DCS Lady Gators fall at Houma Christian
Houma – Playoff games are supposed to be exciting and this one lived up to that billing and even included a dash of controversy on more than one occasion. The result was a thrilling game that didn’t have the “Happily-ever-after” finish the Delhi Charter Lady Gators hoped for as the Houma Christian Lady Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and claimed the 9-6 bi-district win in the LHSAA State Playoffs.
The Lady Gators took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as HC pitcher Madelyn Carlos struggled to find the strike zone coupled with an error. That lead was short lived as with two outs in the bottom of the frame, HCS plated two unearned runs after two DCS errors. Delhi Charter reclaimed the lead 3-2 in the top of the third on Hannah Pennington’s single that scored Baylee Hutchinson. However, in the theme for the day, the home team struck back in the bottom of the inning with three runs to take the 5-3 lead in the bottom of the inning with a little controversy thrown in the mix.
Two singles with one out put runners on first and second for Houma Christian. Another single scored the first run and All-State catcher Peyton Eschete was stopped at third but then tried to make it home. She was initially tagged out by DCS catcher Madalyn Ashley with the throw coming from Pennington in right field. After a meeting of the umpires, Eschete was then awarded home due to interference on Lady Gator third baseman Kristen Hendry.
Just when you thought the dust had settled, the top of the fourth saw another DCS player called for interference, this time running from second to third. Madelyn Cordell was on second base with two outs, when Baylee Hutchinson appeared to single up the middle but the HC shortstop claimed interference on the play and the inning ended after another umpire meeting.
“I thought both of them were terrible calls,” DCS Head Coach Chris Winstead said after the game. “They said Kristen wasn’t making a play, but the throw could have just as easily came to third when that happened as opposed to home and the shortstop was moving laterally while the ball appeared to be past her when they made contact. So I didn’t agree with either.”
Once again, Eschete was involved in a questionable call by the umpire, this one in the bottom of the fifth inning. She was ruled safe at first when the umpire deemed Lady Gator first baseman Madison McPherson’s foot was pulled off the bag. An error and a single later in the inning moved Houma’s lead to 6-3.
DCS finally started to take advantage of the Lady Warriors pitching in the sixth and rallied for three runs to tie the game. The big hit in the inning was a one-out double by McPherson that scored Cordell and Sierra Black who reached on a walk and a single respectively.
But Eschete and Bonvillian, the three and four hitters proved to be too much for the Lady Gators once again in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs and a runner on second on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, Eschete popped down the right field line and Pennington tracked it down. With what would have been the third out to end the inning in her grasp, she contacted the fence and the ball popped out of her glove. Two pitches later, Eschete doubled to center field scoring one and Bonvillian homered in the next at bat to seal the Lady Gators fate. Those two players scored 7 of the Lady Warriors 9 runs.
“I was really proud of how our kids fought through all the stuff today and continued to fight,” Winstead added. “In the end, we left too many runners on base early and just didn’t find a way to get them out enough.”
Delhi Charter finished the year 10-11 in Winstead’s first year and loses four seniors to graduation including pitcher Sierra Black, catcher Madalyn Ashley, 1st Baseman Madison McPherson and 2nd Baseman Emily Wyatt. On the season, Black threw 97 innings and over 1500 pitches all to Ashley after junior Micah Perry was lost in the second game of the year. She took the loss in this game after giving up 10 hits and five earned runs.
“These seniors have laid a good foundation for us to build on and I’m really excited about the group we have coming up.” Winstead said. “This is my first year after coming over from baseball and I’ve learned a lot, so I’m really excited about next year.”