JOURNAL SPORTS
A couple of days after dropping a tough pitchers’ duel for the district championship to Natchitoches Central, Airline had to hold off a rally by defending small school state champion Many for a 12-11 non-district win at home Thursday.
The Lady Vikings picked up their 20tn win in 27 games with a six-run second inning to take a 7-2 lead into the fourth inning. Lindsey Marcinkus broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run single and Natalie Sutton later made it 7-2 with a two-run double.
Many came back and tied the game 8-8 with two runs in the fifth. Airline leadoff hitter Elena Heng hit a two-run home run to break the tie in the bottom of the inning and Sutton added a run-scoring single to stake the Lady Vikes to an 11-8 bulge.
Heng had an RBI groundout in the sixth for a 12-10 advantage that proved to be the cushion Airline needed.
Sutton was 3-for-4 with four RBI, Heng was 2-for-5 with three RBI and Haley Whiteside went 2-for-4 with a double.
CALVARY 9, OUACHITA CHRISTIAN 3: The Lady Cavaliers picked up win No. 20 on the season in taking the non-district game at home. DJ Lynch homered and was 3-for-4 and Carlie Guile and Elana Franks both had a double and home run. Tavia Leadon had two hits in three at bats and Ramsey Walker also hit a home run for Calvary (20-8).
CEDAR CREEK 17, BENTON 9: In Ruston, the Lady Tigers couldn’t keep up with the Lady Cougars. Sophia Livers was 4-for-5 with a double. Olivia Burns had a home run and was 2-for-4, while Ashley Promes drove in three runs and had a single and double for Benton (14-13).
CAPTAIN SHREVE 12-17, CASTOR 0-7: The host Lady Gators got the doubleheader sweep as Meagan Hill hit a three-run home run and finished with a team-high four RBI in the 12-0 win. Lauren Simpkins was 2-for-3 with a double and Ella Hendrick got the win in the circle with 10 strikeouts. Hendrick was 3-for-3 with a double and home run in the second game. Jayda Martin had two doubles and a single along with Aubry Townsend, who was 3-for-4 with three RBI.
ST. MARY’S 2, NORTHWOOD 1: The Lady Tigers scored a pair of runs in the first inning and made them hold up for the non-district win at home. Cameron Clark was the hard-luck loser in the circle working six innings, allowing five hits, two runs, and striking out four. She also had a double at the plate for Northwood (12-7).
LAKESIDE 7, EVANGEL 1: Brooklyn Horton and Gabbi Olague were both 2-for-4 for the host Lady Eagles, who stayed close until a four-run seventh inning by the Lady Warriors. Evangel dropped to 7-18 on the season, while Lakeside improved to 15-10.