Home run lifts Lady Jays

Before St. Edmund's bi-district playoff game Monday, Heidi Bieber had her sister Heather on her back for a photo.
In the bottom of the seventh inning against Northwood-Lena, Heidi had whole team on her shoulders when she blasted a three-run home run to lift the Lady Jays to a 9-8 win over the Lady Gators.
“Before I went up to bat all I could think about was that I didn’t want it to be my last with my sister and the other seniors,” Lady Jay junior Heidi Bieber said. “It was a perfect pitch to hit.”
No. 10 St. Edmund (13-7) will travel to District 5-1A rival No. 7 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte (14-8) on Wednesday for a second-round showdown after the Lady Trojans cruised to a 15-0 win over Highland Baptist.
“ We had lost five games in a row,” coach Tad Richard said. “We still didn’t play our best ball, but we lived to see another day.”
Northwood-Lena (11-15) jumped out to a 2-0 lead when Kelsey Stanley and Jeanie Thiels both walked and scored on a double by Kaitlyn Beebe.
The Lady Jays responded with four runs in the bottom of the first, begun when Baylee Lafleur and Sydney Thibodeaux both walked and scored on a single by Heather Bieber.
Kasey LaFleur reached on a fielder’s choice and scored on Jami LeBouef’s double to centerfield.
LeBouef later touched home plate on a sacrifice by Maggie Larriviere.
The Lady Jays moved ahead 5-2 in the bottom of the second when Sydney Thibodeaux walked and courtesy runner Allison LaFleur scored on Heather Bieber’s double.
The Lady Gators battled back with three runs in the top of the third to force a 5-5 tie.
Lindsay Willis walked and scored on a double by Stanley.
Thiels walked and Bailey Holston singled in two runs, but the Lady Jay pitcher Kasey Lafleur turned a double play and a ground out to stop the rally.
St. Edmund scored in the bottom of the fourth to retake a 6-5 advantage when Thibodeaux singled and Allison LaFleur raced home on a single by Kasey Lafleur.
The Lady Gators tied the game in the top of the fifth as Stanley reached on an error and scored on a single by Haley Basco.
Northwood seemed poised for the win as the Lady Gators scored twice in the top of the sixth, begun when Willis walked and scored on a passed ball.
Stanley doubled up the middle and scored on a single by Beebe as the Lady Gators held a 8-6 advantage.
But that all changed in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Kasey Lafleur reached on an error and LeBouef singled to open the rally and Bieber’s blast began the Lady Jay celebration.
Kasey Lafleur earned the win as she struck out three, walked eight and allowed six earned runs on 11 hits.
Lady Gator Kelsey Stanley was handed the loss as she walked three and allowed nine earned runs on 18 hits.
Heather Bieber went 4-for-4 with two RBI.
Kasey Lafleur went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while LeBouef went 3-for-4 with a RBI and two runs scored.
Baylee Lafleur went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored.
Heidi Bieber went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.
Her home run was the first Lady Jay home run of the season at the new St. Edmund softball season.
Larriviere went 2-for-3 with a RBI.
Thibodeaux went 2-for-3 with a walk.