Lady Eagles celebrate state title!

Central Catholic High School Coach Joe Russo and the Lady Eagles believed they would bring home the gold from the Louisiana High School Athletic Association State Championship Tournament in Sulphur this weekend and that is just what they did.
The Lady Eagles, the fourth seed, scored early for the first time Saturday and held off a late rally by Cedar Creek, the third seed, and the defending state champion to capture the Class 1A state champion 6-4.
“I just had a feeling that this team was special,” Russo said. “Not only did we have a lot of talent but this team never looked ahead, they were focused on each game, they were very confident and they made the most of the experience they got by coming here three years in a row.”
Central Catholic scored two runs in the top of the first, matching its total from the previous two games combined. Brooke Lipari walked to start the game and scored on a double by pitcher Megan Landry, whose courtesy-runner, Kelly Russo, then scored on a pass ball to push the margin to 2-0.
“Scoring early was a great confidence boost for us,” Russo said. “Playing from ahead took away some of the girls’ nerves and we knew we could score again.”
But the defending champs answered in the bottom of the third when Haley Gray and Anna Roberson scored on an Elizabeth Pardue single and an Alli Freeman double, respectively.
Cedar Creek rallied after the ejection of Coach Julie Riser. Riser was tossed out when tempers flared after a series of calls went against the Lady Cougars. The coach and a couple fans were escorted out by security.
Despite the controversial calls, Cedar Creek tied the game and pitcher Mary Terral was throwing well.
Central Catholic finally got on the scoreboard again in the sixth inning with Taylor Picou, Emma Aucoin and Hallie Autin all coming home to score.
“We wanted to get a couple runs to pad our lead there and I knew we could play small ball if we got a couple batters on and we did,” the longtime coach said.
Picou singled to start the inning and she went to third base on a pass ball. Aucoin walked so CCHS had runners on the corners with no outs. Aucoin promptly stole second and Autin used a “slash” to score two runs.
“Autin showed bunt early to set up the strike zone and she pulled back and used a half swing which worked nicely,” Russo said.
Terral answered again for Cedar Creek but this time at the plate. In the bottom half of the frame, she hit a solo home run to cut the margin to 5-3. Then Gary singled and came home on a Katelin Cooper triple to close 5-4.
Landry responded with a big strikeout of Pardue and Freeman popped out. Landry pitched a complete game again surrendering eight hits with four earned runs with eight K’s and walks.
“Mary Terral is a very good player, we knew we had to be careful with her,” Russo said. “She went down and got a drop ball for the home run, luckily the bases were empty.”
Landry pitched her way out of the sixth-inning threat, and then doubled to lead off the seventh and set up a Russo insurance run. The Nicholls State signee then struck out two of the three batters in the bottom of the seventh to clinch the victory and outstanding player honors.
Leading hitters for the state champion Lady Eagles were Autin, 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored; Landry, 2-for-4 and an RBI; Picou, 2-for-4 with a stolen base and a run scored, and Kelly Russo scored two runs.
“I was numb when we got that third out,” Russo said. “I’ve been pinching myself all day today to see if it’s real. I’ve had two daughters play for me and for my last (daughter) to win it as a freshman is just crazy. It’s really a family affair with my two assistant coaches winning it with their daughters, too.”
Tommy Landry, his daughter Megan, and Jason Romero and his daughter Halley all share the championship.
The Eagles’ Nation was in full force in Sulphur just like a home game in Bayou Vista.
“The support we had from St. Mary Parish was strong but even people outside the parish were sending well wishes and many drove up for the championship game,” Russo said. “Speaking of Bayou Vista, I want to thank Stan Robison and crew for allowing us to play our home games there. It’s a great facility and they have really worked well with us.”
Deacon Vic Bonnafee, Central Catholic principal, as a part of his duties with the LHSAA, had the honor of presenting the Lady Eagles the state championship trophy.
“That was very special. I could see some emotions in his eyes when I looked at him,” Russo said.
The Lady Eagles got another surprise when they arrived in St. Mary Parish.
“The sheriff’s office meet us in Calumet and brought us to the school,” Russo said. “The girls lost it, they were very excited. I don’t know who set that up but it made us very great.”
QUARTERFINALS
Central Catholic 1,
Ascension Catholic 0 (8 innings)
For the second year in a row, Central Catholic Megan Landry and Ascension Catholic Julia Beck went pitch for pitch.
This year Central Catholic won the duel 1-0 in extra innings in the quarterfinal round Friday.
Ascension Catholic (20-4), the fifth seed, beat CCHS in the semifinals in 2014.
Friday’s quarterfinals game was scoreless for eight innings before Beck walked in the winning run.
Central Catholic (24-3) loaded the bases for the second straight inning.
Senior first baseman Bridgette Swan drew a bases-loaded walk to score Brooke Lipari for the win, sending the Lady Eagles into Saturday’s semifinals.
“I tell you what, that Beck is a good little competitor,” Russo said. “We practiced all week on lying off her rise and her curve ball. We let the kids swing away early in the game but we had them taking after we got Brooke in scoring position in the eighth.
“When we scouted Beck, we noticed that she got tired late in games and most of her pitches would be balls, so if we could be disciplined, we could put ourselves in a good position.”
Landry and Beck had 10 strikeouts each and held each other’s teams scoreless through regulation. Landry pitched seven innings allowing one hit to go along with her double-digit strikeouts.
The leading hitters for CCHS were Landry, 3-for-3 with three singles; Lipari, 2-for-4 with a run scored; and Swan had an RBI.
Central Catholic advanced to the semifinals against top-seeded Catholic High-Point Coupee for an 11 a.m. Saturday matchup. Catholic High-PC advanced by beating eighth-seed St. Mary 7-0.
SEMIFINALS
Central Catholic 1,
Catholic High-Pointe Coupee 0
Central Catholic was in another nail-bitter in Saturday morning’s semifinals game against top-seeded Catholic High-Pointe Coupee as the championship tournament continued.
The Lady Eagles and Lady Hornets (22-4) were scoreless until the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, senior Kaitlyn Gros took a walk before Swan reached on an infield hit. Gros dove around the second baseman to setup Central Catholic with runners at first and second with no outs.
Taylor Picou followed with a fielders’ choice to put runners on the corners with just two out. Emma Aucoin reached on a bunt to load the bases. Sophomore Hallie Autin followed with a bunt down the third-base line to score Gros.
“We had speed on third and Hallie at-bat, so it was a perfect situation for us to squeeze,” Russo said. “I told Hallie we were gonna take the first pitch and squeeze on the second pitch. Their third baseman didn’t react fast enough and we scored easily.”
Leading hitters for the Lady Eagles were Aucoin, 2-for-2; Brooke Lipari, 2-for-4; Brittany Longman, 1-for-2; and Autin had an RBI.
--By CORWIN MURRAY