Softball Playoffs: John Curtis, Haynes, Hannan, St. Charles Catholic advance to state title games

State semifinal Softball Playoff Report for Saturday, April 30

While the non-select semifinals took place in Sulphur as usual, the select school semifinals took to a new facility and location at the St. Julien Complex in Julien.

Four area schools were victorious, reaching state title games with semifinal victories.

In Division I, top seed and defending state champion John Curtis Christian fought off District 9-5A rival and fifth seed Archbishop Chapelle 7-4.

It was the third win for the Lady Patriots over the Chipmunks this season.

Kira Manganello was the star, driving in three runs for Curtis.

The game was very competitive, going back and forth early.

The Lady Patriots led 3-2 in the fourth inning but Chapelle scored twice to take a 4-3 lead.

Curtis answered, scoring the final four runs of the game to pick up a hard-fought victory.

Kai Goodman had an RBI single for the Lady Patriots.

Allie Domangue had a two-run triple for the Chipmunks.

John Curtis (28-3) advances to the championship game Saturday to take on No. 3 St. Joseph’s Academy at noon.

The Redstickers downed No. 2 Dominican 4-2.

Brynn Arena struck the big blow with a two-run double for St. Joseph’s in the top of the first inning before Annaleise Simpson delivered Arena with an RBI single to make it 3-0.

Dominican scored a run in the first and another in the second to cur the deficit to 3-2 but Cinclaire Simpson added an RBI double in the second to take a 4-2 lead.

Ana-Grace Garcia got the win while Lauren Sekinger took the loss.

St. Joseph’s (17-6) is in the final for the first time.

Division II will feature a rematch of the 2021 title game in the final.

Top-seeded Haynes Academy scored a dramatic 5-4 win over No. 4 St. Thomas More.

Trailing 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Lady Jackets scored three runs to tie it and in the bottom of the seventh, Allison Weindel doubled and scored on a throwing error to secure a huge victory.

Akili Green homered for the Lady Cougars and Gabbie Stutes had a two-run triple.

Hailey Peterson picked up the win for the Yellow Jackets.

Haynes (26-6) advances to the championship game to face a familiar opponent in No. 2 seed Archbishop Hannan Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

The two-time defending state champion Lady Hawks edged No. 3 Vandebilt Catholic 3-2.

Each team scored twice in the first inning before Hannan (18-11) got what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the third inning on a home run by Amelia Mares.

Kalyn Dehart produced the runs for the Lady Terriers with a two-run double in the first inning before Kristen Wegener tied it with a two-run double in the bottom of the first, setting the stage for Mares’ heroics.

Tristyn Baugh went the distance to get the win, allowing two runs on five hits. Baugh walked one and struck out eight.

Dehart took the loss for Vandebilt Catholic.

Archbishop Hannan handled Haynes Academy 12-2 in six innings in the 2021 state title game.

In Division III, No. 2 St. Charles Catholic outslugged No. 3 Houma Christian 15-9.

Each team came out swinging the bats, scoring four runs apiece in the first inning.

Houma Christian took a 6-4 lead with two runs in the top of the second before the Lady Comets answered with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 7-6 lead.

St. Charles Catholic blew it open, scoring seven runs in the third to make it 14-6 and added a run in the fourth and it was 15-6.

Houma Christian got three runs in the sixth but could not get any closer.

Kamryn Cancienne went the distance to get the win for the Lady Comets. Cancienne allowed 10 hits and struck out five.

Dani Aucoin drove in five runs and Madison Hebert drove in three runs for St. Charles Catholic. Hannah Brady, Mia Ganote and Aliyah Manson each had three hits as part of a 16-hit attack for the Lady Comets.

Destiny Pierce drove in three runs for Houma Christian while Alyssa Cadwell took the loss.

St. Charles Catholic (25-4) advances to the championship game against a familiar opponent in defending state champion and top seed Notre Dame Saturday at noon. The Pioneers handled No. 5 Holy Savior Menard 6-3.

Notre Dame eliminated St. Charles Catholic 10-0 in five innings in the semifinals in 2021.

In Division IV, No. 2 Calvary Baptist eliminated No. 3 Riverside Academy 7-1. The Lady Rebels completed a very good season at 29-7.

PLAYOFF SCORES

Class 5A
(4) West Monroe 11, (8) Sam Houston 4
(2) St. Amant 6, (3) Walker 0

Class 4A
(1) North DeSoto 18, (5) Eunice 5 (5 innings)
(10) Franklin Parish 8, (6) Beau Chene 1

Class 3A
(1) Iowa 1, (4) Grant 0
(7 ) Buckeye 7, (6) Sterlington 5

Class 2A
(1) Many 11, (4) Doyle 0 (5 innings)
(2) Port Barre 1, (3) Kinder 0

Class 1A
(1) Montgomery 8, (4) Oak Grove 3
(2) LaSalle 10, (10) East Beauregard 0 (5 innings)

Class B
(1) Holden 10, (4) Florien 6
(7) Anacoco 10, (6) Oak Hill 0 (5 innings)

Class C
(1) Calvin 10, (5) Summerfield 0 (5 innings)
(2) Harrisonburg 6, (11) Hornbeck 5

Division I
(1) John Curtis Christian 7, (5) Archbishop Chapelle 4
(3) St. Joseph’s Academy 4, (2) Dominican 2

Division II
(1) Haynes Academy 5, (4) St. Thomas More 4
(2) Archbishop Hannan 3, (3) Vandebilt Catholic 2

Division III
(1) Notre Dame 6, (5) Holy Savior Menard 3
(2) St. Charles Catholic 15, (3) Houma Christian 9

Division IV
(1) Opelousas Catholic 1, (4) St. John 0
(2) Calvary Baptist 7, (3) Riverside Academy 1

Division V
(1) Claiborne Christian 10, (4) Grace Christian 0 (6 innings)
(2) Northside Christian 8, (3) St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville 1