Centerville Lady Bulldogs claim State Class B bidistrict win

CENTERVILLE _ Centerville’s Lady Bulldogs displayed their version of stepping up on the big stage as the No. 7 seeded Lady Bulldogs defeated No. 26 seeded Patrick Taylor 15-0 here Monday in four innings in a State Class B bidistrict-round playoff game at Lady Bulldog Field.
While notching the victory, the Centerville Lady Bulldogs loss starting senior catcher Taylor Saucier to injury after a collision sent her to the hospital where it was later determined that she suffered a season-ending broken left wrist.
With Saucier out, sophomore catcher Kennan Stelly stepped up and filled in admirably as the Lady Bulldogs struck for 11 runs with one out in the bottom half of the third inning.
“I am really proud of the girls as they stepped up for a big win when our senior _ and one of the leaders of our team _ catcher Taylor Saucier went out with an injury and sophomore Kennan Stelly stepped up in a big way,” Centerville head coach Kathleen Crochet said.
Saucier, who signed a softball scholarship with Marion Military Institute, suffered the injury in the third inning of the state playoff contest.
After witnessing their senior catcher Saucier suffering the injury, the Lady Bulldogs came together and exploded for 11 runs in the third frame.
“The runs in the third came about as it fired them up,” Crochet noted as the reason for the Lady Bulldogs third- inning uprising. “They caught fire and showed they wanted to win this one for Taylor,” Crochet stated.
With the win, Centerville (15-4) will advance to play the winner of Tuesday’s game between No. 10 Anacoco and No. 23 Harrisburg.
Highlighting the opening round victory was Centerville’s starting pitcher Ashton Landry, who tossed a one-hit shutout gem. Landry was brilliant in the pitching circle, striking out five while walking five and giving up one hit and no runs.
In the top half of the fourth frame, Patrick Taylor’s lone threat was snuffed out with a perfect throw from left field with Stelly making the tag at home plate to preserve the shutout victory.
Lacy LaGrange belted a 3-run homer in the bottom half of the third as the Lady Bulldogs built up a 13-0 advantage.
LaGrange, who went 1-for-3 with a homer and 5 RBI, ignited the 11-run explosion in the third with a leadoff walk. LaGrange and Victoria Theriot later tagged home plate, giving the Lady Bulldogs a 4-0 cushion. Rachel LeBlanc and Stelly later crossed home plate to give the Lady Bulldogs a 6-0 cushion. Courtney Landry trotted home on a passed ball before Robyn Romero smacked a two-run double sending CHS outfront by a 9-0 advantage. LaGrange batted for the second time in the inning, crushing a three-run homer as the Lady Bulldogs soared to a 12-0 cushion. Before the inning ended, Theriot lined a double and later scored giving Centerville a 13-0 advantage.
Centerville winning pitcher Ashley Landry took matters into her own hands in the top half of the fourth inning before seeing her no-hit bid come to an end. Landry scooped up a slow roller before tossing to first base for the first out of the inning. She collected one of her five strikeouts on the day for two outs in the frame. Landry gave up a free pass before a batter lined a single to left field where an exceptional throw to home plate mowed down the runner while preserving the shutout.
Jamie Thibodaux and Ashton Landry crossed home plate with the game-ending runs after reaching by way of free passes. Rylie Candella lined a bunt single to load the bases before Grace LeBlanc strolled to first with an RBI walk as Thibodaux gave the Lady Bulldogs a 14-0 advantage. A short time later, LaGrange took a 3-2 pitch for a walk, plating Landry while giving the Lady Bulldogs the 15-0 triumph.
Leading hitters for the Lady Bulldogs were: Ashton Landry, 1 for 1, 2 runs, RBI; Rylie Candella, 3 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI; Taylor Saucier, 1 for 1; Grace LeBlanc, run, RBI; Lacy LaGrange, 1 for 3, homer, 2 runs, 5 RBI; Victoria Theriot, 1 for 3, double, 2 runs; Rachel LeBlanc, 1 for 2, 2 RBI; Kennan Stelly, 1 for 1, 2 runs, RBI; Courtney Landry, run; Jamie Thibodaux, run and Robyn Romero, 2 for 3, run, 3 RBI.
After the State Class B bidistrict victory, the Centerville Lady Bulldogs honored their seniors with Senior Night.
Centerville seniors Lacy LaGrange, Brittany Grimes, Jamie Thibodaux and Taylor Saucier were all honored during a brief ceremony.