By T. Scott Boatright
A revenge game for Cedar Creek and a Lincoln Parish showdown highlights the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Softball Playoff Brackets, which were released Thursday.
That Lincoln Parish showdown will pit 23rd-seeded Simsboro playing at District 2-B rival Choudrant, the 10th seed in Class B. The game is slated for 5 p.m. on Monday.
Choudrant, which went 22-6 overall and 2-1 in District 2-B play, defeated Simsboro (9-19, 0-3) by the score of 16-1 on March 21.
“Well, we’re glad we don’t have to travel, and at least we get to play somebody we’re familiar with,” Choudrant coach Wayne Antley said about Monday’s showdown with Simsboro.
If Choudrant should win again, seventh-seeded Anacoco, which has a first-round bye, will be the next opponent for the Lady Aggies.
“I haven’t seen them for several years,” said Anthley, who is a longtime coach overall in north Louisiana. “We’ve kind of looked a little in case we make it that far down the line. Hopefully we will. But the big focus right now is Monday against Simsboro.”
Antley said he knows one challenge his Lady Aggies will have to overcome.
“Simsboro’s got a good pitcher and they could be tough,” Antley said.
It’s the second straight year Choudrant has been seeded 10th. Last year they defeated Mount Hermon before falling at Stanley.
Mother Nature has made for a wet and wild softball season in north Louisiana, and Choudrant has only played two games — a pair of losses to Class 2-A D’Arbonne Woods. While that lack of consistent play could be worrisome. Antley said it ended up being a blessing considering the circumstances.
“We actually needed a break,” Antley said. “Because of the weather, we had played so many games in a short period of time that we were tired. I think we all feel better after a little break. D’Arbonne Woods gave us a playoff-liike atmosphere, which was good. We saw some good batting so hopefully that will help us even though we lost.”
Cedar Creek will begin its playoff action at 5 p.m. Tuesday as the 6th-seed in Division IV when the Lady Cougars play host to 11th-seed St. Mary’s.
The Lady Cougars blazed through District 2-1A play 6-0 and ended regular-season play at 18-9.
St. Mary’s defeated Cedar Creek 7-3 in game three of the season on March 3, but Lady Cougars coach Julie Riser said that was then, and Tuesday will be now.
“I think we’ve gotten better. I’m sure they have, too,” Riser said of that March 3 match-up. “We’ve been playing pretty well and hopefully that will continue on.”
Going undefeated in a tough district gives the Lady Cougars a little added confidence.
“In the last three weeks especially, we’ve played pretty good,” Riser said. “We’ve played some stronger opponents and done well against them. So I feel good about things heading in.”
Lincoln Preparatory School also squeaked into the postseason, and as the 22nd-seed will play at No. 11 East Beauregard at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The Lady Panthers went 1-6 overall and 0-1 in District 1-B. But Lincoln Prep is capable of scoring. The Lady Panthers averaged seven runs per game on the season and totaled nine or more runs four times.
