One week into the Louisiana high school softball season, many Southwest Louisiana teams are taking their first steps to returning to the state tournament and district championships.
Six teams represented Southwest Louisiana in last year’s Fast Pitch 56 state tournament, and those teams and more have expectations of returning to Frasch Park in Sulphur. One such team is Barbe, which reached last year’s tournament after defeating District 3-5A rival Sam Houston last year before suffering a heartbreaking 7-6 loss to Ouachita Parish in the quarterfinals.
“The goals and the expectations are the same every season,” said Barbe head coach Sarah Portie. “We want to play well, especially at the end of the season when it counts and hopefully get back to the state tournament.”
This year the Bucs will have to get there despite losing a number of experienced seniors, including current Louisiana-Lafayette freshman outfielder Aeriyl Mass.
But where they lost hitting experience, they gained a veteran pitcher in senior and McNeese State signee Jeanne Trahan who transferred from Hackberry after leading the Mustangs to their sixth consecutive state championship.
The Bucs also return senior Emily Hart in the circle after a successful junior season in which she hit her stride late.
Barbe will get an early preview of district play Monday when they take on Sam Houston in a nondistrict game and a rematch of last year’s Class 5A regional-round game.
“Anytime you have a new team, even with some returners, you have to get the kinks out early and be consistent on offense, defense and on the mound,” Portie said.
Defending District 3-5A champion Sam Houston will look to replace former Louisiana Player of the Year Tanner Wright in the circle as they hope to rebound after last year’s premature finish to the season.
Class 4A
Leesville also hopes to make a return to Frasch Park a year after reaching the quarterfinal. The Wampus Cats return two all-staters in pitcher Madelyn Phillips and outfielder Keyana Poteat.
Class 3A
Iota will also field a young team in hopes of winning its third consecutive District 4-3A title.
The Bulldogs will have to wait until the end of the week before they can field their complete team as much of the team will compete in the state basketball tournament in Hammond.
But head coach Leah Marcantel said many of the players who can practice right now have her confident in Iota’s ability to have another successful season.
“We’re replacing much of our infield, but we have a lot of solid young players,” Marcantel said. “I’m hoping we can go even further (than the quarterfinals) this year.”
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