By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell?Sports Editor
SLIDELL — There was nothing easy about playing on the road against Menard in the second round of the LHSAA Class 2A playoffs.
No. 14 Pope John Paul lost to Menard, 12-1, in six innings in the regional softball playoffs.
Pope John?Paul pitcher Maddie York, who fanned 14 batters in a 2-1, eight inning victory over Doyle in the first round, gave up 13 hits and got two strikeouts against Menard.
“Give credit to Menard,” PJP head softball coach coach Mark Jeanmard said. “They definitely came out ready to play. Busy’s got great control of all her pitches. We struggled against her, and then Howell had some different speeds and offered something different, and their batters lived up to their reputation.
Pope John Paul’s only run came when Sydney Loupe singled and scored on a double by Ashley Rodriguez.
The victory sent 23-9 Menard to the FastPitch56 state tournament in Sulphur for the first time since 2007 where the Lady Eagles will open with a 2 p.m. Friday game against 18-4 Fisher of Lafitte in Jefferson Parish.
Menard scored in four of the five innings, getting multiple runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Leadoff hitter Maddie Smith, who went 3-for-4 with a double and scored three runs, opened the bottom of the first with an infield single, stole second and scored on a two-base error by Pope John Paul with a throw into the outfield trying to nail Smith on the steal.
Menard’s Kayla Busby pitched a no-hit game through the first three innings and struck out six. Despite Loupe reaching on a fielding error by Howell in the second, Busby struck out the side.
The Lady Jags finished up the season with a 16-9 overall record.