Softball Playoff Roundup: Chapelle, John Curtis, AOL, Riverside advance to semifinals with wins

Non-Select
DIVISION I   |   DIVISION II   |   DIVISION III
DIVISION IV   | DIVISION V

Select
DIVISION I   |   DIVISION II   |   DIVISION III
DIVISION IV   | DIVISION V

A special season became even more so Saturday for Archbishop Chapelle in Central Louisiana.

With no outs and two strikes, junior Delaney Trosclair belted a grand slam to left-center field in the top of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie, lifting the fifth-seeded Chipmunks to a 6-2 victory over No. 4 Pineville in the Select Division quarterfinals.

Chapelle loaded the bases without the benefit of a hit, with Katie Deslatte reaching safely on a dropped third strike, Addy Stein was hit by a pitch and Allie Domangue bunted and reached safely on fielder’s choice.

Chapelle (27-5) had taken a 2-0 lead early with a pair of key two-out hits.

In the top of the second, Kamryn Dimaggio doubled and scored on a double by Marie Rohli to make it 1-0.

In the third inning, Domangue doubled and Kayla Giardina doubled her home to make it 2-0.

Pineville (24-11) tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Bevan Hartnett and a 2-run homer by Madalyn Halle.

Giardina went the distance, allowing seven hits. She walked one and struck out five.

Dimaggio had a pair of doubles for the Chipmunks.

Coach Scott O’Brien was ecstatic with the performance of his team in clutch situations.

“We preach that we have to be big hitters with two outs and we did that today,” O’Brien said. “That was huge early. The opportunity to go to a place like Pineville and play a big game like this, for me, it was great for the players. They rose to the occasion. Kayla held it down in the circle. Delaney came up big. It was phenomenal. She cleared a 15-foot fence. She works really hard. I’m really happy for her. Her and Kayla, that combination just works.”

Chapelle advances to face top seed St. Thomas More in the semifinals Friday in Sulphur.

“I’m really excited to take our Chapelle team to Sulphur,” O’Brien said. “St. Thomas More is an incredible opponent and great program. I’m excited for the players and the school.”

St. Thomas More whipped No. 8 St. Joseph’s Academy 13-4.

Perennial power John Curtis Christian is also heading back to Sulphur. The third-seeded Lady Patriots blanked No. 6 Alexandria 7-0 behind a brilliant performance by junior Katie Kempton, who pitched a 2-hitter and struck out 10.

Kempton got all the support she would need with four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The Patriots added a run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Madison Laiche and added two runs in the sixth to finish it.

Manganello tripled while Kempton and Jacke Melancon each had a double for John Curtis.

The Lady Patriots (26-8) advance to the semifinals to face No. 2 Tioga.

The Indians edged No. 7 Acadiana 4-3.

In Select Division II, No. 4 David Thibodaux edged No. 5 De La Salle 7-6.

No. 6 Academy of Our Lady advanced to Sulphur, routing two-time defending state champion No. 3 Archbishop Hannan 13-0 in five innings at Coquille Park.

Gracie Toledano pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits with three strikeouts while Aaliyah Gonzales had two hits, including a grand slam and a triple and drove in six runs to pace the Penguins.

In the second inning, senior Sanaii Webber belted a two-run homer and Gonzales followed with her grand slam to highlight a 14-hit attack. Clare Gauthreaux, Aliyah Woods and Ryanna Lanier all doubled for the Penguins.

Tristyn Baugh took the loss for the Hawks.

Academy of Our Lady (19-13) heads to the semifinals for the first time since 2017 and will meet No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic Friday.

In Select Division III, No. 6 D’Arbonne Woods went to LaPlace and downed No. 3 St. Charles Catholic 8-5.

No. 2 Notre Dame eliminated No. 7 Patrick Taylor 10-4.

In Select Division IV, No. 2 Riverside Academy advanced to Sulphur with a 14-5 win over Sacred Heart.

The Rebels actually trailed 5-0 before rallying with six runs in the third, a run in the fourth and scored seven runs in the sixth to break it open.

Riverside blasted four home runs, all by seniors, including Emily Vicknair, Ava Fernandez, Lea St. Pierre and Kamryn Loving. Vicknair drove in six runs, adding a 3-run triple to go with a 3-run homer.

Amber Palermo started on the mound before Kylie Bordelon came on and shut down Sacred Heart over the last four innings, striking out five.

“This is a team that has fought back from a shaky beginning that has hit well all year,” Regalo said. “We’ve seen some of the best pitching in the state playing a very hard schedule. They didn’t get down. They did not hang their head. They stayed locked-in. They have come back before. I was proud to be part of it and the success.”

Riverside (19-9) will meet No. 3 St. Frederick in the semifinals next Friday. St. Frederick beat St. John 6-3.

“We played St. Frederick two years ago and we know they are good and play a hard schedule as well,” Regalo said. “We will have to play our game, the way we have all year.”

Riverside edged St. Frederick 2-1 in the Division IV regional round in 2021.

In Non-Select Division I, top seed St. Amant eliminated No. 8 Northshore 11-2.

Addison Jackson was a one-person wrecking crew, going 3 for 3, belting a pair of home runs, a double and driving in six runs while pitching a complete game, allowing just two runs on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts. Sam Landaiche added a pair of RBI for the Gators.

In Non-Select Division II, No. 2 Albany advanced to the semifinals with a 5-1 victory over No. 10 North Vermilion.

In Non-Select Division III, No. 3 Doyle shut out No. 11 Winnfield 10-0 in five innings. The Tigers will take on No. 2 Kaplan in the semifinals next Friday.

In Non-Select Division IV, No. 4 French Settlement handled No. 5 DeQuincy 8-2. French Settlement will meet No. 8 Vinton in the semifinals. Vinton shocked top seed LaSalle 4-3.

In Non-Select Division V, No. 9 Choudrant upset No. 1 Holden 8-7.