STRIKE ZONE

<p class="p1">In this edition of the Strike Zone, Warren Arceneaux and Rodrick Anderson discuss Tuesday and Wednesday’s schedule of high school baseball and softball games.

<p class="p1"><strong>What is the best baseball game on the schedule?</strong>

<p class="p1"><strong>WA:</strong> Iowa at St. Louis. The Saints are the hottest team in Southwest Louisiana and are undefeated in District 4-3A play. Iowa, the defending district champs, are in the middle of a tough district schedule which has them playing six straight games against the other district title contenders, Westlake, St Louis and South Beauregard. The Yellow Jackets are 1-2 halfway through the stretch and likely needs to finish at least 3-3 to stay in the title chase. The Saints are 3-0 against fellow contenders, having swept South Beauregard already.

<p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> Acadiana at Sulphur. At lot is riding on this game and the first match up was a barn burner that Sulphur won 4-1 in eight innings. The Tors are coming off their first District 3-5A loss, a 2-0 setback to Sam Houston on Saturday, and only hold a one game lead in the district standings. Acadiana has been up and down in district play, but is dangerous win it puts it all together. The Rams beat Barbe 3-1 on Saturday and handed Sam Houston its first loss of the season, 9-8, on March 23rd.

<p class="p1"><strong>What is the most interesting softball game?</strong>

<p class="p1"><strong>WA</strong>: South Cameron at Merryville: Two traditionally strong programs are hovering around .500 and chasing St. Edmund in the District 4-1A race. The Panthers are just one loss behind St. Edmund and can stay in the race by protecting its home field. The Tarpons have three district losses and can’t afford any more.

<p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> New Iberia at Barbe. The Bucs were looking like a lock for a home game in the first round of the playoffs, but a pair of one-run losses to Comeaux and Sulphur has them scrambling for wins to finish out the season. They face a tough stretch to finish the regular season with home games against New Iberia and No. 3 Sam Houston this week plus a nondistrict road game to 3A No. 3 North Vermilion and No. 9 Acadiana next week.

<p class="p1"><strong>Who is your player to watch?</strong>

<p class="p1"><strong>WA:</strong> LaGrange catcher Jevon Lewis hit a 3-run homer Friday in a Gators win over New Iberia. LaGrange is within reach of a playoff berth and can take another big step with a win at Lafayette today. The Gators beat the Lions earlier this season.

<p class="p1"><strong>RA:</strong> Sulphur third baseman Abbi Massey. The freshman has hit a home run in back-to-back and has four on the season and has at least one hit in her last 14 games. Massey’s offensive power will be key as Sulphur looks to improve its power ranking before the regular season ends in a week.