JOURNAL SPORTS 

Natchitoches Central took a 3-0 lead into the seventh inning and survived by throwing out an Airline runner at the plate that would have tied the game in a thrilling 3-2 win that clinched its third consecutive District 1-5A softball title.

Airline leadoff hitter Elena Heng came to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the top of the seventh inning trailing 3-0. She  tripled to centerfield to score Ryan Hutchinson and Addison McDowell. Haley Whiteside tried to score from first base to tie the game but was out at the plate. 

Maddie Robinson got the win in the circle for the Lady Chiefs and hit a fifth-inning home run to give Natchitoches Central a 3-0 lead. Robinson allowed three hits, walked seven and struck out 10. Her cousin Desi Robinson was 2-for-3 and drove in a run in the two-run NCHS third inning.

Taylor Anne Smith suffered the loss for visiting Airline (19-7, 6-1) allowing three hits and one earned run as she struck out five, but also walked five.

Natchitoches Central, rated No. 4 in the LHSAA Division I power ratings, is now 22-3, 7-0.  

HAUGHTON 14, PARKWAY 2: At Parkway, a 10-run third inning explosion keyed the Lady Bucs to the 1-5A win and a third-place tie with Benton at 4-3 in district. Macey Schut was 4-for-4 with two doubles and drove in five runs. Dixie Williams went  3-for-3 at the plate and picked up the win in the circle as she allowed two hits, walked one and struck out seven in the five-inning contest. Ella Vickers, Kayleigh Goss, Kylie Small and Carsyn Kizzia all had two hits for Haughton (11-9, 4-3).

BENTON 26, SOUTHWOOD 0: The Lady Tigers’ finish in a third-place tie in 1-5A with Haughton (4-3) after the win at Southwood. Sophia Livers, Ashley Promes and Erin Disotell were all 2-for-2. Livers’ and Disotell’s hits were both doubles and Promes had a double and drove in five runs. Benton is 14-12 overall. 

CAPTAIN SHREVE 11, BYRD 0: At Captain Shreve, Ella Hendrick pitched a five-inning no-hitter, striking out 11, and Jayda Martin and Brianna Jones hit home runs in the District 1-5A win. Elexa Beaudoin (2-for-3) Hendrick (2-for-3) and Aubry Townsend (2-for-3) with three RBI led the way at the plate for Shreve (13-7, 3-4). 

MINDEN 6, NORTHWOOD 2: At Northwood, Leigha K-Gilbert’s bases-loaded inside-the-park home run to centerfield in the fifth inning was the big blow that carried the Tide to the 1-4A win to secure second place in the district at 6-1. Gilbert also had a pair of doubles and was the only player with multiple hits for Minden, now 14-11 overall. Northwood (12-6, 5-2) scored its only runs in the seventh inning as Mackenzie Jagers tripled in the first run and scored the second on an Analyse Fuqua single.