Playoff Season in Avoyelles is Heating Up! ⚾🥎

The calendar may say April, but across Avoyelles Parish, it’s playoff season.

For the past several weeks, local ballparks have stayed busy well into the evening, with fans filling the stands and teams competing with one goal in mind, keep the season alive. From Bunkie to Marksville to Moreauville, parish teams have been in the thick of postseason play, either defending their home fields or traveling the road in pursuit of a spot in the next round.

🥎 Softball

Teams battling in postseason play

The Bunkie High Lady Panthers enter the Quarterfinal round as one of the hottest teams in the state, riding an eight-game winning streak. After earning a first-round bye as the No. 8 seed in Select Division III, the Lady Panthers hosted No. 9 Pope John Paul II in the Regionals on Monday, April 20. In a gritty performance, Bunkie rallied from an early four-run deficit to secure a 9-5 victory. Pitcher Aubree Ducote went the distance, while Andi Bettevy and Ava Webb led the charge at the plate. Bunkie is now scheduled to travel to face top-seeded Calvary Baptist in the Quarterfinals on Friday, April 24, with a trip to the state tournament in Sulphur on the line.

The Marksville High Lady Tigers (No. 9) kept their season alive with a dominant 7-0 shutout of Springfield in the opening round. They advanced to the Regional round on Tuesday, April 21, to face No. 8 Berwick. Following a hard-fought contest, the Lady Tigers fell to Berwick 15-13, concluding their postseason run with a strong 14-14 overall record.

The Avoyelles High School Lady Mustangs saw their successful 2026 campaign come to an end in the Regional round. Entering the bracket as the No. 23 seed, the Lady Mustangs fell to a powerful No. 10 Doyle squad by a score of 15-0 on Saturday, April 18. They finish the season with an 11-10 overall record and significant momentum for next year.

The Avoyelles Public Charter Lady Vikings wrapped up their regular season with a 16-15 record. As the No. 11 seed in the Select Division V bracket, they traveled to face No. 6 Family Community in the Regional round on Tuesday, April 21. Despite a valiant effort, the Lady Vikings fell 15-5, ending their postseason journey.

⚾ Baseball

Teams grinding through tough brackets

On the baseball side, parish teams have been navigating high-stakes postseason series.

The Bunkie High Panthers led by Coach Tyler Gremillion, entered the Select Division III bracket as the No. 19 seed. They pushed No. 14 Fisher to the brink in a best-of-three series that began on Friday, April 17, highlighted by a 7-4 Game 1 victory. However, Fisher rallied to take the next two games, ending the Panthers' season.

The Avoyelles High Mustangs (No. 20) traveled to face No. 13 Caldwell Parish in a tough Bi-District series earlier this week. Despite the resilient defensive effort that defined their season, the Mustangs were unable to overcome the Spartans' offense, falling in the series to finish the year with a 10-16 record.

The Marksville High Tigers concluded their season with a 6-19 record. While they did not advance to the postseason, the Tigers gained valuable experience against one of the state's toughest schedules, setting a foundation for the returning roster.

The Avoyelles Public Charter Vikings under Coach Stu Regard, entered the LHSAA Class B playoffs as the No. 20 seed. The Vikings traveled to face No. 13 Anacoco for a Bi-District matchup on Wednesday, April 22. Results from that late-afternoon contest were pending at the time of this printing.

The Road Ahead: Postseason Schedule

The postseason push is in its most critical phase. In softball, the Quarterfinal round must be completed by tomorrow, Saturday, April 25. For the squads that survive this weekend’s gauntlet, the ultimate prize is a trip to the state championships. All surviving softball divisions will head to North Frasch Park in Sulphur for the semifinals and finals on May 1–2. The baseball state tournament will follow shortly after, also held in Sulphur at McMurry Park, with championship games set for May 11–16.

Editor’s Note: This edition was sent to press on the afternoon of April 22. Due to publication deadlines, results from games played late Wednesday and Thursday will be included in next week’s edition.