For four innings, Haughton pitcher Charlee Prothro kept 8th seeded Hahnville off balance.
Then, as they’ve been known to do, the Lady Tigers turned to a bit of small ball to turn things in their favor.
Through bunts and baserunning, Hahnville pressed the Haughton defense into mistakes – and ultimately, the Tigers propelled themselves into the second round of the Division I non-select state softball playoffs with a 5-0 opening round victory over the Buccaneers in Boutte.
The Tigers advance to face No. 9 Ouachita Parish in round two. That game is set for 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hahnville.
Hahnville freshman London Lambert earned the first prep playoff win of her career on the mound and did so in style – hurling a shutout in the circle for her playoff debut. She allowed just five baserunners in a complete game effort – four hits and a walk – and struck out nine.
“It feels great (to win in the playoffs). I just remember what we worked for all offseason, and that we’ve worked all season for this. I think (the hard work) showed up today,” Lambert said.
Hahnville (20-12) steadily got baserunners on against Prothro and the 25th seeded Buccaneers (15-17), but creating hard contact was a rarity early in the game – Prothro was able to induce several pop-ups and fly outs to slow the Tiger offense.
“We couldn’t quite get (early baserunners) them to the plate to score, but we battled defensively, at the plate and London battled in the circle. Definitely kept us to where we were confident in what we had going on. (Prothro) pitched pretty well. She was spinning the ball today. But when we got that lead, we had confidence that London would come close it out for us and that we’d make plays in the field to finish with a win,” said Hahnville head softball coach Jeremy Duplantis.
Sophie Baudouin went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Rylee Villasenor went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Jordan Lirette went 2-for-2 with two RBIs. Emma Jackson tripled and stole two bases.
And Shelby Theriot went 1-for-2 with a run scored and stolen base, but made perhaps her larger impact defensively. The leftfielder made two impressive diving catches to end Haughton threats, including one that ended the game.
“Shelby had an amazing day,” said Duplantis. “Two diving catches and another good catch in the gap that was huge for us. She’s one of the best outfielders that I know for sure. She can go get it.”
Villasenor set up Hahnville’s first run with a leadoff double in the fifth inning.
“She was seeing the ball well today and we felt she was going to square one up for sure,” said Duplantis.
A Baudouin bunt moved her to third, and a Haughton error on the throw to first gave Villasenor the green light to head home for the 1-0 Hahnville lead.
Addison Walton laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Baudouin to third. Lirette singled on a bunt and Adriana Walton walked to load the bases. Emma Jackson’s sacrifice fly brought home Baudouin to make it 2-0 before Haughton was able to end the inning and escape the threat.
In the sixth inning, Baudouin, Villasenor and Theriot all reached to load the bases with one out. Addison Walton walked to make it 3-0 before Lirette’s two-run single pushed the lead to five.
