Since Stuart Laborde took over the Oakdale softball program in 2020, he has been building up the Warriors for this moment — their first trip to the state tournament.

The first season was a winless COVID-19 shortened season in 2020, then a 1-17 record in 2021. Oakdale won a playoff game in 2022 for the first time since 2017, then reached the quarterfinals last season.

Laborde went to Oakdale looking to coach football but soon after he arrived he was asked to add softball to his list of duties.

“If I am in something, I give it my all every minute,” Laborde said. “We had to get out there and build.

“It was real rough for a little while. I remember staying up at night talking to my wife about what else I could do. I kept working and so did the girls. They kept showing up every day. It really started with my seniors who graduated last year. They were freshmen in that 0-7 season. They just kept working, and getting better and better. They trusted the process. My girls have really done that.”

Oakdale was 21/2 innings from reaching Sulphur last season. Going into the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors led Montgomery 4-2, but the Tigers exploded for 12 runs and won 14-4. The seventh-ranked Warriors (19-8) will get a chance at revenge when they play No. 3 Montgomery (26-7) at 2:30 p.m. today in the nonselect Division IV semifinals on Field 19 at North Frasch Park in Sulphur.

The Warriors are the lone Southwest Louisiana team to reach the state tournament this year.

“It is exciting,” Laborde said. “You can’t tell me there isn’t a coach that doesn’t want to get revenge. Everyone loves a good revenge game.

“Nothing but respect for Montgomery. They are here every year. My girls are really locked in and they are excited.

“We respect Montgomery completely because we know the firepower they have. They can hit the ball extremely well and see pitches well. They are hard to strike out. They remind me a little bit of Menard. Menard does not strike out a lot. We have to be really locked in defensively.”

Sophomore pitcher Ainslie Willis has been stellar in the circle in the postseason with two complete games, including a one-hitter in the Warriors’ 1-0 win over No. 2 Oakdale in the quarterfinals. She struck out 15 while locked in a pitchers’ duel with Kinley Cox (11 strikeouts).

“None of this happens without Ainslie Willis,” Laborde said. “She is the definition of what it means to be a Warrior.

“She hurt her shoulder the last game against Rosepine. Oakdale hadn’t beaten Rosepine in softball in years. This year we actually beat them twice. Ainslie came ready to go. Until Friday night, I thought her Rosepine game was the best I had ever seen her pitch.”

Kinslee Monk and Chloe Bradley also came up big in the quarterfinals. Bradley hit a triple in the top of the seventh, the Warriors’ lone hit, and scored on Monk’s sacrifice fly. Both had to adapt to changes this year. Monk moved to left field after two seasons as an all-district second baseman, and Laborde had Bradley change her batting stance.

“It is just stuff like that that shows the dedication and work ethic these girls (have),” Laborde said. “It has been great.”

The Warriors feed off leadoff batter Jolie West, who is batting .500 in the postseason, while Bradley is hitting .556 with five runs, five RBIs and four extra-base hits. Kayla Bradley, Madison Sumbler and Willis have been consistent at the plate, Laborde said, and Emani Young brings speed and power to the lineup.

“It starts with the leadoff, Jolie West,” Laborde said. “However, she starts the game, the team seems to fall in line with it. She usually starts the game of good even if it is drawing a nine-pitch walk. It sets our tone.”

State Tournament

Semifinals

Friday

At North Frasch Park

Sulphur

Nonselect

Division I

No. 8 Live Oak vs. No. 4 Ponchatoula, 5 p.m. (Field 13).

No. 2 Southside vs. No. 3 St. Amant, 5 p.m. (Field 14).

Division II

No. 1 North DeSoto vs. No. 4 North Vermilion, noon (Field 15).

No. 2 Lutcher vs. No. 6 Grant, noon (Field 16).

Division III

No. 1 Sterlington vs. No. 5 Jena, 2:30 p.m. (Field 13).

No. 2 Doyle vs. No. 11 Many, 2:30 p.m. (Field 14).

Division IV

No. 1 Logansport vs. No. 5 French Settlement, noon (Field 19).

No. 3 Montgomery vs. No. 7 Oakdale, 2:30 p.m. (Field 19).

Division V

No. 1 Quitman vs. No. 5 Converse, noon (Field 17).

No. 6 Stanley vs. No. 7 Anacoco, noon (Field 18).

Select

Division I

No. 1 St. Thomas More vs. No. 5 Archbishop Chapelle, 5 p.m. (Field 15).

No. 2 John Curtis Christian vs. No. 6 Pineville, 5 p.m. (Field 16).

Division II

No. 1 Buckeye vs. No. 4 E.D. White, 5 p.m. (Field 17).

No. 2 Vandebilt Catholic vs. No. 3 Archbishop Hannan, 5 p.m. (Field 18).

Division III

No. 1 Calvary Baptist vs. No. 5 Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. (Field 15).

No. 2 St. Charles Catholic vs. No. 3 Houma Christian, 2:30 p.m. (Field 16).

Division IV

No. 1 Opelousas Catholic vs. No. 5 Ascension Catholic, noon (Field 13).

No. 2 Catholic-Pointe Coupee vs. No. 6 Sacred Heart, noon (Field 14).

Division V

No. 1 Grace Christian vs. No. 5 St. Joseph’s-Plaucheville, 2:30 p.m. (Field 17).

No. 2 Family Community vs. No. 3 Claiborne Christian, 2:30 p.m. (Field 18).

Finals

Saturday

Nonselect

Division I, 3 p.m. (Field 16).

Division II, noon (Field 14).

Division III, 3 p.m. (Field 15).

Division IV, noon (Field 17).

Division V, noon (Field 13).

Select

Division I, 3 p.m. (Field 14).

Division II, 3 p.m. (Field 13).

Division III, 3 p.m. (Field 17).

Division IV, noon (Field 15).

Division V, noon (Field 16).