The magic continues

VILLE PLATTE -- It has been a magical season for the No. 15 ranked Ville Platte High softball team.
That magic will continue on for at least one more game as the Lady Bulldogs advance on to the regional round of the LHSAA Class 2A playoffs after a 10-0 blanking of Delhi Charter Tuesday afternoon.
With the win Ville Platte improves to 10-6 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs advance to the regional round of the post-season to take on No. 2 ranked Doyle High School. Date and time had not been determined as of Thursday’s press deadline.
“This was a big win for the program and the school,” stated Ville Platte head coach Devinskie Arvie. “It has been a long time coming for us. At the beginning of the year we did not know how things were going to go because we were so young.”
“We start four seventh graders and two eighth graders. That tells you how young we really are,” Arvie continued. “Once we won a few games, the players began to gain confidence by the day. We are excited with the win and are looking forward to the next round.”
Delhi Charter picked up an early runner in the top of the first inning. However, starting Ville Platte pitcher Hanna Monier and the rest of the Lady Bulldog defense shut down the Lady Gator offense before it could gain any momentum.
Ville Platte picked up their first run of the game in the bottom half of the first inning. With two outs, Kenderlyn Doucet singled and scored on a double off of the bat of Madison Monier.
Hanna Monier made quick work of Delhi Charter in the top of the second, retiring the side in order, including striking out the last two batters. Despite getting a runner to second base in the bottom of the inning, the Lady Bulldogs drew a blank to keep the score at 1-0.
After another 1-2-3 inning on defense in the top of the third, Ville Platte surged ahead of the Lady Gators in the bottom of the third as they picked up four more runs.
Hanna Monier and Destiny Lavigne both singled to lead off the at bat. Doucet would follow with a single of her own to plate Monier and give the Lady Bulldogs runners at the corners.
Madison Monier also reached first base, scoring Doucet. A sacrifice bunt moved the runners up to second and third for Hailey Bordelon.
Bordelon’s single allowed Madison Monier and Lavigne to reach home plate and give the Lady Bulldogs a 5-0 lead.
Delhi Charter managed to get another runner to first base in the top of the fourth, but once again could not advance that runner any further. Ville Platte added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two more runs to up their advantage to 7-0.
Hanna Monier tripled to lead off the inning. Lavigne singled, bringing home Monier. Doucet followed that with a double to score Lavigne, making the Lady Bulldog’s edge practically insurmountable.
Neither team could do much offensively in the fifth inning. Ville Platte put the game away in the top of the bottom of the sixth as they tacked on three more runs.
McKenzie Walker led the inning off with a double. Hanna Monier doubled to scored Walker. Lavigne would follow with a single to plate Monier. Doucet ended the game when she doubled home Lavigne, giving the Lady Bulldogs the run-rule win.
Doucet went 4 for 4 to with three doubles to lead Ville Platte offensively. Hanna Monier and Lavigne were each 3 for 4.
Hanna Monier went the distance on the mound for the Lady Bulldogs, pitching six complete innings, allowing no runs on two hits and striking out 12.