Airline, four other local teams claim first-round softball playoff wins 

 (Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports) 

JOURNAL SPORTS 

Airline pitcher Taylor Anne Smith tossed a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts as the Lady Vikings knocked off Neville 9-0 in a LHSAA Non-Select Division I softball playoff win Monday at Airline. 

Smith helped her cause at the plate with two hits in three at bats as the Lady Vikes (22-10) had 11 hits on the day. Paige Marshall (2-for-2) and Emily Rachal (2-or-4) also had multiple hits with Rachal and Natalie Sutton cracking doubles for Airline, the No. 11 seed in the bracket.  

Aleena Duran had a two-run single and Sutton a run-scoring double in Airline’s seven-run fourth inning.  

Neville’s lone hit was a fifth-inning single as the No. 22 Lady Tigers fell to 13-16. 

Airline will be on the road in the second round Wednesday at No. 6 Walker, who had a first-round bye. 

FONTAINEBLEAU 7, BENTON 6: The host Lady Bulldogs scored three runs in the sixth inning to rally past the Lady Tigers. Benton (15-16), the No. 23 seed in the Non-Select Division I bracket, scored three runs in the fifth inning to forge ahead 5-4. Christina Gegg tied the game 4-4 on a two-run double and Benton took the lead when an Emersyn Disotell bunt was misplayed. Meaux Carroll singled in a run an inning later to give the Tigers a 6-4 lead, but the home team rallied.

CAPTAIN SHREVE 15, EDNA KARR 0: The Lady Gators got the three-inning run rule win in a Select Division I bracket game as Ella Hendrick didn’t allow a hit, striking out seven of the 10 batters she faced. Hendrick contributed at the plate as well with two doubles and two RBI. Nora Falcon had a double and triple with two RBI and Lauren Simpkins had a double for Shreve (21-9), who will be on the road in the second round Wednesday at No. 5 Archbishop Chapelle.  

NORTHWOOD 11, WEST JEFFERSON 1: The Lady Falcons scored four runs in the third inning, three in the fourth and ended the game with four more in the sixth to post the Select Division I run-rule win. Leadoff batter Addyson Hemphill was 3-for-4 and Mackenzie Jagers 2-for-2 to support Cameron Clark, who struck out 13 in six innings. She allowed three hits and walked three for Northwood, now 15-9. The Falcons go to Alexandria to face No. 4 Pineville Wednesday in the second round.  

EVANGEL 12, ST. MICHAEL 1: Eight runs in their final two at-bats enabled the Lady Eagles to run-rule the host Lady Warriors in a Select Division II playoff win. Evangel (15-16) was led by Gabby Olague who had a double, three-run home run and single in three at-bats and drove in four runs. Holly Hanks also had three hits with a double and two RBI.  Madison Hooten doubled in Evangel’s first two runs and finished with three RBI. Olivia Pandiella allowed two hits in four innings, as she walked three and struck out four. Evangel faces top-ranked Buckeye in round two Wednesday.  

LOYOLA 19, EPISCOPAL 6: Sophea Anthony drove in four runs with three hits in the Lady Flyers’ Select Division III first-round playoff win at St. Vincents Field in five innings. Loyola (11-9) had 17 hits with six players contributing multiple hits. Presley Walker was 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI, Ka’Lea Davis, Larkin Krieg and Cassidy Smith all had a single and double with two RBI and Jillian Drouillard was 2-for-3. Loyola will travel to play No. 3 St. Charles in the second round Wednesday.  

LHSAA local playoff results, schedule. 

Non-Select Division I  

First round 

19-Haughton 11, 14-Southside 1 

10-Fontainebleau 7, 23-Benton 6 

11-Airline 9, 22-Neville 0 

Second round 

19-Haughton at 3-Sam Houston, Today, 5 p.m. 

11-Airline at 6-Walker, Wednesday, 5 p.m. 

Non-Select Division IV 

First round 

14-Grand Lake 18, 19-Plain Dealing 2 

Select Division I 

First round 

17-Ben Franklin 7, 16-Caddo Magnet 6 

9-Mt. Carmel 15, 24-Byrd 0 

12-Captain Shreve 15, 21-Edna Karr 0 

13-Northwood 11, 20-West Jefferson 1 

Second round 

12-Captain Shreve at 5-Archbishop Chapelle, Wednesday, 5 p.m. 

13-Northwood at 4-Pineville, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. 

Select Division II 

First round  

17-Evangel 12, 16-St. Michael 1 

Second round 

17-Evangel at 1-Buckeye, Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. 

Select Division III 

First round 

1-Calvary, Bye 

14-Loyola 19, 19-Episcopal 6 

Second round 

16-Catholic-New Iberia at 1-Calvary, Wednesday, 4:30 p.m. 

14-Loyola at 3-St. Charles, Wednesday, 4 p.m.