Published: May 01, 2008 05:29 pm            

Guidry, Lady Cards ready for Needville

BRIDGE CITY — When the Bridge City Lady Cardinals lace them up, they know that they have a go-getter in centerfield in junior standout Mallory Guidry.

Guidry has been a tremendous fixture as a starter in the Lady Cardinal lineup and brings so many positives to the table as the District 21-3A champion Lady Cardinals (18-5) prepare to take on District 24-3A runnerup Needville (25-5) in the Class 3A Region III area round of the playoffs tonight at 7 p.m. at Huffman High School.

Guidry doesn’t feel much playoff pressure, after all, she’ll be playing in her third straight postseason.

“I’m really looking towards the playoffs,” said Guidry. “That’s what your always aiming far. This year is by far our youngest team since I’ve been here but the younger players have really stepped up and have played key roles for us all season.”

Guidry and the Lady Cardinals stormed to yet another 21-3A title and extended their district winning streak to a whopping 89 games before falling to Kirbyville late in the district campaign. Guidry feels that a much-improved 21-3A only helped them improve their attitude and work ethic.

“Winning 89 straight in district, that’s something we will always remember being a part of,” said Guidry. “For a day or two, we really were sad about the streak ending. But when we look back on it, it did relieve a lot of pressure and we stepped up and played really well those last few district games and in our warmup game (a 1-0 win against Anahuac).”

The mainstays at Bridge City, of course, are senior shortstop Lauren Angelle and senior second baseman Jenna Angelle and they’ve been key cogs in leading the way their last year in a Lady Cardinal uniform.

“Lauren and Jenna, they’re unbelievable as teammates,” said Guidry. “They work so hard and you want to follow them. I’m like the other ‘older’ starter and I help out my younger teammates as much as I can. We’re really a close-knit team.”

Assistant coach George Navarro, who was running practice Thursday as head coach Sophia Mount was out due to illness, loves Guidry’s attitude.

“Mallory is a kid that always does what is asked of her,” Navarro said. “She’s still just a junior but she has that senior attitude. She’s a true winner in every sense of the word. She does whatever it takes to help the team win. She handles the bat well and she gobbles up everything out in center. She’s a real joy to coach.”

The Lady Cardinals have complete attention on the Needville Lady Blue Jays. The Lady Blue Jays finished in a three-way tie for first in 24-3A with West Columbia and Sweeny. They defeated Sweeny but fell to West Columbia when the three teams determined seeding at the end of the district season.

Needville went on to topple Bellville 4-0 in the bidistrict round. Bellville was the team that knocked the Lady Cardinals out of the postseason last year.

“I was a little disappointed when I heard that Bellville lost because we would’ve love to have played them again after what happened last year,” said Guidry. “That also makes us know that Needville has an excellent team because Bellville is always so tough.”

Bellville is led by the likes of ace pitcher Cally Falls along with top-notch hitters in Shelby Parham, Jenny Stack and Ka•la Johns.

“They (Needville) have an excellent little pitcher,” said Navarro. “From what we’ve heard, they also are pretty strong defensively. They have a scrappy little team and so do we, so it should be a very interesting game. I know our kids will give it their best shot.”

The Bridge City-Needville winner will face the LaGrange-Silsbee winner in the regional quarterfinals next week.

        

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