SOFTBALL

Louisiana Fall Softball League finds success in Leesville

Daniel Green
dgreen@leesvilledailyleader.com
MaryGrace Camelin, the pitcher for the Faith Training Christian Academy Lady Patriots, fires a pitch to the plate during the final night of action in the Louisiana Fall Softball League at the Leesville Recreational Complex. Along with FTCA, seven other area teams competed in the league during the month of September.

Over the past two summers, Will Norris, the owner and operator of BWS Sports, has brought high school boys’ basketball action to Vernon Parish in conjunction with David Brasher and the Louisiana Summer League.

Over the past month, Norris and Brasher collaborated once again, bringing a high school fall softball league to Vernon Parish.

On five Tuesdays during the month of September, a total of eight area softball teams competed in the Louisiana Fall Softball League at the Leesville Recreational Complex.

Brasher, who also runs games in Pineville and Natchitoches, was very pleased with the success of the league in Leesville.

“I want to thank everyone for taking part in the league,” he said. “We hope it went well for all of our coaches and their teams.”

For the most part, all five dates played in Leesville featured primarily three teams in Faith Training, Hornbeck and Pickering. Faith Training is a multiple-time ACEL state softball champion, while Hornbeck and Pickering are perennial playoff contenders.

On the final night of the event, five more teams were added into the mix in Anacoco, Evans, Zwolle, East Beauregard and Oak Hill, all playoff teams from a year ago, with three of those — Anacoco, Zwolle and Oak Hill — having played recently in the Fast Pitch 56 State Softball Tournament in Sulphur.

There were many stalemates on the final night of play as Zwolle tied Faith Training, 0-0, and Oak Hill, 5-5. Pickering and East Beauregard also tied in their contest, 6-6.

Hornbeck, who is coached in the regular season by Chase Stringer, who coached Anacoco to a state title four years ago, won both of its games, beating East Beauregard, 6-0, and Hornbeck, 9-0.

Anacoco, playing predominantly junior high players, fell to Evans, 4-1, and Faith Training, 6-5.

Finally, Pickering managed to beat Oak Hill, 3-2.

According to Norris and Brasher, these leagues will continue to come to Leesville and Vernon Parish. They are aiming at bringing a junior high softball and baseball league to the complex in February.