Olivia Henry dominates in circle as Buckeye defeats Vandebilt Catholic for second straight softball title
By LaMar Gafford
SULPHUR, La. – That winning feeling can be described as twice as nice for Buckeye’s softball team.
After winning the Class 3A title last season, the Lady Panthers added another when they won the Division II select championship, 4-1, over Vandebilt Catholic on Saturday.
“We knew it was going to be a tough road for us, but these girls and this community rose to the occasion,” Buckeye coach Justin Kees said.
After allowing a pair of doubles in the first inning, junior pitcher Olivia Henry allowed five hits and struck out five to earn Most Outstanding Player honors.
For Henry, it was a personal redemption for her after getting the win in last year’s 3A title game against Iowa, but not having a strikeout - the only time last season she did not record one.
“I was like, ‘Man, I’m pitching better of a game than I did last year,’” Henry said. “(Being the MVP) just means a lot to all the people that just have my back and support us.”
Like the semifinal game, the Buckeye (25-9) offense provided Henry with solid run support - starting with a sacrifice fly by senior Maddie Sinclair to score Allison Brossett in the first inning.
The Lady Panthers added some insurance in the fifth, when sophomore right fielder Adysen Mitchell hit a two-run home run to also score Brossett to build a 3-0 lead.
Vandebilt (29-8) got on the board in the sixth with a solo home run by freshman Hays Rutledge, but the Lady Panthers countered with a single by junior Sidney St. Pe for the win.
The moment was a special one for Sinclair, who closes her career with back-to-back titles before heading to Mississippi College.
As the only senior on either team Saturday, Sinclair ended her senior year with a .437 batting average, 12 home runs and 42 RBIs.
“I can’t even describe this feeling, I’m just so overwhelmed with joy,” Sinclair said. “After Adysen hit that home run, I knew the game was over and we had all the momentum.”
The Lady Terriers were led by Rutledge, who went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and an RBI.
Division IV non-select championship
French Settlement 3, Montgomery 1
It looked like Montgomery had one more comeback left in it, but French Settlement held tight.
The Lady Lions (21-10) won the Division IV non-select title for their first softball title since 1999 and third overall. French Settlement eighth-grader Malloy Miles was the Most Outstanding Player with nine strikeouts and allowed just four hits - none between the second and sixth innings.
Miles also had a base hit on offense, one of six for the Lady Lions.
Check It Out: Battery mates help lift Riverside Academy to Division IV select softball championship
Brooke Dupuy had two of those hits, both singles, and also drove in a run. Both Ava Acosta and Ramsie McMorris had a double, an RBI and a run scored as well.
French Settlement broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the top of the third and added its last run in the top of the seventh.
Katelyn Wyatt drove in the Lady Tigers’ lone run in the seventh with a single.
Division V select championship
Claiborne Christian 4, St. Joseph's-Plaucheville 1
For the fourth time in six tournaments, Claiborne Christian earned a softball title. The Lady Crusaders scored two runs in each of the first two innings and made that lead stand.
Lady Crusader Anna Miller allowed three hits and recorded 11 strikeouts, while sophomore Allie Wainwright went 2-for-3 with a home run.
St. Joe’s junior Madelyn Dupuis had nine strikeouts.
