JOURNAL SPORTS
Byrd jumped to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first, survived an Evangel rally to regain the lead in the top of the seventh Thursday in the team’s opening round Select Division I softball playoff, and was poised to pull an upset until the Lady Eagles closed the deal.
Evangel scored twice in the home half of the sixth, weathered the Lady Jackets’ rally in the seventh and got the game-winning base hit in the bottom of the seventh by MacKenzie Hooten, whose soft opposite-field line drive over first base near the line made Evangel a 6-5 winner.
Evangel (14-14), the 14th seed, survived a fierce bid from the 19th-seeded Lady Jackets (5-14). The Lady Eagles advance to the regional round for a trip to play third-seeded Archbishop Chappel.
Also playing at home, Captain Shreve and Caddo Magnet were explosive offensively in first-round wins Thursday while North Caddo was blanked at Rosepine.
More Shreveport-Bossier softball teams are in action today. Airline hosts West Ouachita at 5, Loyola is home against Frederick A. Douglass at 4, and Plain Dealing hosts Lakeview at 6. On the road this afternoon are Northwood (at Ouachita, 5 p.m.) and Booker T. Washington (at David Thibodaux, 4 o’clock).
Calvary has a bye and does not play until next week.
Today, No. 14 Evangel starts its home baseball best-of-3 series against No. 19 Liberty with a 6 o’clock game. Saturday the teams play Game 2 at noon with a potential third game at 3.
Other local baseball teams begin their playoff series today on the road. Northwood visits Sulphur, Haughton goes to Southside in Lafayette, and Byrd is in New Orleans to take on St. Aug.
Five more local teams don’t play until next week.
THURSDAY’S SOFTBALL PLAYOFF SCORES (single-elimination)
Select Division I
Evangel 6, Byrd 5
Captain Shreve 14, Edna Karr 0
Caddo Magnet 25, John Ehret 17
Non-Select Division III
Rosepine 16, North Caddo 0
THURSDAY’S BASEBALL PLAYOFF SCORE
Mandeville 6, Airline 2 (Game 1, best-of-3 series); Game 2 today at 6 at Mandeville, if-necessary Game 3 Saturday at 11.