Sacred Heart clips Lady Jays

VILLE PLATTE – It was a battle to the end between District 5-1A rivals.
No. 7 Sacred Heart of Ville Platte scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and held off a Lady Jay rally as the Lady Trojan grabbed a 4-3 win over No. 10 St. Edmund Wednesday in the regional round of the Class 1-A playoffs.
With the win, Sacred Heart (15-8) advances to the state tournament next Friday in Sulphur.
“We will be ready next year,” coach Tad Richard said. “We fell short of our goals to be district champions and make it to the state tournament.
“I am happy with what we learned but not satisfied with how we fell just short.”
St. Edmund (13-8) took a 1-0 lead when senior shortstop Baylee Lafleur singled and scored on a double by Kasey Lafleur.
Sacred Heart appeared to have tied the game when Elizabeth Soileau hit the ball down the right field line and raced around the bases.
After a discussion, the hit was ruled a foul ball and the run was erased.
Soileau and the Lady Trojans responded as she then hit a double and scored to tie the game.
The Lady Jays retook a 2-1 lead in the top of the second when Sydney Thibodeaux singled and courtesy runner Ellisa David scored when senior first baseman Jami LeBouef reached on an error.
Sacred Heart tied the game in the bottom of the third when Soileau doubled and scored on a Lady Jay error.
The Lady Trojans pushed with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, begun when Courtney Vidrine reached on an error and scored when Kara Aguillard advanced on another Lady Jay miscue.
Sarah Fontenot singled in Aguillard for the decisive 4-2 advantage.
St. Edmund rallied in the top of the seventh when Thibodeaux reached on an Lady Trojan error and David scored on a triple by senior outfielder Heather Bieber.
Elizabeth Soileau earned the win as she struck out four and allowed nine hits.
Kasey Lafleur was handed the loss as she struck out five, walked two and allowed five hits.
Baylee Lafleur finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Heather Bieber finished 3-for-4 with a RBI triple.
LeBeouf finished 1-for-3 with a RBI.
“They will be missed,” Richard said of the three seniors. “I could count on them and they were great examples.”