By Kyle Roberts
Fifteen-ranked Chalmette’s one run in the bottom of the second inning proved to be the difference in a close first round playoff loss for the Ruston High School Lady Bearcats (17-13), who finished with the No. 18 seed in the power rankings after not being in the playoffs for the previous two seasons.
“Gracious, I wanted Friday night for our girls,” Ruston head coach Lauren Garvie said afterward. “I think they earned it, and I wanted it to almost show them just how much they have accomplished. I think that’s because of that and because they wanted it just as bad there was a little pressure at the plate.”
The Lady Bearcats ended the night with two hits total, coming from both senior Cala Wilson and junior Morgan Foster. Wilson pitched the entire night in the circle and truck out four batters.
For Garvie, the return to the playoffs is the beginning of a bright future for the softball program.
“This season was such a success for the girls,” Garvie said. “Now, I may not be the coach to take this program all the way back because goodness knows I’m not perfect, but I believe there is a reason my husband was accepted to one medical school, and I think God moved my family here to meet a group of girls who are all too often counted out; if I do nothing else at least I’ll be the person to day in and day out tell them that they are capable of success and to encourage them to chase after it. And because of that I believe these girls and I know this coaching staff will work like the dickens to prove that in every game.”
Ruston will graduate six seniors in Wilson, Allie Barrett, Allie Richardson, Jojo Fernandes, Murphy DeMoss and Shelby Freeman.
