Kaplan Lady Pirates finish second in state

SULPHUR – The Kaplan Lady Pirates came up short in the Division II Non-Select championship game on Sunday.
The Lady Pirates took an early 4-2 lead and held it until the sixth inning, when the Sterlington Lady Panthers scored three runs. Sterlington went on to win 5-4 at Frasch Park in Sulphur.
This was the second time Kaplan and Sterlington faced each other in the state finals. Kaplan won 4-0 in 2023, while Sterlington took the title in 2024 and again in 2026.
“I don’t think we played badly,” Lady Pirates head coach Brittany LeBouef said. “I think softball’s a game of momentum, and they had the momentum, then we had the momentum, and then they had the momentum again. We could never get it back.”
Kaplan had a rough start in the top of the first inning, falling behind 2-0 after Sterlington’s first at-bat. But for the second straight game, the Lady Pirates rallied in the bottom of the inning, scoring four runs and sending nine players to the plate.
In that inning, Lexi Greene hit a double, Emma Sherman singled down the right field line, and Jenna Duhon put down a sacrifice bunt. Gabrielle Braus also added a key single.
With Lexi Greene pitching, the left-hander kept the Lady Panthers off balance, and Kaplan’s defense played well until the sixth inning.
In the top of the sixth, two errors put two Sterlington runners on base with two outs. Neely Kilpatrick then hit a three-run home run over the right center field fence, giving Sterlington a 5-4 lead.
Kaplan was unable to score in its final two at-bats.
Lexi pitched seven innings, allowing nine hits and three earned runs. She struck out three batters.
After the game, Lexi tearfully apologized to her coach for giving up the home run. Coach LeBeouf encouraged her, saying Kaplan will return and she will pitch in Sulphur again next year.
“She threw a pretty good game (Sunday). I don’t think one pitch defines somebody,” LeBeouf said. “We committed a couple of errors, which allowed them to score. She’s taken the loss pretty hard. But she’s a great player, a great person, and I promise you, we will be back. This is a sour feeling for us.”
The Lady Pirates had more hits than Sterlington, 10 to 9. Liberty Greene, Kalli Trahan, and Gabrielle Braus each had two hits.
Kaplan has now played in Sulphur three out of the last four years.
“It is hard to get to the quarterfinals, to reach the semifinals, and to make the finals, which is extremely difficult,” said LeBeouf. “Our town, our kids, and our school have a lot to be proud of.”