CCHS to face Ascension Catholic in state tourney opener

Central Catholic High School senior shortstop Taylor Picou knows that she and the team’s other four seniors will conclude their high school careers this week at the Allstate Sugar Bowl/Louisiana High School Athletic Association Softball State Tournament in Sulphur.
She and her teammates also know that it is Central Catholic coach Joe Russo’s final week as the team’s head coach before retiring.
However, she said she and her team don’t feel any more pressure, actually more encouragement, to try to win a state softball title for the team and their coach.
Still, she agreed it would be a nice gift to send off their coach with for all that he has done for them.
“He works day and night on making us better, countless hours checking stats and just making sure we’re fully prepared, so it would definitely be a huge gift to him if we could bring him home another ring,” Picou said Tuesday after her final practice of her high school career at the team’s field at the Bayou Vista Community Center.
Picou and the rest of the No. 3-ranked Central Catholic Lady Eagles will start what they hope will be a three-game playoff run ending with a championship when they meet No. 6 Ascension Catholic Thursday at noon on Field 19 at Frasch Park in a Division IV quarterfinal contest.
Thursday’s appearance will mark the fifth time in the last six years the Lady Eagles (21-5) have advanced to the state tournament. It’s the second-straight appearance for the squad, which fell in the Division IV semifinals a year ago to top-ranked and eventual state runner-up Vermilion Catholic, 10-9, on a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.
Russo said he is pleased with this year’s team’s results.
“These kids basically do whatever we ask them to do, and we just had a good year,” he said. “It’s been a great year.”
Meanwhile, Ascension Catholic (22-9) is making its sixth consecutive state tournament appearance. The Lady Bulldogs fell a year ago in the Division IV quarterfinals to top-ranked Vermilion Catholic, 10-5.
Ascension Catholic won the District 6-1A title with an 8-0 mark, while Central Catholic finished second in District 7-1A with a 10-2 record.
The teams have one common opponent this season, E.D. White, which both defeated.
Ascension Catholic qualified for the state tournament after knocking off No. 11 Opelousas Catholic, 4-2, in regional round action Friday in Donaldsonville.
“First of all, AC and OC, that game could have went either way,” Russo said. “We were there. We got (a) good, good scouting report. … I am 100 percent confident that we’re going to compete with AC.”
He noted that none of Ascension Catholic’s players struck out in their regional round contest.
“I saw some pretty good swings. … It looks like they have some kids that could be game-winners for them,” Russo said. “Their little pitcher did a decent job of pitching, but I just think if we play our ‘A’ game, we ought to be OK with it.”
Central Catholic enters the state tournament on a two-game winning streak, most recently run-ruling No. 14 Ecole Classique, 12-2, in five innings April 17, in the regional round of the Division IV playoffs to qualify for the state tournament.
Central Catholic pitcher Sara Thomas said it’s a different feeling as a senior going to Sulphur after going in previous years.
‘Us seniors, it is very different, because this is your last time playing, and you’ll never get this experience (again) because Sulphur is like the ‘Promised Land,’” she said. “It’s a big, big big accomplishment to get there. … I personally want to go out with a bang.”
Picou leads the team with a .550 batting average with 14 doubles, two triples and eight home runs. She has collected 37 RBIs, stolen 13 bases and scored 44 runs.
Kelly Russo is second on the team with a .449 batting average with three triples, 17 RBIs, five stolen bases and 20 runs, while Kaleigh Navarro is third with a .375 batting average with six doubles, one triple, 32 RBIs and 17 runs.
On the mound, Thomas has 15-5 mark. In 103.1 innings, she has surrendered 59 runs (45 earned) on 92 hits, with 28 walks and 51 strikeouts. She has a 3.05 ERA.