Joe Guzzardi
Baseball fans got good news earlier this month — or at least as good can be expected during COVID-19.
Major League Baseball approved a plan to go forward with Spring Training, also known as the Grapefruit League. Fans, who may or may not be allowed to watch the games, think that the reference to grapefruits evolved from the Florida camps where citrus grows in abundance.
The Lady Jays opened the softball season with wins over Crowley and Ville Platte.
In St. Edmund’s 11-0 win over Crowley, pitchers Karleigh Soileau and Kennedy Ardoin combined for a no-hit shutout.
Soileau pitched four innings with nine strikeouts and Ardoin closed the mercy-rule win with two strikeouts and a walk in the fifth inning.
The Blue Jays scored in the first inning when Ellie Manuel reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on a triple by Ardoin.
St. Edmund exploded for 10 runs in the third inning and the defense then sealed the win for the Lady Jays.
MONROE – Ouachita Christian’s pressure defense and transition offense proved to a winning combination as the No. 1 Lady Eagles rolled to a 58-27 quarterfinal win over the No. 8 St. Edmund Lady Jays.
Trailing 3-0 early, St. Ed’s Rebecca Benoit scored in the lane for the Lady Jays.
OCS (27-2) then went on a 17-0 run as the Lady Eagles forced turnovers and took control of the game.
Conleigh Laseter led the Lady Eagles with seven points in the first quarter, while Emery Wirtz and Jayden Ellerman both added four points.
No matter what the outcome of the LHSAA Class 4-A playoff game is on Friday, Eunice head boys basketball coach Chad Andrepont will be pleased with the Bobcats’ turnaround season.
No. 17 Eunice Bobcats visit No. 16 Cecilia (13-13) for a Class 4-A bi-district battle.
The Bobcats struggled to a 2-21 finish in 2020 but won 13 games this season.
“I was glad to see the growth from last year to this year,” Andrepont said. “It was an impressive turnaround.
It was a battle to the finish as St. Edmund advanced to the second round with a 46-40 win over Hanson Memorial.
The Lady Jays (15-7) now visit No. 1 Ouachita Christian on Friday in the LHSAA Div. IV state quarterfinals.
The Lady Eagles (26-2) opened the playoffs with a 70-21 victory over No. 16 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte.
St. Ed’s jumped out to a 8-2 lead, sparked by a trey from Mary Beth Lafleur, a put-back bucket by Greta Miller and a three-point play from Anna Belle Fontenot.
Hanson Memorial responded with an 8-0 run to gain a 10-8 advantage.
465 Aymond St.
Eunice, LA 70535
Phone: 337-457-3061
Fax: 337-457-3122