By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Wednesday’s release of the 2024 LHSAA softball state playoff brackets confirmed what everybody knew – reigning state champion Calvary Baptist would be the top-seed in the Select Division III bracket.
The Lady Cavaliers (31-2) had a power rating of 38.82 which is the highest of any top seed in the Select brackets. It is 7.22 points ahead of second-seeded St. Charles.
Calvary has a bye in the first round and will host the winner of No. 17 Beekman Charter (14-12) and Loyola (9-7) in the second round early next week. The Flyers will host the Tigers of Bastrop Saturday at 1 p.m.
Three local teams slotted in the Select Division I bracket all have home games in the first round. Ninth-seeded Captain Shreve (20-9) will host 24th-ranked Scotlandville (4-5). No. 16 Northwood (9-15) will host No. 17 John Ehret (12-10) and No. 14 Caddo Magnet (12-11) entertains No. 19 Byrd (3-22).
In Division II Select, Evangel (8-23) is an 11 seed and will host 22 seed Washington-Marion (5-15). Booker T. Washington (8-10) is the 20 seed and travels to face No. 13 Lafayette Christian (7-13).
Three Non-Select local schools made the postseason, with two in Division I (Airline, Benton) and one in Division IV (Plain Dealing).
Airline (18-14) is the 16 seed and will host No. 17 Hahnville (18-14). No. 23 Benton (16-14) will travel to play at No. 10 Sulphur (18-9). Plain Dealing (15-7) is the 15 seed and welcomes No. 18 Pickering (8-14) to Bossier Parish.
Haughton (No. 27) in Non-Select Division and Huntington (No. 25) in Select Division I both finished one spot short of making their respective brackets.
Playoff games begin today statewide and will finish with the state tournament April 26-27 at Frasch Park in Sulphur. First-round contests must be completed by Saturday night.
Local first-round softball playoff pairings
Non-Select
Division I
17-Hahnville (18-14) at 16-Airline (18-14), Friday, 5 p.m.
23-Benton (16-14) at 10-Sulphur (18-9), Friday, 5 p.m.
Division IV
18-Pickering (8-14) at 15-Plain Dealing (15-7), Saturday, 4 p.m.
Select
Division I
17-John Ehret (12-10) at 16-Northwood (9-15), Friday, 4:30 p.m.
24-Scotlandville (4-5) at 9-Captain Shreve (20-9)
19-Byrd (3-22) at 14-Caddo Magnet (12-11)
Division II
20-BTW (8-10) at 13-Lafayette Christian (7-13), Today, 5 p.m.
22-Washington-Marion (5-15) at 11-Evangel (8-23), Friday, 5 p.m.
Division III
1-Calvary (31-2), Bye
17-Beekman Charter (14-12) at 16-Loyola (9-7), Saturday, 1 p.m.
Contact Lee at leeh051@hotmail.com