It seemed almost inevitable, and it was. Tioga and Pineville will square off Friday evening at 6 at the Ward 10 Complex in an LHSAA Select Division I state quarterfinal softball game, with the winner advancing to the state tournament next weekend in Sulphur.
Both teams posted second-round wins Tuesday. They were among six Rapides Parish softball squads surviving and advancing to the quarterfinal round.
ASH made the most dramatic move. The Lady Trojans trailed visiting Captain Shreve 7-0 Tuesday, but came all the way back to win 8-7 in eight innings.
Also on to the quarterfinals: Buckeye, Menard and Grace Christian. Eliminated in Round 2: Oak Hill, which fell 11-7 to Family Community, and Glenmora, beaten 15-0 by D’Arbonne Woods.
The Lady Trojans’ big comeback began with a four-run bottom of the sixth, highlighted by an RBI double from Jordyn Turner and a two-run double by Mary Claire Brinkman.
Sara Grace Buckles opened the bottom of the seventh and ignited ASH. Freshman Caitlyn Land slammed a three-run homer to draw the locals even with Captain Shreve and force extra innings.
An inning later, Brinkman got a hit and advanced all the way to third. The Lady Gators issued two intentional walks to load the bases and set up a force at the plate, but Amiyah Wilson drew a walk to end the game and complete a remarkable comeback by the Lady Trojans.
The win sends ASH, seeded seventh in Select Division I, to No. 1 St. Thomas More for a Friday 5:30 quarterfinal.
The rest of the local winners left no doubt.
Tioga, No. 3 in Select Division I, rolled over Caddo Magnet 16-0. Sixth-seeded Pineville smacked Lafayette 10-0.
Buckeye, the top seed in Select Division II, pounded the Willow School 15-0 Monday and will host No. 8 David Thibodaux on Friday at 5 o’clock.
Menard, No. 3 in Select Division III, thrashed University Lab 10-0 Tuesday. The Lady Eagles host No. 5 Notre Dame in a game slated for a 5 p.m. Saturday first pitch, but if the weather forecast holds, that start time could be moved up to beat incoming rain.
Grace Christian is the No. 1 seed in Select Division V, and will play No. 8 Avoyelles Public Charter Friday at 5 for a spot in the state tournament. Grace had a bye into the quarterfinals in the smaller Division V bracket.
- With reporting from the ASH-Captain Shreve game by Journal contributor LaMar Gafford
