Vandebilt girls two wins from Class 4A title

Top-seeded Vandebilt will make its 10th straight trip to the state softball tournament after defeating Bastrop 7-0 in Class 4A regionals last Friday at home.

With male students painting themselves and dressing in cheerleader uniforms, the game’s atmosphere bordered between frenzy and surreal.

“The crowd was awesome today; the best its ever been,” said Lauren Crane, who shined on the mound and at the plate. “It’s exciting to know they love and support us.”

The Lady Terriers (26-5-2) scored twice in the first inning. Crane (1-for-2, 2 RBIs) laced a triple down the first base line to score Chelsea Allen. During the next at bat, Saddie LeMaire, running for Crane, scored on a pass ball for a 2-0 Vandebilt lead.

Vandebilt scored three runs in the fifth off a Lauren Martinez single, Crane groundout and a Maddie Constant double.

Martinez (2-for-4, 3 RBIs) belted a two-run double in the sixth plating Kelsie Coombs and Heather Bergeron to conclude the contest.

Bastrop (15-11) managed only two hits in the game, one each from Tiffany Lee and Amelia Montgomery.

“It was disappointing because in our last four games, we scored double-digit runs,” said Bastrop head coach William Nason. “But there is an old adage: Good pitching stops good hitting seven days a week. That’s what we ran into.”

Crane threw 11 strikeouts and walked no one in her six-inning victory.

“Lauren was on all game,” said Vandebilt head Margaret Johnson. “She had them guessing in the box.”

Bastrop’s Miranda Wyatt took the loss allowing three runs and three hits in 4.1 innings. In relief, Montgomery gave up four runs on hits in 1.2 innings.

“We were having trouble with the timing of this pitcher,” said Johnson. “We were more or less meeting the ball, but when we did hit, they were big hits – two doubles and a triple.

Vandebilt will face Neville Friday on Field 15 of Frasch Park in Sulphur.

HOUMA CHRISTIAN 11, MAUREPAS 5

The Lady Warriors will make their first-ever trip to the state tournament in Sulphur following its Class B regional victory last Friday.

The game was stopped in the top of the sixth because of inclement weather.

Houma Christian starter Lauren Crowdus got the win pitching five innings, allowing six hits, striking out three batters and hitting two.

Houma Christian scored two runs in the first inning, seven runs in the third, and one in the fourth and fifth innings.

Maurepas scored a run in the third inning and four runs in the fourth.

At the plate, Lindsey Crowdus was 2-for-4 with a stolen base and an RBI. Getting one hit each were Courtney Collie (double, RBI), Danielle Fournier (double, two RBIs), Brooke Allemand (RBI), Shira LaGreca (three RBIs) and Emily Albares.

Houma Christian (26-5) will play No. 11 Negreet on Field 19 of Frasch Park in the quarterfinals Friday at noon.

Vandebilt’s Lauren Crane threw 11 strikeouts in her complete game victory. * Photo by KEYON K. JEFF