A frantic last inning rally came up just short as Quitman lost 9-8 in heartbreaking fashion to Anacoco in the LHSAA Class B state semi-finals played Frasch Park in Sulphur this past Thursday. The loss ends the #5 seeded Lady Wolverines season with a 27-8 record while Anacoco, who beat their third straight higher seeded opponent, improved to 20-16.
WHAT A GAME! – The contest was truly befitting of the environment in which it was played as the two teams battled back and forth the entire seven innings. Six times the lead changed hands or was tied and three times a team came back from at least two runs down to go ahead or tie. There was almost a fourth time…..
OH SO CLOSE! – Quitman came to bat in the bottom of the seventh inning needing three runs to pull even after Anacoco had broken a 6-6 tie by scoring three in the top half of the inning. it seemed like a desperate situation at first but hope immediately blossomed after walk to Skylar Hall was sandwiched around base hits by Cali Deal (2/4, 2B, 2RS) and Madeline Vail (3/4, RS, RBI) that loaded the bases with no outs. Anacoco managed to get an out but then Karley Huckaby then lined a double to left that scored Deal and Hall brining Quitman to within one. Averie Williams was then walked to reload the bases. Sadly, the runners were left stranded there as Anacoco escaped by getting the final two outs needed with no further damage.
YOU GO GIRL! Try to imagine yourself in this scenario. You are an 8th grader playing for the first time in your life on the biggest stage in Louisiana high school varsity competition. Suddenly you are thrust into the spotlight of being so desperately needed in order to keep your team’s chance of winning a state title alive. Scared? Nervous? Most probably wouldn’t have even been able to breathe. Not Karley Huckaby. Cool as a cucumber, this pressure player ripped a shot down the third base line to bring Quitman to the brink of what would have been perhaps the greatest victory in school history. It wasn’t her only time to shine in the game either as Huckaby tied for the team lead with three hits and four RBI while also scoring a run and stealing a base. Big props to her for stepping up on the big stage.
EARLY ADVANTAGE! Quitman jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when Cali Deal started the frame with a double off the fence and went to third on a grounder by Hall that was misplayed by the Anacoco pitcher. Vail then got an infield single to load the bases setting up a Jada Naron grounder to short that scored Deal. Huckaby then followed with a single up the middle to score Hall and Vail.
GUYOTTE’S SHOT! – With two outs and down by two in the bottom of the sixth inning it looked bleak for the Lady Wolverines. Huckaby was on first after reaching on a fielder choice and Madison Chaplin coaxed a walk bringing up the youngest player in the state tournament. Proving true talent knows no age limit, Maggie Guyotte drove an 0-1 pitch into the gap in left center for a double to plate the pair and tie the score setting up the dramatic seventh inning.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| #9 Anacoco | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 4 |
| #5 Quitman | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 10 | 2 |
WP – Davis, LP – Deal (15-6)
2B – Deal, Guyotte, Huckaby
RBI – Huckaby 4, Guyotte 2, Vail, Naron
SB – Hall 2, Huckaby
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