The Jena Lady Giants softball team is known for playing one of the most difficult schedules every season. This has been a big reason for the success of the Lady Giants program and why they are one of the best programs in the state. They play the best teams from all over the state north, south, east, west, and any division.
Coming into this past week, the Lady Giants had beaten ten top ten teams from across the state. So, with only a week left until brackets are released the Lady Giants would not let up as they would play four more top ten teams before the regular season would end.
On Monday, April 6, the Lady Giants would travel to Sterlington to take on one of the best programs in Division III Non-Select. Two years ago, Sterlington won the state championship and last year they were upset in the quarterfinals. These two teams have had some great regular season and playoff battles over the years. Sterlington would come into the game at #5 in the power rankings while the Lady Giants have been #1 all season. The Lady Giants would dominate in this one as they would get a grand slam and 5 RBIs from senior centerfielder Triniti Williams to go on to win 10-0 in 5 innings. The Lady Giants would have 11 hits in the game. Callie Decker hit a homerun. Kiette Cooper and Autumn Sharp both finished with 2 hits.
Senior pitcher Kiette Cooper would pick up the win giving up only 3 hits in the game and finishing with 4 strikeouts.
On Tuesday, April 7, the Lady Giants would take on #6 Tioga from Division I Select. Once again, the Lady Giants’ bats would dominate. Callie Decker had 4 hits, 5 RBIs, and a grand slam. Triniti Williams, Mary Wood, and Kiette Cooper all had a homerun and 2 RBIs each in the game. The Lady Giants would score 16 runs on 14 hits to go on to win 16-3 in 6 innings.
Junior pitchers Bayleigh Roszell and Rylee Masters would combine to pick up the win.
On Friday, April 10, the Lady Giants would welcome in #2 Pineville from Division I Select in the biggest game in the Cenla area. The game would be a pitchers duel throughout as neither team could score through the first five innings.
Pineville would take the lead in the top of the 6th 1-0 but Jena would answer back with a solo homerun from senior shortstop Callie Decker to tie the game at 1. The two teams would go into extra innings.
In the bottom of the 7th inning the Lady Giants would have a runner at first with no outs and sophomore third baseman Kaylee Hardie at the plate. Hardie would hit a hard line-drive that would appear like it would leave the park for a walk off homerun, but it would hit off the fence a foot from going over, leaving the Lady Giants with runners at first and second. They would be unable to score and the game would continue.
Pineville would score 3 runs in the top of the 9th and would go on to win 4-1. This would be the first home loss of the season for the Lady Giants.
Despite the loss, Kiette Cooper would finish with 16 strikeouts in the game – another dominating performance from the McNeese signee.
It was a disappointing loss but nothing to hang their heads about as they are now 24-4 on the season and are expected to be the #1 seed when the brackets are released today, Wednesday, April 15. The last Top Ten team that the Lady Giants will play in the regular season will be at home against West Monroe, who is #4 in Division I Non-Select. The two teams were set to play Tuesday, April 14, just one day prior to the brackets being released today.
We now look forward to the playoffs where the Lady Giants will be a heavy favorite to return to Sulphur and play for another state championship.
