Kinder leads 33 area teams into baseball playoffs
Sam Houston’s starting pitcher Kyle Bartley during their District 3-5A game at Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, La., Monday, April 16, 2018. (Rick Hickman/Lake Charles American Press)
A host of area teams will be able to enjoy the benefits of home during the high school baseball playoffs, which get under way today.
Playoff pairings were announced yesterday. Kinder is the top seed in Class 2A, with the Welsh Greyhounds the third seed and DeQuincy the No. 4 seed. All of those teams will be able to play at home through the first three rounds of the playoffs.
The Yellow Jackets earned the top seed with a 25-8 record in the regular season, including wins in 13 of the last 14 games.
In Classes 2A-5A and Divisions I-IV, the first round is a single elimination game, while the regional and quarterfinal games are best of three series, with the higher seeded team playing at home.
In Class 5A, area teams earned three of the top six seeds. Sam Houston is second, Barbe fourth and Sulphur sixth. If seeding holds, the Tors would travel to District 3-5A rival Acadiana for a quarterfinal series, with the winner going to the state tournament in Sulphur.
Neither the Bucs or Broncos will have to leave Southwest Louisiana in the playoffs. The Bucs will be looking to avoid another upset after losing in the first round last year, while the Broncos will be hoping for a return trip to Sulphur after reaching the semifinal round last season.
DeRidder is the third seed in Class 4A and enter the postseason on a 15-game winning streak.
In Class 1A, Grand Lake and Oberlin are looking to return to Sulphur. The Hornets earned the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye.
Also looking for a return to the state tournament is St. Louis, the Division II runner-up last season. The Saints are the No. 7 seed this year and will host No. 10 Archbishop Hannan in the regional round.
In Class B, Elizabeth earned the second seed, while Pitkin is No. 3. Elizabeth won the Class C championship last season.
Today’s schedule includes No. 4 Barbe hosting No. 29 Walker at 6 p.m. in Class 5A and No. 20 St. James at No. 13 Jennings in Class 3A.
In Class 2A, No. 8 Vinton hosts N. 25 Rapides at 6 p.m.; No. 32 East Feliciana is at No. 1 Kinder is at 6 p.m. and No. 29 Oakdale is at No. 4 DeQuincy at 5:30 p.m.
In Class B, No. 17 Florien is at No. 16 Bell City at 5 p.m.