The Hahnville Lady Tigers held a 4-2 lead heading into the seventh inning of Monday’s Class 5A playoff game against Alexandria Senior High School, but the Lady Trojans scored six runs in the final frame to end Hahnville’s season.
Alexandria matched up well with Hahnville despite the fact that they were seeded 27th while the Lady Tigers were ranked as the sixth-best team in the state. Alexandria’s low ranking was due to an injury suffered by Carrie Boswell, the team’s ace pitcher. Boswell missed several games after a concussion and her team lost every game they played without her. Because of that, they fell in the power rankings.Boswell returned for the playoffs.
“If she wouldn’t have gotten hurt, Alexandria would probably have been the No. 10 seed in the playoffs instead of the No. 27 seed,” Hahnville head coach Kenneth Vial said.
Alexandria jumped on top of Hahnville 2-0 in the first inning, but the Lady Tigers responded in the bottom of the frame to tie the game. Maddison LeBlanc drew a bases-loaded walk to get the Lady Tigers on the board, and Jourdyn Hogan hit a high pop up that was misplayed by Alexandria’s second baseman, giving Hahnville senior Taylor Hogan time to sprint across home plate.
Junior Bryce Button gave the Lady Tigers the lead in the third inning, smashing a home run to centerfield that put her team on top 3-2. In the fifth, Hahnville added another run when Maeson Martindale raced home on a wild pitch.But Alexandria struck back in the seventh.
Lady Trojan Madeline Poole hit a single to right field to begin the inning and later came in to score on a passed ball. Ella Manzer tied the game after reaching on an error that scored teammate Boswell.
Alexandria took the lead for good when Audrey Good drew a bases-loaded walk to put the Lady Trojans up 5-4.
Kelly Robertson extended her team’s advantage with an RBI grounder, and Tamara Gorham drove in two more runs with a single to right field to make the score 8-4.
Hahnville opened the bottom of the seventh with a bang when T. Hogan homered to send the Lady Tiger fans into a frenzy.
However, that was as close as Hahnville would get.
Alexandria’s Boswell forced a fly out and recorded a strikeout to end the game.
Even though Hahnville’s season came to an abrupt end, the Lady Tigers still accomplished a lot this year, winning a District 7-5A championship thanks to their perfect 14-0 district record.
The future is also bright. Despite the fact that Vial has coached his last game for Hahnville (see story at www.heraldguide.com ), the Lady Tigers were a very young team this year. They lose just three starters to graduation, including Lauren Simar, Kaylyn Morales and Taylor Hogan, but they will return several key players.
Pitcher Lauren Beadle, who finished the season with a 22-5 record, will be back next season as will sophomore shortstop Maeson Martindale, who was one of the Lady Tigers top hitters.
Junior designated hitter Bryce Button and junior right fielder Caitlyn Robinson will bring a lot of experience to the squad next season, while the Lady Tigers return a trio of talented freshmen in first baseman Jourdyn Hogan, outfielder Pryscilla Prince and catcher Maddison LeBlanc.
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