Hanson shuts out Lady Jays, 4-0

FRANKLIN – It was a defensive batte betweem No. 3 Hanson Memorial and No. 14 St. Edmund in the regional round of the State Class 1-A playoffs.
The Lady Tigers rode the arm of Sarah Sonnier, who tossed a four-hitter for the 4-0 win as Hanson advanced to the state tournament in Sulphur for the third straight year.
Sonnier finished with five strikeouts and two walks.
St. Edmund senior Kasey LaFleur pitched six innings, allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and no strikeouts.
Sonnier didn’t allow a base runner to reach third base and only gave up a double and three singles.
“She (Sonnier) is a good pitcher, she keeps your off balance,” St. Edmund coach Tad Richard said. “She walked one or two batters, what more can you ask of her.
“The hits didn’t come when we needed them and it seems like that’s been happening to us all year long.”
The Lady Jays threatened early when Kelli Richard doubled with two outs in the first inning, but she was left stranded.
Hanson jumped out front 2-0 in the bottom half of the first inning, begun when Kaylee Broussard and Paige Diamond singled.
With two outs, Baylee Young lined a mishandled grounder to third, allowing Broussard to score.
A short time later, Diamond crossed home plate on a passed ball, lifting Hanson out front, 2-0.
The Lady Jays had another scoring opportunity when Heidi Bieber walked with two outs in the top of the third, but she could not advance.
The Lady Tigers added two more runs in the the bottom half of the fourth frame.
Casey Fitzgerald doubled home courtesy runner Camille Baker, while Lunden Verdin then drove in Fitzgerald.
With two outs, in the fifth inning, the Lady Blue Jays mounted a huge threat as Maggie Larriverre and Abbie Miller lined consecutive hits, putting runners in scoring position but neither could advance.
St. Edmund had one final chance to avoid the shutout in the top of the seventh when Preslie Vidrine reached on a fielder’s choice and Larriviere walked but the Hansson defense stiffened to end the game.
Richard (1-for-3, double), Larriverre (1-for-3), Abbey Miller (1-fof-3) and Sydney Thibodeaux (1-for-3) recorded the hits for the Lady Jays.
St. Edmund finished the season at 12-15 overall, including a 7-3 win over Lafayette Christian Academy to open the playoffs.