Photograph: OCS first baseman Hallie Laverne attempts to tag Jenna Smith of St. Edmund. (Photograph by Bobby Ardoin.)
BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
The most complete game of the 2023 season occurred at the perfect time for the Opelousas Catholic softball team.
OCS received a 10-strikeout circle performance by pitcher Ashley Little, while the Vikings punched out 10 hits and committed just one error during a 6-0 district-championship victory over St. Edmund.
The Tuesday afternoon win at Scotty Speyrer Memorial Field gave the Vikings a 17th victory before OCS competes this weekend in the All-Catholic Softball Tournament in Lafayette.
OCS finished the district schedule without a loss.
It was also the second straight district title for OCS under head coach Wil Pitre.
“I was proud of the way we competed. We were looking for a complete game like this all year. We got good pitching, the defense played well and we had timely hitting. I think our championship is significant, since there are so many good teams in our district,” Pitre said.
Little also allowed five hits and walked three.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Little powered a solo home run — her sixth in 2023 – into the strong wind over the left field fence. Little also singled in the first inning.
“I thought Ashley pitched well and Brooke (Gerald) called a good game. They work well together,” Pitre added.
Little worked her way out of two potential St. Edmund scoring chances by recording strikeouts.
In the first after her error, Little struck out three of the next four batters, while leaving two stranded Blue Jays.
Then during the fourth Little faced a similar situation. After walking leadoff hitter Anna Chapman and allowing an Aubrie LeJeune single, Little struck out the next three hitters.
Little shrugged her shoulders and said she knew what to do in both situations where runners threatened.
“I just said to myself that I had to go get them,” said Little.
OCS scored Madison Ludeau in the second off a Hallie Lavergne single.
Then in the fourth, the Vikings used an Aubrey Carrier triple and a Madison Gussman single which stretched the lead to 4-0.
Lavergne provided a second RBI in the fifth with an outfield sacrifice fly that scored Alexis Lafleur.
Vikings’ pitcher Ashley Little struck out 10 batters and hit a solo home run.
