DELHI, La. — In her first start on the mound in an all-star tournament, Haley Sharp pitched an effective complete game and Bailey Book went 4-for-4 as the Ferriday Fear 13- to 15-year-old All-Stars defeated Mangham 11-5 Tuesday afternoon to advance to the finals of the district tournament.

“This was the most important game for us. It guaranteed us a spot in the state tournament in Pineville, which starts July 12,” Fear head coach Jeannie Beach said.

But before worrying that far down the road, the Fear will have to beat Rayville twice to win the district tournament championship. Those two teams will pay each other at 6 p.m. today. If the Fear wins that game, there will be a second winner-take-all game to follow afterwards.

Despite walking four batters, Sharp held Mangham to just four hits and she struck out five batters in seven innings. Beach said she was pleased with Sharp’s performance.

“She did a great job. And the defense (behind her) did great,” Beach said.

The Fear won the game with a combination of good pitching, solid defense, timely hitting and aggressive base running.

Book had three singles and a double in her four at-bats. Maecee Thornton went 2-for-4 with a double and Skylar Bolyer also went 2-for-4. Darby Beach, Jania Burns, and Emilee Waltman each had a double.

“I was proud of their hitting. They hit the ball real hard,” coach Beach said. “We had a lot of stolen bases. We were very aggressive on the bases.”

This was the fourth game in as many days for the Fear, and Beach added that she was proud of her team for playing hard in the heat.

“I’m proud that they went out there and took care of business,” Beach said.

Ferriday Gators 15, East Ouachita 0

DELHI, La. — After taking care of Delhi and East Ouachita in a doubleheader on Sunday night during the district tournament, the Ferriday Gators were back in action Tuesday night against, once again, East Ouachita.

But this time a lot was at stake — as in the district tournament championship. East Ouachita had the unenviable task of having to win twice while the Gators needed just one win to claim the title.

And the game itself was no contest as the Ferriday Gators needed just three innings to dispose of East Ouachita 15-0. Paige Bryan was the winning pitcher after allowing just one hit and striking out three in two innings of work. Laura Perilloux pitched the third inning and struck out one batter.

“From game one to game three, we’re getting better. I told my girls tonight the chemistry is better,” Gators head coach Rut Horne said. “Everybody gets along. And they’re good ball players.”

Nikki Harbor went 3-for-3 with a double and Emilee Howard was 3-for-3 to lead the Gators’ hitting attack. Micahla Hughes and Tali Beard each were 2-for-3. Taylor Rodgers was 1-for-1 and Marty Lewis went 1-for-3.

“They hit the ball on the button,” Horne said. “In the first inning, our first five batters hit balls that went all the way to the fence.”

Next up for the Ferriday Gators is the state tournament in New Orleans, which begins Friday, July 11.

The Gators defeated Delhi 10-2 in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader. Bryan was the winning pitcher after allowing no runs, no hits, no walks, and struck out four in three innings and she helped her cause by going 2-for-3. Perilloux gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits with two strikeouts in three innings and had a double at the plate. Howard pitched the seventh inning and struck out one batter and went 3-for-4. Rodgers had a double and Harbor went 2-for-3 with a double and a triple.

“We hit the ball really well. Emilee was our leading hitter in the first game,” Horne said. “She’s also my closer. Our pitching was really good. Paige didn’t give up anything.

The second game of the doubleheader lasted just five innings as the Gators routed East Ouachita 14-3. Tail Beard led the way at the plate by going 3-for-3 with a double and a triple and Howard hit a lead-off home run.

Rodgers got the win after allowing no runs and no hits to go with five strikeouts and two walks in two innings. Lewis gave up three unearned runs on two hits and one walk and struck out two in two innings. Howard allowed one hit and one walk and struck out two in one inning.

“My No. 1, 2 and 3 batters had eight hits between them,” Horne said about Howard, Bryan and Hughes. Howard went 2-for-3 with a double to go with her home run while both Bryan and Hughes went 3-for-4 with a double.