David LeBoeuf Sr.
April 20, 2018
WHERE CAN YOU RELAY?
April 20, 2018
The 2017-18 academic year has been an amazing showcase of local athletic talent with area teams winning countless championships in just about every sport across the board.
But it’s not over yet.
Now, it’s softball’s turn.
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association released its softball brackets this past week and several local teams made up the fields in the different classifications.
All of our local teams are underdogs. No one will be at home in the opening-round. Many will be traveling literally across the state to play their games. But as we know in the playoffs it’s all about surviving, advancing and living to see another game.
CLASS 5A
In Class 5A, the area has two teams in the Field of 32 and both will be looking to try and make a Cinderella ride through the bracket
Thibodaux High earned the No. 26 seed and they took on No. 7 Northshore with no score available at press-time on Monday.
The Lady Tigers won 13 games this season and have the ability to score runs in bunches.
In their final two games of the year, they combined to score 27 runs – beating both East St. John and Patterson.
Northshore is a solid program -one of the better groups in Class 5A But the Lady Tigers are battle tested, coming out of a brutally tough District 7-5A.
Also playoff bound in District 7-5A is Terrebonne, which won 18 games this season and earned the No. 25 seed in the bracket.
The Lady Tigers traveled and took on No. 8 Alexandria on Tuesday. No score was available at press-time on Monday.
Terrebonne is led by coach Tammy Martin and the Lady Tigers are dangerous. They’ve beaten Destrehan, South Terrebonne and B.D. White, among others on the year.
Martin said she’s proud of her team for competing and battling throughout the year.
“I’m super proud of all these athletes for never giving up.” she said. “They fought every day to play for one and as one. Terrebonne High is back to the State Playoffs for the first time since 2010.”
CLASS 4A/DIVISION II
In Class 4A, three locals made the postseason and they’ll all be starting their journeys on the road.
South Terrebonne earned the No. 19 seed after a 10-win season in 2018.
The Lady Gators faced No. 14 Cecilia on Tuesday with no score available at press-time.
Also is are fellow District 7-4A competitors. South Lafourche and Ellender.
The Lady Patriots earned their way into the field as the No. 23 seed. They took on No. 10 Lutcher on Tuesday with no score available at press-time on Monday.
Ellender gives up runs in bunches at times, but they score a ton, too.
In their final three games of the season, the Lady Patriots combined to score 48 runs – all in wins Ellender has 13 games this season in which they’ve score 10 or more runs.
And them, there’s South Lafourche.
The Lady Tarpons were brutally young in 2018 with several sophomore starters for second-year coach Pete Melancon.
But despite the youth, the Lady Tarpons have advanced to the playoffs for the second-straight season, earning the No. 27 seed.
South Lafourche’s journey will not be an easy one.
The Lady Tarpons took on Belle Chasse at 5 p.m. on Monday with no scare available at press-time.
In Division II, both Vandebilt and E.D. White punched tickets to the postseason, though each will be facing up-hill climbs in their championship conquests.
The Lady Cardinals earned the No. 11 seed after winning 12 games this year But E.D. White is coming into the playoffs hot with four-straight wins, including wins over Assumption and South Terrebonne.
E.D. White will face No. 6 Haynes Academy tomorrow at 4p.m.
Vandebilt has been playing better lately, too.
The Lady Terriers started the season 1-11, which is unchartered territory for a program which has won countless state championships and which used to be an annual fixture in Sulphur for the State Tournament.
Vandebilt played better later in the season, winning five out of their final 11 games to score a postseason bid.
The Lady Terriers will be up against it in the opening round with a date at No. 1 Parkview Baptist.
That game was played yesterday with no score available at press-time on Monday afternoon.
DIVISION IV
In Division IV, Houma Christian will be heading to the postseason after another successful year.
The Christian Warriors earned the No. 13 seed in Division IV and will take on No. 4 Catholic – Pointe Coupee tomorrow.
The Christian Warriors are dangerous. They’re a 20-win team with a lot of offensive explosiveness.
They enter the playoffs with a five-game winning streak and they’ve tallied at least 10 or more runs in all five of those wins.
Houma Christian has several wins against playoff teems, including Ellender, South Terrebonne, South Lafourche, among others.
For full first-round results of the softball postseason, visit houmatimes.com.
Terrebonne High School’s softball team made the playoffs the first time since 2010 under coach Tammy Martin. The Lady Tigers are one of several locals in field.
