The LHSAA softball state tournament is underway, with six local teams (Notre Dame, Pine Prairie, Kaplan, Northside Christian, St. Thomas More, Opelousas Catholic) vying for a chance to compete for a championship. Division III action kicked off Thursday, with dramatic moments and tough defeats shaping the early rounds.
In Division III Non-Select, Kaplan’s hopes of returning to the title game for the first time in two years were dashed by a red-hot Doyle squad. The Tigers struck first in the opening inning when Alyson Fletcher laid down a bunt with runners on the corners, leading to an errant throw home that gave Doyle an early lead.
After building a 2-0 advantage, Doyle saw its lead cut in half in the bottom of the first when Kaplan’s Baleigh Landry drove a ball into left field to bring in a run. But that was as close as the Pirates would get. Doyle erupted for five runs across the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Fletcher’s two-run double, ultimately pulling away for a 13-3 win…