Lady Bulldogs reach state tourney
MERRYVILLE — A six-run third inning was the difference as Centerville took a big lead and made it hold up in beating Merryville 9-3 Friday in the second round of the Class A playoffs and advance to the LHSAA State Softball Tournament for the first time in school history.
Rachel LeBlahc had two hits and three RBI and Neveah McDaniel also had two hits, including a triple, and three RBI as the No. 12 seed Lady Bulldogs (12-22) scored all eight runs over the third and fourth innings and held off a late Merryville rall and will play No. 4 seed Montgomery, a 14-2 winner over Jonesboro-Hodge, in the quarterfinals Friday at noon at the state tournament.
Rylie Candella had two hits and scored two runs for Centerville while Chelsi Hebert scattered three runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings for the win.
In other playoff games Friday, in Class 2A Delcambre lost to No. 1 seed Many 8-7 and in Class 3A, Erath lost to No. 3 seed Sterlington 12-6.
No other information on those games was immediately available.
The other Teche Area team in the state tournament is Catholic High, which will play Menard Thursday at 2:30 p.m.