JOURNAL SPORTS
Calvary Baptist has won a state championship in softball the last two years maybe because it didn’t have to face Menard of Alexandria in the playoffs.
The Lady Cavaliers were beaten in the state semifinals their previous two trips (2018, 2019) to Sulphur in the semifinals by the Lady Eagles, so Saturday’s 14-1 five-inning win in the LHSAA Select Division III quarterfinal in Alexandria was big.
Every Calvary batter in the lineup had a hit in a barrage of 17 total with Tavia Leadon leading the way, going 4-for-4 with a double and home run. Carlie Guile was 3-for-4 with a triple, while Mallory Carver was 2-of-4 with a home run and four RBIs. DJ Lynch homered in going 2-for-4 and drove in three and Abby Sims was 2-for-3.
Calvary took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Mary Grace Woodle and Elana Franks’ two-run single.
After Menard struck for its only run in the second inning to pull within 3-1, the Cavs blew things wide open with an eight-run fourth inning. Lynch started it with a three-run homer and Woodle brought in a run with a sacrifice fly. Carver culminated the scoring with a grand slam to stake Calvary to an 11-1 lead.
Leadon closed out the scoring for the Lady Cavs with a three-run home run in the fifth inning.
Kynzee Anderson pitched a complete game to get the win in the circle, allowing five hits while she walked two and struck out eight.
Calvary’s only other defeat of Menard in the playoffs was in the 2016 Division III finals. The Lady Eagles have the playoff series edge with four semifinal wins. The defeat keeps them out of the state tournament for the first time in nine years.
The top-seeded Lady Cavs will play No. 4 Houma Christian at the North Frasch Softball Complex in Sulphur Friday at 5 p.m.
