By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

Lutcher lost its grip on a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning last Friday, and saw its season come to an end at the hands of Kaplan, 4-3 in the class 3A state quarterfinals in Sulphur.

The Lady Pirates’ Devan Greene hit a bases loaded, two-RBI single with Kaplan trailing 3-2. It was the Pirates first lead of the game – Lutcher led 2-1 after an inning and hadn’t trailed.

“It just feels so great. It’s all that I can describe it as,” said Greene. “It’s the best feeling in the world.”

“We just didn’t finish,” said Lutcher Coach Blake Orgeron.

After Blair Frith and Torri Choate each singled for Kaplan, Courtney Hollier drew a walk.

Greene collected her second hit of the day after battling back against Lutcher pitcher Sara Schexnayder, who was ahead quickly in the count with two strikes.

“The first two pitches weren’t what I wanted. You hate to be 0-2,” said Greene. “I just waited for the one I wanted. I pulled it a bit, but it worked out in the end.”

Schexnayder allowed seven hits and walked one.

Kaplan’s Lanie Hollier struck out 11 batters and allowed five hits.

Courtney Hollier led Kaplan (28-7) at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two doubles.

Katie Ormond led the Bulldogs (18-16-1), going 2-for-4.

Schexnayder put Lutcher ahead in the first inning  by tripling in Ormond, making it 1-0.

Keri Zeringue added to the lead with a single, knocking in courtesy runner Maci Matherne to make it 2-0.

Kaplan answered in the bottom of the inning with a run, but Ormond’s RBI double in the second made it 3-1.

Courtney Hollier’s solo home run in the fourth made it 3-2. Ormond would tack on another Lutcher run, though, scoring from third on a passed ball in the fifth.

Kaplan’s Alee Sistrunk’s RBI single in the sixth pulled the Pirates within a run.

Orgeron was very familiar with Kaplan from previous years – twice, the Bulldogs and Pirates have met up in championship games.

“(Kaplan) knows how to finish games out,” he said.  “They know what to expect when the stakes are high. (Kaplan Coach Shay Herpin) always does an excellent job with his team.”