Fast Pitch 56-Experience and excitement fills Class 4A

A state championship rematch, both young and experienced teams, and a tradition of making it to the state tournament fills Class 4A in the LHSAA Fast Pitch 56 tournament this weekend.

The Sam Houston Lady Broncos (28-3) will make the short trip from Moss Bluff to Sulphur for the second year in a row. Last year the Lady Broncos fell to Belle Chase this years no. 1 seed in the quarterfinals 6-2.

No. 3 Sam Houston returns to Sulphur with a lineup where a game winning hit can come from anywhere in the lineup. Sophomore catcher Tiffany Degeyter proved that to be true while batting ninth with the game winning hit in the regional round of the playoffs.

"At the beginning of the year, the bottom half of the lineup struggled,” Sam Houston head coach Beth Domingue said. “Here lately they have been hot for us especially in the last game with Tiffany hitting the game winning hit.

“Hopefully one through nine they will stay with what they are doing.”

Kim Kennedy, Brandi Reed, and Karli and Pam Wainwright have batted over .350 this season for the Lady Broncos.

Sam Houston senior pitcher Brianna Granger leads the Lady Broncos in the circle with a record of 27-3 with 254 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.70.

“I think she’ll (Granger) do fine,” Domingue said on Granger. “She started for us last year when we went to the state tournament and she’s faced this pressure and atmosphere at the state tournament.

“I’m confident and I don’t think the girls are as nervous as they were last year. We have six of the nine starters returning. We are confident and playing well right now and if we play our game we’ll be okay.”

The Lady Bronco hitters will face either junior Ashley Taylor or freshman Julienne Broussard from Teurlings Catholic at 6 p.m. on Friday on Field 13.

“(Taylor) was our pitcher last year and did a great job for us,” Teurlings Catholic head coach Callie Gautreaux said. She a junior that pitches off speed with a drop ball.”

Gautreaux said that Broussard features a fastball, rise ball, and a change up.

Gautreaux believes that her young No. 11 Lady Rebels (24-10-1) team can handle the pressure of the environment of the state tournament despite having only two seniors that were a member of the 2007 Class 3A championship team and starts two freshman and three sophomores.

“We have a great chance,” Gautreaux said. “Everybody has a chance it just depends on who shows up ready to play, who’s going to make the first error and the other team capitalize on it. Our girls work hard and after beating Haughton (in the regional round) they understand how important from here on out every game is.”

In the other game of the bottom of the bracket, No. 2 seed West Ouachita will take on No. 7 Alexandria Senior High in a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal game on Friday at 2 p.m. on Field 13.

West Ouachita (33-4) is led by senior pitcher Samantha Hamby. Hamby has pitched most of the season with a torn ACL on her plant leg, but still maintains an undefeated record of 19-0. The Lady Chiefs cruised through the bi-district and regional rounds outscoring opponents 31-1.

Hitting has been the difference for the Lady Chiefs with hits coming anywhere on the lineup. Batters to be aware of include the leadoff batter Meggie Burkett and Hannah Leborde and Nichole Gross further in the lineup.

The Lady Trojans of Alexandria (20-11-2) ride into Sulphur with a ton of momentum while shutting out both opponents in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Freshman pitcher Andrea Bentley pitched a two-hitter shutout against Neville in regionals.

Live Oak and Vandebilt Catholic return to Sulphur, as the traditional powerhouses and will meet in the quarterfinal round in a rematch of the 2008 state title game that the Lady Terriers won 1-0 in a 10-inning contest.

“A lot of people are looking forward to it including our team,” said Live Oak head coach Michelle Morris on the quarterfinal game against Vandebilt Catholic. “Each team is a new team.

“I’m sure Vandebilt Catholic is getting ready for us just like we are getting ready for them.”

No. 4 Live Oak (25-7-2) comes into Sulphur after junior pitcher Sarah Anthony pitched a no-hitter last week against Beau Chene in the regional round of the playoffs.

The Lady Eagles will send out Anthony or senior Brittany Gonzales in a tandem that two different styles of pitching.

“Gonzales is a very smooth pitcher,” Morris said on her senior pitcher. “She is a very confident pitcher and paints the corners very well. Anthony is an explosive pitcher. She has great speed and has a different style of pitch selection to throw at the batters.”

Gonzales started for Live Oak last year in the championship game and Morris said that she has only improved since then.

Offensively, Live Oak is led by slapper Natalie Fernandez. Fernandez was responsible for the game winning hit over Benton in the 2008 quarterfinal game.

Live Oak will play Vandebilt Catholic on Field 13 on Friday at 4 p.m.

No. 5 seeded Vandebilt Catholic (20-11-1) is looking to defend their 2008 state championship. The Lady Terriers carry a tradition of winning at the state tournament with 13 state titles and five runner-up finishes.

The Lady Terriers are rebuilding after losing five seniors and have four seniors on the 2009 squad. They are led by Saidee LeMaire in the circle and Nicholls signee Alaina Guidry.

Belle Chasse (31-4-1) comes into the state tournament as the no. 1 seed and will face Zachary in the first Class 4A quarterfinal game on Friday at 12 noon on Field 13.

Belle Chasse is led by pitcher Lauren Wilson and Kat Angeles. Wilson is 17-3 with a 0.92 ERA and bats a .438 average at the plate with 23 RBI’s on the season. Angeles bats .471 average for the Lady Cardinals.

The Lady Cardinals return to Sulphur for the third year in a row with semifinal appearances in 2008 and 2007.

Zachary (19-12) arrives as the no. 8 seed and is led by junior pitcher Jessie Brown. The Lady Broncos have only two seniors (Rachelle Jones, Mary Phillips) on their squad and have three freshmen/sophomores their starting lineup.