LAKE PROVIDENCE, La. — Just a few years after it began playing fast-pitch softball, Trinity Episcopal has a district championship to show for its effort and hard work.

On Monday afternoon, the Lady Saints defeated the Briarfield Academy Lady Rebels 9-6 to not only clinch a playoff berth, but also win the MAIS District 6-A championship.

“I think everybody’s expectations were that we would not be district champs,” Trinity Episcopal first-year head coach Chad Huber said. “But they played very well. I’m proud of them.”

With the win, Trinity Episcopal improved to 4-5-1 overall and 3-0 in district play. The Lady Saints jumped out to a 6-0 lead going into the bottom of the third inning before having to fend off a late rally by the Lady Rebels.

“It got a little apprehensive at the end. We got a little tight. But we regrouped and settled down and pulled it out at the end,” Huber said.

The Lady Saints scored three runs in the top of the first inning, two in the top of the second and one in the top of the third to take what seemed like a commanding lead.

After Briarfield scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning, which included an RBI double by losing pitcher Jetta Van Mol, Trinity Episcopal added what proved to be three key runs in the top of the fourth for a 9-2 lead. The big hit for the Lady Saints in their half of that inning was a two-run double by Madelyn Cross, her second two-bagger of the game.

“We didn’t hit the ball as well as we have been, but we scored nine runs,” Huber said.

The Lady Saints had just five hits in the game, but they were aided by five errors by the Lady Rebels.

Briarfield scored two runs in the bottom of the fourth and two more in the bottom of the fifth to make it a 9-6 game. However, that would be as close as the Lady Rebels would get.

Katie Steele was the winning pitcher for Trinity Episcopal. She giving up six hits and walking five batters in five innings. Cross went 2-for-3 for the Lady Saints while Van Mol was 2-for-2 with two doubles to lead the Lady Rebels.

“Katie has progressed greatly this year and she has kept us in ball games and has pitched consistently for us,” Huber said.