade Anderson, an LSU commit, is 8-1 with an 0.47 ERA while Southern Miss signee Matthew Russo is the top hitter for St. Paul’s. The Wolves have won six straight games on the field.

St. Paul’s is the most recent Division I state champion in 2019 while Catholic played in a state title game in 2017 and last won a state championship in 2013. After a slow start to the season, the Bears have won seven straight games and 11 of their last 12.

In Division IV, No. 5 Catholic of Pointe Coupee plays game one of a best-of-three series at No. 4 St. Mary’s at 6 p.m. while No. 2 Ascension Catholic hosts No. 7 Opelousas Catholic at 6 p.m. in a best-of-three series.

In Division V, No. 5 Northside Christian plays at No. 4 Family Community at 4 p.m., No. 6 Family Christian faces No. 3 University Academy at 6 p.m. at LSU-Alexandria and No. 7 St. Joseph’s Plaucheville plays at No. 2 Claiborne Christian at 4:30 p.m., all knockout contests.

In Class 3A, No. 1 Sterlington plays host to No. 9 Jena at 6:30 p.m. while No. 5 Iowa plays at No. 4 Iota at 6 p.m. in the first game of a pair of best-of-three series.

In Class 1A, No. 1 Oak Grove hosts No. 8 Montgomery at 5 p.m. in a win or go home contest.

In Class C, No. 5 Downsville is at No. 4 Calvin at 4 p.m. while No. 7 Harrisonburg plays at No. 2 Simpson at 5:30 p.m.