Young Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles come up short in state quarterfinals

SULPHUR — Chalk this trip on Friday to the Fast Pitch 56 state softball tournament as a learning experience for the Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles dropped an 8-3 quarterfinal game to Cedar Creek on Friday at Sulphur's North Frasch Complex.
The young Eagles only lose two seniors (Mary Meaux and Haley Faulk ) who start in the outfield.
VC Coach Kim Guidry said she was proud of how her team hung with the No. 2 seed Cedar Creek.
“That is what we talked about,” Guidry said. “We see who we have coming back, and you build for the future. It was a good way to start. They now know what it is. You see how you feel and know why you want to be here.”
The Lady Eagles caught the respect of Cedar Creek in the first inning. VC, the visitors, didn't let Cedar Creek pitcher even think of throwing a no-hitter.
Lead-off hitter Ainsley Mallet singled and reached second base on a throwing error. She stole third base to set up VC's first run. Bella Doucet singled over third base for the quick 1-0 lead.
“Scoring on them early showed we could hit their pitcher. It gave us confidence,” Guidry said.
Cedar Creek tied it 1-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
VC came right back in the top of fourth inning and scored done run. Taylor Abshire led off the inning with a double. Pinch runner Anne Catherine Mallet ran for Abshire. The next batter, Sadie Boudreaux, singled home Gallet . Boudreaux was thrown out at second trying to stretch it for a double.
Cedar Creek exploded for seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings, thanks to two home runs. Cedar Creek put the game away in the fifth inning with a grand slam home run off pitcher Taylor Abshire.
After five innings, Cedar Creek had a 8-2 lead.
“The fifth inning hurt us with that grand slam,” Guidry said.
Cedar Creek finished with 12 hits while VC had five.
Katelin Cooper knocked in six runs for Cedar Creek with her two home runs.
Doucet had a solo home run in the top of the sixth for VC. She finished with two hits and 2 RBI.
The Lady Eagles finished the year 19-6.