The Jena Lady Giants secured their third District Championship last week with a win over Marksville – the third championship in the last four years.
After taking care of the Quitman Lady Wolverines on Monday, March 23 by the final score of 7-1, all eyes were turned to the Marksville Lady Tigers, the only district game remaining on their schedule.
The Lady Giants traveled to Marksville Thursday, March 26, with a district championship on the line. This senior group shocked Buckeye their freshman season in an extra inning thriller and went on to win the district championship. Their sophomore season they finished third in the district behind Buckeye and Caldwell. Last year the Lady Giants went undefeated in district play. Coming into Thursday the Lady Giants would be undefeated in district again but would have to play a tough Marksville team that took them to extra innings last year and almost pulled off the upset. A year ago, it was a pitcher’s duel between Kiette Cooper and Marksville’s Katie Lachney. Marksville would come into the game with only one district loss so the winner of the game would be the district champion.
As all great teams do, this one would be a total team effort as the bats and pitching took care of business. The Lady Giants got two hits and an RBI from Autumn Sharp. The Lady Giants also had hits from Callie Decker, Bailey Durham, Mary Wood, RJ McDowell, and Triniti Williams.
Kiette Cooper would pick up the win in the circle getting the shutout and finishing with 15 strikeouts in the game. With the 6-0 win, this senior class has won the district championship three out of their four years.
This past weekend the Lady Giants participated in the Quitman tournament. On Friday night, March 27, the Lady Giants played Division IV power Oak Grove. The Tigers would have a 2-1 lead going into the top of the 7th inning but Triniti Williams would hit a clutch homerun to give the Lady Giants the lead. Mary Wood would add an RBI single. The Lady Giants would go on to win 4-2.
Kiette Cooper would pick up the win finishing with 9 strikeouts. Callie Decker had a homerun in the game as well.
On Saturday, March 28, the Lady Giants would get two great pitching performances from Kiette Cooper in two tournament games. The Lady Giants would defeat Airline 2-0 with Cooper pitching a no-hitter and finishing with 15 strikeouts.
In game two, the Lady Giants would defeat D’Arbonne Woods 5-1 behind Cooper, who only gave up one hit, and finished with 17 strikeouts. Hallie Poole had two hits on the day. Callie Decker had 2 RBIs. Mary Wood had a double and an RBI.
The Lady Giants are now 20-3 on the season and are still currently ranked #1 in Division III Non-Select.
With the district championship secured, the Lady Giants final stretch of the regular season has them matched up against four powerhouse softball programs as they prepare for the post season.
They will travel to face the Sterlington Lady Panthers (#5 in Div. III NS) on Monday and the Tioga Lady Indians (#4 Div. I S) on Tuesday, before finishing out the season with two home games against the Pineville Lady Rebels (#3 Div. I S) on Friday and the West Monroe Lady Rebels (#7 Div. I S) on Tuesday, April 14.
After these games, the regular season will be over and the road to Sulphur begins with the playoffs.
