DeRidder, Fairview players shined at state tournament

STRIKE ZONE

In this edition of the Strike Zone, Rodrick Anderson and Warren Arceneaux discuss the recently concluded softball season.

What was the most impressive performance you saw in Sulphur at the state tournament?

WA: DeRidder pitcher Lauren Parson escaping a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the seventh inning of DeRidder’s semifinal win over North DeSoto.

RA: Fairview short stop Rylee Cloud. She is just an eighth grader, but Cloud was clutch in the Panthers’ 6-5 win over Florien in the quarterfinals with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh for the lead. She also hit a RBI triple in the Panthers’ 6-5 loss to Forest in the semifinals.

Which team not in Sulphur this year is most likely to make it next year?

WA: South Beauregard. The Lady Ks have most of their lineup back, including slugger Jaclyn Deason. They lost a tough one in the quarterfinals to Crowley this year.

RA: St. Louis Catholic. The Saints were young this year and started to put it together late in the season with a six-game win streak that included a 3-2 win over 3A quarfinalist Westlake to end the regular season. They lost to De La Salle in the regional round, but lose just one starter and will have a solid senior core that includes pitcher Hannah Derouen, who struckout over 180 batters this season.

DeRidder gave us a champion after SWLA was shut out of last year’s championship games. Which area team is most likely to win it all next season?

WA: Sam Houston. The Broncos have all their starters back, a dominant pitcher in Jenny Griggers and a game-changing player in Jil Poullard.

RA: Westlake. The Rams return eight of nine starters and get Jena Johnson, who missed the entire season with an injury sustained during basketball season. With a 200 strikeout pitcher who can also smash home runs in Myka Lester and plenty of other offensive threats in third baseman Audrey Fisher and second baseman Kyla Kennedy, the Rams will be a one of the teams to watch in Class 3A.

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