Hits Didn’t Fall For OCS
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
The dominating pitching arm of Ashley Little couldn’t offset what became a frustrating offensive championship Sunday for the Opelousas Catholic softball team.
Little, a senior who in her career, pitched the Vikings into four state tournaments, struck out 13 batters, but ultimately OCS couldn’t match the Holy Savior Menard offensive output, as the Eagles claimed a Division IV-select championship at North Frasch Park in Sulphur.
The 4-1 loss to Menard ended the chance for OCS to win consecutive state championships and ended a 2025 season that saw the Vikings finish 22-9.
Fifth-seeded Menard, who on Saturday knocked off top-seed Catholic High-Pointe Coupee in an 11-inning 1-0 semifinal and the No. 2 Vikings in the state tournament, used a three-run fifth inning to score the decisive runs against OCS in a game previously tied at one.
OCS head softball coach Cullen Matherne felt his batters hit the ball solidly against Menard pitcher Kaylee Methvin, but the Vikings’ contact game didn’t provide enough runs.
“You look at the box score and see we had four hits, but it was one of those cases where we did hit the ball, but we hit a lot of those pitches right at them. We didn’t have a great day, but we put the ball in play.
“We didn’t have that many strikeouts. That’s not taking away anything from (Methvin) or Menard, because Menard played good defense,” Matherne said.
“I thought this weekend showed what getting to Sulphur is all about. You have to be a little lucky to win a state championship and I thought all weekend we hit the ball. Against Menard, we hit well enough, but those hits went right into their gloves,” Matherne added.
Methvin struck out six, but she walked only one batter.
Emma Davis, who finished with three RBI, was named the MVP.
Menard finished with seven hits against Little, who walked two.
Second baseman Grace Luna, Little, Madison Ludeau and Millie Richard collected the four Vikings’ hits..
Little, a senior and Nicholls State signee, struck out 850 career batters and 249 this season during the 25 games she pitched.
In the 1-0 semifinal win over St. John on Saturday, Little struck out 17 and didn’t allow a hit.
“I thought Ashly was phenomenal (in the two state tournament games),” Matherne said.
In the semifinal win over No. 6 St. John, the Vikings also recorded four hits.
Grace Ludeau went 2-for-2, with a double and the only run scored.
Little also had a hit in that game, while Remi Bhim singled and provided the only Vikings’ RBI.
Ludeau scored the Vikings’ run in the fifth after she led off with a double and scored on the single from Bihm.
Matherne complimented his team for reaching another championship game.
“We lost most of a solid senior class from last year and we had two seniors (Luna and Little) who provided a lot of leadership this eason. The expectations from outside our locker room might have been different, since we were starting two freshmen and two sophomores this year. Hats off to our seniors who did a great job,” Matherne said.
