Matt Vines

SULPHUR – Whenever the high school softball season starts in February, North DeSoto fans can pretty much go ahead and book a hotel room in Sulphur.

The Lady Griffins will be making their 10th straight state tournament appearance, meaning this year’s senior class was seven and eight years old the last time the “ND” jerseys haven’t made an appearance at Frasch Park.

No. 1 seed North DeSoto (29-4) will attempt to take one step closer to a fourth straight state title when the Lady Griffins do battle with No. 4 North Vermilion at noon.

These two teams were scheduled to play earlier this month, but the game was cancelled.
North Vermilion has yet to allow a run in these playoffs, blanking No. 13 Minden (5-0 score) and outdueling No. 5 seed Iowa in a 1-0 decision.

North DeSoto ace Laney Johnson has a similar playoff experience, allowing just one run in a combined 13 innings on just seven hits.

Johnson has taken on the primary pitching role this season after sharing that responsibility with Aly Delafield this past season.

The Griffins supply a bit more offense, outscoring their two playoff opponents (No. 16 Cecilia and No. 9 Iota) by a score of 20-1.

Raegan Henderson belted three home runs against Iota as seven of North DeSoto’s 10 hits cleared the fence.

Mia Norwood and Maddie Stringer have homered in each of the playoff wins as North DeSoto has 10 home runs in those two games.

Should North DeSoto defeat North Vermilion, the Lady Griffins will take on the winner of No. 2 Lutcher and No. 6 Grant.

North DeSoto topped Grant 7-1 earlier this season.

A fourth straight state championship would mean this senior class hasn’t ended a season any other way than hoisting a trophy.

The program has six state titles since 2015, the first three under Lori McFerren and the second three under the direction of Tim Whitman.

Whitman has a combined eight state championships at Pineville, Ouachita and North DeSoto.