By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Airline handed District 1-5A leader Natchitoches Central its first district loss in a 9-7 softball win at Airline Monday.
The Lady Vikiings took a 7-0 lead into the fifth inning when the Lady Chiefs first got on the board with three runs to pull within 7-3. Airline got one of the runs back in the bottom of the fifth, but Natchitoches scored four more in the sixth to get within a run at 8-7. Airline scored the final run in the bottom of the sixth and retired the Lady Chiefs in order in the seventh.
Airline improved to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in 1-5A by getting 11 timely hits that included two home runs.
Four Lady Vikes had two hits in the game headed by Natalie Sutton and Paris Endris who both had home runs among their hits and both drove in two runs. Lindsey Marcinkus also drove in a pair of runs and scored three times. Elena Heng was the fourth Lady Vike with two hits.
Emily Rachal got the win in the circle by working 6 2/3 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3 runs and struck out 6.
The loss dropped Natchitoches Central to 12-7 overall and 5-1 in the district.
HAUGHTON 16, SOUTHWOOD 0: The Lady Bucs run-ruled the Lady Cowboys in four innings. Dixie Williams started in the circle for Haughton and allowed two hits in three innings and struck out four. The Bucs’ Kylie Small, Ariana Matthews, Ella Vickers and Averi Phillips all had three hits of the 15 the team had. Mathews had a double and triple, Phillips a double and Vickers a home run. Brooklynn Bockhaus had a run-scoring triple and Carsyn Kizzia a 2-run double. Haughton is now 11-8 overall and 3-0 in 1-5A.
CAPTAIN SHREVE 8, WESTON 1: Mikel-Ann Ricardo tossed a 1-hitter to get the complete game win in seven innings, striking out 16 and walking three. She also had a single and double at the plate with 2 RBIs. Leadoff hitter Aubrey Townsend had two solo home runs for Shreve, who snapped a 3-game loss skein and is now 9-8 on the season.
