Softball Playoffs: John Curtis, Mount Carmel advance to Division I final

LHSAA Prep Softball Playoff Report for Friday, April 30

John Curtis Christian is back in familiar territory—in the Division I state championship game for the third straight year.

The top seeded Lady Patriots drilled District 9-5A rival and No. 4 seed Archbishop Chapelle 12-0 in a game shortened to 4 ½ innings by the mercy rule in the Division I semifinals Thursday at Frasch Park in Sulphur.

Curtis scored three runs in the bottom of the first to take control.

Danielle McCarthy singled home two runs in a five-run second inning which also included a two-run double by Madison Laiche and RBI single by Gracie Chiasson and it was 8-0.

The Lady Patriots added three more runs in the bottom of the third and finished it with a run in the fourth inning.

Kai Goodman had three hits and two RBI, Laiche drove in two runs, Danielle McCarthy drove in three runs, Kate Kempton drove in a pair of runs and Megan McCartney had two hits to pace the Lady Patriots, who had 12 hits.

Goodman pitched a no-hitter, striking out three.

John Curtis (23-4), in search of its first title since 2018, advances to face another district rival in No. 3 Mount Carmel Academy, who downed district rival Dominican 3-1.

No. 2 seed Dominican took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning on an RBI groundout by Claire Sekinger.

It stayed that way until the top of the fifth when the Cubs scored twice to take a 2-1 lead on a two-run single by Karlie Koch. Mount Carmel added an insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI triple by LSU signee Maddie Giglio

The Cubs banged out nine hits.

Mia Pumila pitched the Cubs to victory, striking out four while allowing two hits.

The two teams had split a pair of games in the regular season.

Mount Carmel (14-14) goes for its first state title since 2017 against John Curtis. The Lady Patriots swept two games from the Cubs by scores of 3-0 and 13-2 in district play.

The two rivals will meet Saturday at 3 p.m. on Field #16 at Frasch Park.

LHSAA Prep Softball Playoff Results from Thursday, April 29

1A (1) Oak Grove 12, (4) Montgomery 2 (6 innings)
(2) LaSalle 3, (3) Merryville 2

Class B
(9) Anacoco 9, (5) Quitman 8
(2) Holden 12, (3) Florien 11

Class C (1) Calvin 14, (5) Ebarb 4 (5 innings)
(7) Georgetown 9, (3) Summerfield 3

Division 1 (1) John Curtis Christian 12, (4) Archbishop Chapelle 0 (4 innings)
(3) Mount Carmel Academy 3, (2) Dominican 1

Division III (1) Notre Dame 10, (4) St. Charles Catholic 0 (5 innings)
(3) Holy Savior Menard 10, (2) St. Thomas Aquinas 1

Division IV (1) Northside Christian 11, (4) Family Community 4
(2) Claiborne Christian 11, (3) University Academy 4

LHSAA Prep Softball Playoff Schedule for Friday, April 30

5A
(5) Airline vs. (1) West Monroe, 3 p.m. Field #17
(7) Pineville vs. (3) Barbe, 3 p.m. Field #18

4A
(4) Neville vs. (1) North DeSoto, 3 p.m. Field #15
(3) Tioga vs. (2) Beau Chene, 3 p.m. Field #16

3A
(4) Iowa vs. (1) Grant, 11 a.m. Field #13
(7) Sterlington vs. (3) Jena, 11 a.m. Field #14

2A
(12) French Settlement vs. (1) Many, 3 p.m. Field #13
(3) Rosepine vs. (2) Doyle, 3 p.m. Field #14

Division II
(4) Thomas Jefferson vs. (1) Archbishop Hannan, 11 a.m. Field #15
(3) Haynes Academy vs. (2) St. Thomas More, 11 a.m. Field #16

Division IV
(12) Riverside Academy vs. Calvary Baptist, 11 a.m. Field #17
(3) Ascension Christian vs. (2) Catholic (PC), 11 a.m. Field #18