Cats, Red Devils drop close games

Published 9:58 am Tuesday, April 26, 2022

BWS Sports

GALLIANO — Despite a pair of hits and two RBIs from Matt Hazel, the No. 26 Leesville Wampus Cats fell on the road in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs to seventh-seeded South Lafourche, 5-2.

South Lafourche opened the game by scoring a run in both the first and second innings. Leesville responded with a 2-run double by Hazel in the third inning, scoring Carter Causey and Jackson Bealer, tying the game up, 2-2.

However, the Tarpons scored one in the bottom of the frame and two in the sixth to secure the win.

Jacob Pierce worked 6.2 innings, giving up two runs on two hits with eight strikeouts. Jacob Curole had a double and two RBIs for the Tarpons, while Matt Lee also doubled.

Mason Fitzgerald went the distance for the Wampus Cats, giving up five runs on six hits with a pair of strikeouts. Hazel was the only person to get a hit for Leesville in the contest.

Springfield…..3

Pickering……2

SPRINGFIELD — The No. 31 Pickering Red Devils nearly pulled off a huge upset.

Will Taylor scored on a steal home in the bottom of the fifth inning and that proved to be the difference as the second-seeded Springfield Bulldogs held off a valiant effort from the Red Devils in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs on Monday, 3-2.

Springfield got on the board first with a run in the first inning, but the Red Devils tied it in the second with an RBI-single from Gage Miller.

The Bulldogs added a run in the third and the Taylor run in the fifth before Pickering attempted a late rally in the top of the seventh.

Miller drove in O’Banion in the seventh inning to trim the deficit to a run, but Blake Lobell closed the door by striking out the side to preserve the victory for Springfield.

Jayden Teague got the win pitching for the Bulldogs, giving up one run on two hits over six innings with eight strikeouts. Taylor had a hit and two runs scored, while Lobell had the save, along with a triple and an RBI.

Kalob Hagan suffered the loss as he worked three innings, giving up one run on four hits with two strikeouts. Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, while O’Banion had a double and scored a run.