The Eunice Lady Bobcats enter the Class 4-A playoffs celebrating a 21-5 overall record and co-District 4-4A championship.
First-year head coach Trenon Trosclair said he is thrilled that the Lady Cats performed so well this season.
“I am very proud of them,” Trosclair said. “The whole group has competed and never gave up all season.
Based on the current LHSAA power rankings, No. 7 Eunice will entertain No. 26 Eleanor McMain in the opening round of the playoffs.
“I am super excited for the girls to have a home game to open the playoffs,” he said. “This is very special and they deserve it.
“We have a really tough team that has stuck together,” the coach said. “Nothing bothers them, they just play and show how mentally tough they are.”
Eunice won the 2012 district championship with head coach Misty Guillory.
The Lady Cats captured the 1999 district title with head coach Scott Deshotel.
“We have two solid pitchers with Caroline Vienne and Jailyn Pavich,” the coach said. “They throw strikes and can change up their pitches.
“The defense is tough behind them including making both the routine and tough plays.”
Trosclair added that their offense is impressive in the way they produce runs.
“We need to keep doing what we have been doing,” the coach said. “We need to play good defense and produce on offense.
“It will take a total team effort for us to have a chance in the playoffs.
“I am glad for them that we have a share of the district title but we aren’t done yet – we will give it our best and see what happens.”
The last playoff win for the Lady Cats was in 2009 when Eunice grabbed a 4-0 home victory over Pearl River.
EHS then fell in a 1-0 heartbreaker to Sam Houston.
The softball season was cut short last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2019, Eunice fell in the first round to Albany, 12-0.
In 2018, the Lady Cats were pushed out in the first round in a 3-1 loss to South Beauregard.
“We have a really talented group of seniors,” Trosclair said of shortstop Olivia Thiboedaux, catcher McKenzie Guillory, outfielder Sydni Lemelle, Pavich and infielder Mallory O’Brien.
“They are hard-nosed tough players and I think the rest of the team follows their example.
“They really love playing softball and being with each other,” the coach said. “It is awesome to see what we accomplished this year, especially for the seniors.”
St. Edmund also earned a playoff berth under first year head coach Lacey LaGrange.
“I love the drive our girls have every game,” LaGrange said. “They never give up.
“We have great senior leadership,” the coach said. “Sarah Duplechain is always encouraging the team – she never lets them fell down in a game.”
Other seniors are Rebecca Benoit, Anna Belle
Fontenot, Mary Beth Lafleur, Rebecca Benoit and Jacey Cobb.
“I want to see them win because they give their all when they are on field,” the coach said.
Based on the current LHSAA Division IV power rankings, the No. 11 Lady Jays will travel to No. 6 Cedar Creek (16-10) to open the playoffs.
St. Edmund (15-7) began the season with an 11-0 run before finishing the season with a 4-7 slump.
“We started the season well and were scoring a lot of runs,” LaGrange said.
The Lady Jays outscored their opponents 117-20 during their winning streak.
“The only thing different from the beginning of the year and now is our hitting and scoring,” LaGrange said.
Over the last 10 games of the season, the Lady Jays were outscored 55- 38.
“We slowly fell into a hitting slump that we need to get out of to win in the playoffs.
“We are working to get back to the basics to get move runners around and score runs.”
St. Edmund closed the regular season with a 21-3 romp over Westlake on Thursday as the Lady Jays had 14 hits and 14 RBIs, taking advantage of eight errors.
The Lady Jays exploded for 18 runs in the second inning
Jenna Smith went 4-for- 4 with two RBIs and four runs scored in the win.
Mary Beth Lafleur finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Alice Brown went 2-for-3 with a RBI and three runs scored.
Harlie Guillory (2-for-4, 2 RBIs), Anna Chapman (2-for-2) and Rebecca Benoit (2-for-2, RBI) also finished with multiple hits against Westlake.
In the three inning mercy-rule win, Karleigh Soileau struck out four and didn’t allow a hit, while Hannah Benoit closed the game as she allowed three runs on two hit with two strikeouts and three walks.
St. Edmund’s losses came against 5-A Natchitoches Central, 2-A Port Barre, Central Catholic and Hanson Memorial.
The Lady Jays also fell to district foes Opelousas Catholic and Catholic High of Pointe Coupee.
LaGrange said their schedule will help prepare them for the playoffs.
“A loss is not something to get down on,” she said. “We learn from them and put in to the next game on how we can get better.
“We can do well in the playoffs,” the coach said. “Our goal is still to make it to the state tournament in Sulphur and we have a chance.”
The Lady Jays were 11-1 last year before the season was halted.
The Lady Jays won back-to-back district titles in 2018-2019 but lost in the first round both seasons.
St. Ed’s fell 14-0 to the eventual state champion Cedar Creek in 2018 and lost 8-4 to 2019 state champions Catholic High of Pointe Coupee.
The Lady Jays’ last playoff win was in 2016 when St. Ed’s claimed a 7-3 victory over Lafayette Christian Academy before falling to Hanson Memorial (4-0).
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