Softball season reaches the home stretch

The playoffs are one of the most important, if not the most important, part of any season.
Every game is a collective effort in making a run to make the playoffs.
For the Vermilion Parish softball teams, the regular season, and a push for the playoffs has come down to this last week of games.
According to the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA) the top 32 teams in each class make the softball playoff tournament.
The Abbeville Lady Wildcats are currently ranked in the 29th position in the power rankings with a 9-9 overall record and a 2-6 district record.
They will play their last two games of the regular this week when they take on Kaplan tonight, and West St. Mary on Thursday.
The Delcambre Lady Panthers with their 17-6 overall record and 6-1 district record are ranked 11th in the power rankings, and are assured a playoff spot.
They will be on the road this week as they travel to take on Opelousas Catholic tonight and Westminster on Thursday.
The Erath Lady Bobcats have been on a bit of a tail spin over the last couple of weeks.
The Lady Bobcats have lost eight of their last 10 games, but despite downward trend they are still ranked 25th in the power rankings.
Their last four games will take place this week, at home, when they host West St. Mary tonight, North Vermilion on Thursday, Jennings on Friday and Hamilton Christian on Saturday.
The Gueydan Honey Bears have struggled for most of the season.
They will get three of their last four remaining games out of the way this week.
They traveled to Highland Baptist last night, tonight they will host Vermilion Catholic and travel to Hanson on Thursday.
The Kaplan Lady Pirates are riding high at the moment.
Not only are they the number two team in Class 3A, according to the power rankings, but they are also atop of District 6-3A by one game over Notre Dame, with a 17-5 overall record and a 7-1 district record.
The Lady Pirates will travel to take on Abbeville tonight, and then turn around and travel to Crowley for an important game against Notre Dame on Thursday.
The North Vermilion Lady Patriots find them selves ranked seventh in the power rankings and are behind both Kaplan and Notre Dame in the District 6-3A standings.
They will host Notre Dame tonight and travel to Erath on Thursday.
The Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles have a 9-12 overall record and a 5-5 district record.
Their record is good enough to have them in the 26th spot in the power rankings.
They will be hoping to finish the season strong to ensure a playoff spot and that starts tonight when they travel to Gueydan to take on the Honey Bears, and then host Highland Baptist on Thursday.
Most of the teams in Vermilion Parish are fighting for a playoff birth.
Which means that every game is important, and when every game is important, it means these girls are giving everything they have to continue their season.
If you can, make sure you check out some of the remaining games because they are going to be fun to watch.

Andy Bullard
Sports Editor