St. Amant wins third straight state softball championship

It was a three-peat for St. Amant High School softball at the state tournament in Sulphur.

In Division I nonselect, the third-seeded Gators from Ascension Parish took early control against fourth-seeded Ponchatoula and took a 7-2 win in the final played April 27 at Frasch Park.

St. Amant finished the 2024 season with a 25-10 record and collected the ninth title in school history.

LSU Eunice signee Makinzey Elisar was the game's most valuable player, as she made plays in centerfield and recorded two hits and scored a pair of runs.

LSU signee Alix Franklin contributed a home run in the title game as well as the semifinal round, which saw the Gators notch an 8-3 victory over second-seeded Southside.

Sophomore pitcher Braylee Decoteau allowed just three hits in the championship win.

The title adds to St. Amant's legacy, which includes state championships in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2019, 2022 and 2023.

Ascension Parish well represented in softball playoffs

In Division IV select, Opelousas Catholic edged Ascension Catholic in a 4-3 semifinal in Sulphur.

The Bulldogs from Donaldsonville previously defeated No. 12 Covenant Christian 12-0 and No. 4 St. Frederick 11-5 in the playoffs.

Also in Division IV select, No. 8 Ascension Christian lost in the regionals to No. 9 Ouachita Christian.

In Division I nonselect earlier games, No. 1 seed Dutchtown recorded wins over No. 17 Hahnville and No. 8 Live Oak in the quarterfinal round.

In the journey to the title, St. Amant notched victories over No. 14 Central and No. 6 Sam Houston.

No. 12 East Ascension defeated No. 5 West Monroe in the regional round but fell to Ponchatoula in the quarterfinal round.

Gonzales Weekly Citizen and Donaldsonville Chief, part of the USA Today Network of Louisiana, cover Ascension Parish and the greater Baton Rouge area. Follow at facebook.com/WeeklyCitizen and facebook.com/DonaldsonvilleChief.