LHSAA softball playoffs get busy today with first-round games

(Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports)

JOURNAL SPORTS

First-round games in the LHSAA softball playoffs began last Friday but only a few contests involving local teams have been played as the brunt of the schedule will take place today.

Airline, the No. 11  seeded team in the Non-Select Division I bracket, will host No. 22 Neville of Monroe today at 5 p.m. In the same bracket, No. 23 Benton will travel to play No. 10 Fontainebleau.

Haughton, ranked No. 19 in the bracket, was one of two local teams to play early and defeated No. 14 Southside in Lafayette on Friday 12-1.

Plain Dealing is on the road in a Non-Select Division IV game today with No. 14 Grand Lake. 

On the Select side three games will be played locally. Division I has No. 12 Captain Shreve hosting No. 21 Edna Karr and No. 13 Northwood entertaining No. 20 West Jefferson. In Division III, Loyola, the No. 14 seed, will host No. 19 Episcopal. 

Caddo Magnet played its first-ever home playoff game on Saturday in Select Division I. The Lady Mustangs (No. 16) fell to No. 17 Ben Franklin 7-6.

Teams on the road in Select Division I include No. 24 Byrd at Mount Carmel, and Select Division II Evangel (No. 17) at St. Michael (16).  

Calvary is the top-rated team in Division III and received a first-round bye. 

In two first-round games played Friday and Saturday involving local teams, Haughton went on the road to win and Caddo Magnet lost at home. 

In a Non-Select Division I game in Lafayette, No. 19 Haughton defeated No. 14 Southside 12-1 Friday  as Lainey Dobrow hit a pair of three-run home runs. Four other Lady Bucs had a pair of hits as Haughton totaled 14 on the day. Kylie Small homered and singled in three at bats, Carsyn Kizzia and Ella Vickers both had two doubles and Macey Schut was 2-for-4. Dixie Williams picked up the win in the circle allowing five hits in six innings and one unearned run as she walked one and struck out seven.

Caddo Magnet made history playing its first-ever home playoff game and almost claimed its first playoff win in school history, falling to Ben Franklin 7-6 Saturday in a Select Division I contest.  The Lady Mustangs, who were the No. 16 seed, led 5-2 in the fourth inning but couldn’t hold off the visitors. 

Here is the full list of first-round local games. 

Non-Select Division I 

19-Haughton 12, 14-Southside 1

23-Benton (15-15) at 10-Fontainebleau (14-5), 5 p.m. 

22-Neville (13-15) at 11-Airline (21-10), 5 p.m. 

Non-Select Division IV 

19- Plain Dealing (7-10) at 14-Grand Lake (7-14), 5:30 p.m. 

Select Division I 

17-Ben Franklin 7, 16-Caddo Magnet 6 

24-Byrd (1-21) at 9-Mt. Carmel (14-11), 4 p.m. 

21-Karr (9-13) at 12-Captain Shreve (20-9), 5 p.m. 

20-West Jefferson (7-9) at 13-Northwood (14-9), 4:30 p.m. 

Select Division II 

17-Evangel (10-21) at 16-St. Michael (13-18), 5 p.m. 

Select Division III 

1-Calvary (22-10), Bye 

19-Episcopal (10-9) at 14-Loyola (10-9), 4:30 p.m.