WSJH, SCC & RA advance to next round of softball playoffs
Published 12:01 am Saturday, April 21, 2018
- Shiaa Thomas, Jarae Jackson, Kyli Vonture, Talika Howard and Amiya Lumar stand together at West St. John High School.
RINGGOLD — After a sluggish start, the West St. John Lady Rams exploded at the top of the fifth inning during Tuesday’s bi-district game against Ringgold to come out with a 22-14 win.
After Kyli Vonture took the mound, it was a completely different ball game, according to head coach Kenneth Streeter.
The No. 17 seed Lady Rams proved they could withstand seven innings during West St. John’s first playoff game in recent memory. With a regional road match against No. 1 seed Oak Grove scheduled for 5 p.m. today, the odds of advancing further look almost insurmountable.
The West St. John softball team celebrates a win against Ringgold.
“We’re David going up against Goliath,” Streeter said. “All I can say is that we’ve had a miracle season. We’re going to compete regardless of how good they are. It’s fun to watch the girls play because they love what they do.”
St. Charles Catholic
LAPLACE — The St. Charles Catholic Lady Comets reaped the benefit of a rigorous practice schedule, blitzing through the regional round of playoffs with a 10-0 shutout against Ursuline Academy.
The opposition remained frozen at the batter’s box as senior Jade Brady pitched five consecutive no-hit innings.
Grace Mohon and Kelsey Williams led off with singles before Pylar Zeringue hit a two-run triple to right field. Soon after, Jori Bryant hit a two-run homer.
Head coach Ty Monica said players are swinging the bats well and treating each round as if it were the championship.
The Lady Comets travel to Sulphur next week to battle E. D. White in a quarterfinal round at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday.
If successful, the squad will face the winner of a game between De La Salle and Archbishop Hannan on Saturday.
Riverside Academy
RESERVE — The Riverside Academy Lady Rebels shut out Louise McGehee 16-0 Thursday in only three innings, due in large part to pitching from Lexi Johnson and Emma Palermo.
Head coach Tamra Regalo said Johnson’s two home runs in the second inning highlighted the evening.
The No. 6 seed Lady Rebels are setting their sights on the Division III quarterfinals, which will play out over Thursday and Friday in Sulphur.
At 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Riverside Academy is slated to face No. 3 seed St. Thomas Aquinas, a team Regalo is very familiar with.
“They’re a well-coached team that plays softball year-round, just like we do,” Regalo said. “I’m anticipating a good ball game.”
If the Lady Rebels advance to semifinals, they’ll face the winner of Notre Dame and Patrick Taylor Science/Tech.
