JOURNAL SPORTS
The LHSAA baseball and softball playoffs got going Thursday with five local teams in action, and four more take the field today or Saturday in bi-district games.
Evangel’s softball team was the only Shreveport-Bossier winner Thursday and the Eagles eliminated anther local team, Byrd.
Captain Shreve’s 11th-seeded softball team is home today at 1 against No. 22 Woodlawn of Baton Rouge in a Select Division I contest, with the winner advancing to regional round play next week.
Airline’s baseball team makes its postseason debut on the road today in Baton Rouge. The No. 23-seeded Vikings take on 10th-seeded Dutchtown in a best-of-three Non-Select Division I series beginning with a 6 p.m. game this evening, and continuing Saturday morning at 11 with a 1:30 “if necessary” third game.
Two local softball teams are on the road for their playoff openers, with single-game outcomes determining which team advances in the bracket.
In Non-Select Division I, No. 18 Haughton visits District 1-5A rival Natchitoches Central, the 15th seed, at 5 p.m. in a rematch of a 5-0 Lady Chiefs’ victory on April 2.
A Select Division I matchup Saturday at 10 a.m. sends No. 23 Huntington to 10th-seeded Dominican.
Three Thursday softball games involved four local teams.
Evangel topped Byrd 11-5 in a Select Division I matchup of the 16 and 17 seeds, and Evangel advanced to face No. 1 Pineville next week in Rapides Parish.
Caddo Magnet was eliminated in the Select Division I bracket with the 13th-seeded Mustangs getting drubbed 21-5 by visiting St. Scholastica, ranked 20th. In Select Division II, No. 17 Loyola was thrashed 15-0 at No. 15 Cabrini.
In a Thursday bi-district Select Division I baseball doubleheader, No. 18 Byrd was halted by 15th-seeded St. Paul’s in Covington, 8-4 and 15-2.
All other local playoff teams earned opening-round byes and begin their postseasons next week.