BOBBY ARDOIN
Editor/Consulting Writer
It developed into a heavyweight battle within the circle Saturday afternoon, as two dominant pitchers consistently traded strikeouts during 11 innings filled with high stakes drama..
In the end it took a two-out, extra inning base hit to help end a scoreless tie and provide Opelousas Catholic with a 1-0 victory and the first state softball championship in school history.
Vikings’ pitcher Ashley Little, named the championship game MVP, threw her third shutout victory during the 2024 Division IV non-select playoffs.
The OCS junior righthander was also voted the title game MVP after OCS defeated District 5-1A opponent Catholic High-Pointe Coupee at the Frasch Park softball complex in Sulphur.
OCS also defeated CHPC 4-0 during the 2024 regular season.
Offenses of both teams on Saturday were noticeably absent.
OCS recorded five singles, while the Hornets had the same number of hits, including a pair of doubles.
Little, who has already committed to Nicholls State, struck out seven and didn’t allow a baserunner past second base.
However,CHPC right-handed pitcher Morgan Landry matched the pervasive effectiveness of Little, as Landry recorded nine strikeouts and pitched herself out of two bases loaded situations in the first and fifth innings.
Little was supported by an Opelousas Catholic defense that allowed only one error, while the Hornets finished with four miscues including a crucial one that allowed Vikings’ pinch runner Madison Faul to score the only run of the game after Madison Ludeau singled up the middle in the bottom of the 11th.
“I personally believe that (Little and Landry) are the best pitchers that you will find anywhere and when those two girls are pitching as well as they did (Saturday) then a win and runs are going to be hard to come by,” said first-year OCS head softball coach Cullen Matherne.
The performance by Little on Saturday was obtained by her combination of velocity and confidence, said Matherne,
Landry didn’t allow a Vikings’ baserunner to advance past second base during the sixth through 10th innings, as OCS left 12 runners on base.
That changed in the bottom of the 11th after OCS second baseman Alexis Lafleur led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Reagan Butler.
Matherne later inserted Faul as a pinch runner at second before Ludeau sent her across the plate with the only run.
Ludeau said she concocted ways to combat the pressure in the batter’s box.
“I was pretty nervous up there, but I kept telling myself not to think about it,” Ludeau said.
Ludeau, who finished with a pair of hits and two strikeouts, said Landry gave the Vikings issues all afternoon.
“She is a good pitcher and (Saturday) she was getting some great spin on the ball. She was really on her game,” said Ludeau.
Little said that despite throwing an abundance of pitches, she felt comfortable throughout.
“I tried to keep the ball inside on them. I’m so happy right now for our team. I have such great teammates who really believe in one another,” Little said.
Matherne admitted he considered the number of pitches Little had thrown, but he didn’t plan removing Little from the game until the Hornets replaced Landry.
The championship also ended the careers of five OCS players who compiled an overall 78-22 record.
Matherne said the Vikings’ seniors were significant in bringing a title to the program.
“We really had a good senior class. Those players have been so special. During their careers they had lost in state and in the semifinals. This win proved to be difficult, but I never saw any of them saying well, here it goes again. They won this championship because of their hard work and dedication. They never gave up,” said Matherne.
