Another trip to state for Calvary Baptist softball squad following decisive road quarterfinal win

By LaMar Gafford 

Photo of Calvary Baptist senior Tavia Leadon (right) celebrating after hitting a home run against Menard during the Division III select quarterfinals

ALEXANDRIA, La. - It is a tradition unlike any other in late April for coach Tiffany Wood and her Calvary Baptist softball team.

Returning to Sulphur for the LHSAA state softball tournament.

Thanks to an eight-run fourth inning, the Lady Cavaliers were able to dispatch Holy Savior Menard, 14-1, in the Division III select quarterfinals.

“It’s exciting that we’re going back to the state tournament,” Wood said. “We knew that it was going to be tough traveling as the No. 1 seed, but we took care of business and did what we were supposed do.

"It was just a great team win from offense to defense.”

Best high school mascot in America: SBLive Sports' NCAA Tournament-style bracket will crown a winner

While Calvary and Menard renewed a rivalry where both teams met five times in Sulphur in a six-year stretch from 2014-2019, this matchup was a rare, lopsided matchup.

The Lady Cavaliers smacked three home runs as they scored the final 11 runs to set up the victory via run rule.

Up 3-1, Calvary (24-10) got some breathing room in the top of the fourth when junior DJ Lynch connected on a three-run blast to make it 6-1. Later in the inning, eighth grader Mallory Carver’s grand slam made it 11-1 in favor of the visitors.

The Lady Cavs were not done in the top of the fifth when senior Tavia Leadon added another three-run homer for the 14-1 lead. Leadon led all batters by going 4-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.

National high school top stars, best girls performances of the week (April 17-23)

“We have a good mix of kids that have been in it,” Wood said. “(We have) young players that are talented and older players that are talented and have some leadership.

"We preach a lot about it being a seven-inning game. It just took away in the fourth and the fifth inning.”

Menard (20-16) scored its lone run in the bottom of the second when Kate Peroti drove in Emma Davis to make it 3-1, but it could not solve freshman Kynzee Anderson in the circle.

Check It Out: Albany softball team heading to state tournament after a 13-year absence 

Anderson limited the Lady Eagles to five hits and recorded eight strikeouts, including back-to-back strikeouts looking to get out of a jam in the bottom of the third.

That was the only time she faced trouble, as Calvary gave her run support from the start - starting with a pair of singles by junior Mary Grace Woodle and sophomore Elena Franks to give the Lady Cavs a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.

Calvary will now face Houma Christian in the semifinals Friday at Sulphur.