Feeling he had a very good team coming in to the beginning of the 2023 LHSAA softball season, Quitman head coach Justin Dodson scheduled as many expected quality foes at the end of the season as he could to prep his squad for the playoffs. 

Since the final district 1B contest on March 22nd and entering this week of play the Lady Wolverines had been tested five times in five days by schools from higher classifications. Victories came against 5A Parkway, 4A Evangel Christian, 3A Jena, and 2A Oak Grove. A lone last inning loss to Class A Cedar Creek was the only blemish. Now you can add Class 2A Winnfield and Class 4A Northwood to the list of victims. 

Quitman 7 Winnfield 4 (Monday)  When Maggie Guyotte hit a three run blast for her school record 20th homerun of the year in the top of the seventh inning it looked like it was just icing on the cake as it upped Quitman’s lead to 7-1. As it turned out it was very important, as Winnfield hit a three run homer as well in their last at bat and had the bases loaded but Cali Deal coaxed a line out to first to end the rally attempt. 

Quitman wasted no time in taking a lead as after four batters, the Lady Wolverines had scored twice. Madison Chaplin opened the game by walking and scored when Deal stroked a double to center. AJ Gray came on to run for Deal and then scored on a Maddie Kaye Brymer single to right. After Winnfield, ranked 12th in Division III, cut the lead in half in the bottom of the second the Deal, Gray and Brymer connection struck again. This time it was Deal who walked and Gray, once again, pinch running scored when Brymer stroked a double to left center. Madeline Vail followed with a single advancing Brymer to third, who then scored when Vail stole second and Winnfield attempted to throw her out. Deal, who struck out 13 on the night to improve her season record to a sterling 16-1, struck out seven over the next four innings and held Winnfield without a run, setting up the frantic finish. Offensively she helped her cause with a 3 for 3 performance at the plate that included her 10th home run of the year while adding a double and 3 RBI. Brymer, who knocked in a par and Vail got two hits each with a double and Chaplin scored twice.

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Quitman (23-5)	2	0	2	0	0	0	3	7	10	2
Winnfield (12-14)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	4	10

Quitman 6 Northwood-Shreve 2 (Tuesday) Madison Chaplin hit a double and a triple and 7th grader, Hallie Kate Pullig, smashed her 7th home run of the year to help Quitman to their third victory over a district 1-4A school this year. Karley Huckaby added two hits and scored a run and Madeline Vail scored a run and knocked one in. Maggie Guyotte, who had two hits and a double on offense,  pitched shut out ball for six innings and finished with a three-hitter to run her pitching record to 7-4 and Quitman’s record to 24-5. Northwood, ranked #13 in Division I among “non-select” schools, fell to 13-8 on the year. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Quitman (24-5	0	2	1	1	0	0	2	6	10	0
Northwood (13-8)	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	2	3	3

2B – Chaplin, Guyotte
3B – Chaplin
HR – Pullig
RBI – Brymer, Vail, Pullig
RS – Chaplin 2, Deal, Vail, Huckaby, Pullig

Weston claims much needed win

Needing a victory in their final three games to have any shot at making the postseason, the Lady Wolves completed the first step by beat Downsville 8-5. The victory improved Weston’s record to 6-16 and ranking to #27, three spots out of the 24 teams that will make up Division V bracket. 

It was the heart of the order that did most of the damage for Weston as Jacie Ledford (HR, 2B, 2RBI, RS), Betty McCarty 2B, 2RBI, 2RS) and Alaina Trosclair (3B, RBI, RS, SB) combined for 8 hits, five RBI, four runs scored and a stolen base. Carly Jo Griffen (RBI) and Carlynn Waters (RS) added a double each and both Gracie Mudge and Emma Kate McBride scored a run. Anslee Aldy went the distance and struck out 9 to pick up the win to run record to 4-9  on the year. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Downsville (13-10)	1	0	0	1	3	0	0	5	7	3
Weston (6-16)	3	0	1	1	1	2	x	8	13	6

Lady Tigers playoff hopes dealt serious blow

Bienville Parish has been hard on Jonesboro-Hodge recently. After Saline beat the Lady Tigers 24-8 and 13-1 on March 31st, Ringgold followed on April 3rd by taking a twin bill by 13-4 and 6-5 scores. The losses have been devastating to J-H’s playoff hopes. After climbing as high as #20 in the Division IV rankings just a week ago with a 7-8 record, now the Lady Tigers are on the outside looking in with a 7-12 record and at #27 with only one game left on the schedule.

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