Gueydan faces road test against South Cameron

After making the playoffs for the second time in eight years, the Gueydan Honeybears open the playoffs on road as a No. 21 seed traveling to play No. 12 South Cameron.
Gueydan (10-12) finished the regular season on a winning note with a 11-2 win over Ascension Episcopal, but it wasn’t enough to move up in the rankings, according to head coach Robert Helo.
Helo said he thought his team would move up to No. 18 with the win, but instead the Honeybears face a tough South Cameron (13-6) team.
“They play scrappy and aggressive on the bases,” Helo said. South Cameron has always been good and they’ve always had a prominent softball program. I’m glad we get to play them and I think we can beat them.”
The Tarpons finished second in District 4-1A behind Merryville. South Cameron plays in a district where every team earned a spot in the postseason.
South Cameron’s signature win of the year came in March when they defeated Northside Christian 7-4, who is ranked No. 3 in Class C.
Gueydan has showed flashes of a solid team this season, but those stretches have been marred by inconsistent play. Helo said his team’s inconsistent play can be attributed to youth.
The Honeybears start a handful of freshman and some seventh graders. Coach Helo said making the routine plays will be an area where his team needs to be effective, or it could be a long day for his team.
“We have to make routine plays because our pitching is decent, but not dominant,” he said. My pitcher is not going to strike out 10 batters. They’re (South Cameron) going to hit us, so basically we have to make all of the routine plays.”
Aside from making the routine plays and playing consistent solid defense, Helo stressed the importance of his leadoff hitter getting on base.
“The key for us is getting our leadoff on,” Helo said. “The top of the order hits the ball really well. If the bottom of the order can get on base, we’ll be in good shape.”
The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Cameron Rec Field 3.