Prior to the first pitch of the Class 2A regional softball playoff game between DeQuincy and John Curtis, all of the DeQuincy players stood in the dugout, singing and clapping as loud and hard as their voices and hands would allow.

But that noisy outburst did little to muffle the sound of Curtis pitcher Ashley Brignac's blistering fastball popping into the catcher's mitt during warmups.

Five innings later, the Tigers boarded the bus back to DeQuincy without a hit against Brignac (23-0), who struck out all 15 batters, as Curtis advanced to the state tournament with an 11-0, five-inning playoff victory. The game was stopped after fifth inning because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Curtis (27-6) will meet either Vidalia or Mamou next Friday in the quarterfinals at Sulphur in quest of a fifth consecutive state title.

Brignac, catcher Abbie Mirambell and first baseman Gabby Bridges (on a third-strike putout) were the lone Curtis players to touch the ball on defense. It was the final home game for those three seniors, along with Brianna Graham and Vanessa Rodas.

"I thought about it all day," said Brignac of her home finale.

In addition to her mound mastery, Brignac clubbed two home runs for the first time this season. The game ended in the fifth on a three-run homer by Mirambell against losing pitcher Brittany Burrows (17-10) for the Tigers, who finished 19-10. Burrows intentionally walked Brignac once and Bridges four times. (Both Patriots are Louisiana-Lafayette signees).

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Bill Bumgarner
bbumgarner@timespicayune.com
(504) 883-7057
717-7703.