Local softball playoff aspirants have work to do

   
    Fast Pitch 56 is still three weeks away, but 10 local Catholic school softball teams are scrambling to make the playoff fields as representatives of their respective districts.
    And as they do, they see the work that needs to be done to make it as far as Sulphur’s Frasch Park, home of the state tournament.
    The state powers are Hahnville (16-1), West Monroe (16-2) and St. Amant (16-2) in Class 5A; Alexandria (15-2), West Ouachita (12-5) and DeRidder (14-2) in 4A; Brusly (19-2), Buckeye (17-2) and Kaplan (15-2) in 3A; John Curtis (15-0), Riverside (9-3) and Rosepine (17-1) in 2A; and Cedar Creek (16-2), Mangham (12-2) and Catholic-Pointe Coupee (12-4) in 1A. Those rankings are as of March 19.
    The highest-seeded teams among the local Catholic girls are Ursuline Academy (11-4), seeded No. 9 in Class 4A and St. Charles Catholic (14-4), No. 10 in Class 3A.
    So there’s work to be done – and a lot of it. Here’s the breakdown:
    Class 5A – No. 16 Mount Carmel (11-4) has wrapped up the District 9-5A title again. Starting the week, Dominican (9-10) was on the playoff bubble and needs a big finish with three of its last five games on the road.
    St. Scholastica (8-7) is at No. 22 and appears to be solidly in the playoff hunt.
    Class 4A – Ursuline is unbeaten in District 10-4A play, and won’t be tested again until April 4 when the Lions host No. 23 Cabrini at The Fly in Audubon Park.
    Cabrini (8-9) absorbed seven losses in early-season tournaments, but in district competition, the Crescents have only Ursuline as their peer.
    No. 17 Academy of Our Lady (11-4) made it to the 4A semifinals last year. Its only district loss is to No. 8 Belle Chasse (21-2). The two meet again on April 4.
    Class 3A – St. Charles Catholic has two big games against
District 7-3A rival Brusly. Wins against this giant would yield a spike in power points.
    Class 2A – Pope John Paul II (8-3) sits at No. 11 and is in a battle against Springfield for the District 8-2A championship.
    Class 1A – The reigning champion, Archbishop Hannan (13-6) , is back in the thick of a playoff berth at No. 11. Four of the Lady Hawks’ losses were against Class 5A schools, which may pay off later.
    Ron Brocato can be reached at rbrocato@clarionherald.org.