For Catholic High senior shortstop Morgan Comeaux, it’s been way too long. As the only player on the team that saw action the last time CHS made the softball playoffs three years ago, she didn’t want the party to end with a one-and-done.

“It’s very good to be in the playoffs,” said Comeaux. “It’s the best feeling in the world. It’s indescribable.”

Thanks to a hitting outburst that hadn’t been seen in a couple of weeks, the senior and the rest of the Lady Panthers aren’t going to be one-and-done this time around. Catholic High survived a late Ursuline rally to beat the Lions 11-4 Tuesday in the bi-district round of the Class 3A playoffs, advancing to play No. 4 seed Notre Dame in the regional round Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Crowley Recreational Park with the winner going to the state tournament in Sulphur.

(Use arrows above to view more photos) Advertisement

“It’s really awesome to be back on top and knowing that we’re going back to Sulphur, hopefully,” said Comeaux, who had three hits and scored three runs in the game. Her two out double in the sixth started a five run rally that pushed the Lady Panthers past a Ursuline team that wouldn’t go away.

“I think that Ursuline is the best first round team that I’ve ever played,” said CHS coach Jeri Beck. “They never gave up. They kept working hard in the batters box. They were a good first round team.”

The Lions, who trailed 5-0 after two innings, scored one run in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 5-4 before CHS exploded for six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the game away and give their fans something they hadn’t seen since 2005, a playoff win.

“One big error in the last inning,” said Ursuline coach Garry Garrison. “If the second baseman made the play we’re only down 7-4 and still in the game. But we booted the ball around and they are a good hitting team.

“Even down seven runs in the last inning we kept battling but that girl pitched pretty good in the end.”

That girl was Catholic High starter Abby Henagan, who kept Ursuline off the board through the first four innings, survived the rally that saw the lead cut to one run, then came out and recorded the last three outs of the game to ensure the win.

“This wins means a lot,” said Henagan. “I’ve been on the team three years and this is the first year we’ve come together as a team. I struggled a little bit that one inning. I’ve been pitching a lot and I think my arm is worn out.

“The defense has been there backing me up all year. Then they came out and scored six runs for me. It was awesome, it was team work.”

After seeing a five run lead cut to one run and with their playoff life on the line, Catholic High came out swinging.

“We had the momentum, then they got the momentum and we came back and answered it with the bats and it swung our way,” said Comeaux. “After they cut the lead to one run, we were fired up. We were ready to hit the ball. We were ready to get it back, doing whatever it took to win the game.”

The six run outburst started innocently enough with a Catholic High strikeout. Then Mary Hoag stroked a one out triple to right, it was her second big hit of the day, along with a double in the second.

Kristen Ball’s sacrifice fly scored Lauren Faul, running for Hoag, and the Lady Panthers got one run back and were up 6-4.

Then the wheels fell off for the Lions.

Comeaux’s double started the rally, Tori Rodriguez followed with her second triple of the day that scored Comeaux, Henagan helped her cause with single, her third hit of the game, that scored Rodriguez, 7-4 Catholic High.

Marie Hoag reached on the pivotal error as the ball went up and over the Ursuline second baseman.

Jordan Denaille drew a walk and Lanie Lissard singled in Hoag. All the hits, combined with the error and a wild pitch, allowed CHS to plate six runs and extend the lead to 11-6, more than enough for Henagan to finish the game and put the Lady Panthers into the second round.

“Of course I was nervous after they cut the lead to one run,” said Beck. “We struggled a little bit in that inning and put ourselves into a bind. But we’ll clean that up and look forward to playing Notre Dame.

“We’ve been stressing all season about being a team. If you’re not going to get it done, then the girl behind you is going to get it done. I think they showed that tonight.

“They’re there for each other. They are backing each other up.”

Or as Comeaux eloquently added, “We got into a big slump and we kept fighting and we knew that in the end it would all pay off. After three years, it is paying off.”