Five softball teams make the playoffs

The Kaplan Lady Pirates, coming off of a 2021 season where they were the second seed in the playoffs, followed that with what should be the third seed when the LHSAA announced the Class 3A playoff pairings Thursday.
Kaplan (25-4 overall) held the number two seed for most of the second half of the season but dropped to the third seed in the final week and will play host to No. 30 seed Ville Platte High (6-11) in the opening round. It will be played Monday at 5:30 p.m.
“There was a chance that we could end up as the four seed depending on what happens elsewhere, but whatever seed we draw, we’ll be ready for,” Kaplan coach Brittany LeBeouf said,
LeBeouf also said that the way the season started for her Lady Pirates, she wasn’t sure if her team would be a top-five seed this year.
“The way we played in the first couple of weeks of the season really had me concerned,” she said. “But the girls have worked hard, and right now we’re playing really good softball as we head into the playoffs.”
The Lady Pirates won the district outright and hit a school-record 65 home runs.
Kennedy Marceaux, a sophomore, leads the team with 20 home runs, 65 RBI and a .702 batting average.
Briley LeBeouf (43 RBI) and Lauryn Packard (31 RBI) both have 11 home runs. Noble Hebert has nine and Molly Sistrunk has eight.
The North Vermilion Lady Patriots will be the only other Vermilion Parish team to host a first-round game as NVHS (9-13) enters the playoffs as the 13th seed and will play the No. 20 seed Hunington (10-6). NV will play Monday at 4 p.m.
“Our team has so much potential, and for us to be playing like we right now shows that the girls deserve a home playoff game. We hope that the community takes this opportunity to come out and support them,” said NVHS coach Adele Trahan. “They have worked hard all season to get to where they are. Playing on our home field is an advantage that helps the kids remain calm and bring their all to each game. As a result, they feel relaxed at home and can play with confidence. “
The Erath Lady Bobcats (15-14), under first-year coach Amber LeBlanc, will go into the Class 3A playoffs as the 23rd seed and will travel to 10th seed Mamou (18-9) for its first-round game. They will play Tuesday at 5 p.m.
In Class 2A, the Delcambre Lady Panthers (6-21) will go into the playoffs as the 27th seed and will travel to No. 6 seed DeQuincy (18-9) in the first round.
The game will be held Monday in DeQuincy at 5 p.m.
In its first-round contest, the Gueydan Lady Bears (3-12) are the 18th seed and will travel to 15th seed East Iberville (6-18).