Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – The Red River softball team will attempt to hold on to its first-round home playoff game position as the Lady Bulldogs finish the season with six games in the final week.

Red River entered Thursday night’s contest against Ringgold in the No. 14 slot in the Division III Non-Select power ratings (16 teams host in the first round).

The remaining five games include doubleheaders at Bossier (Monday) and at Lakeview (Tuesday) with a regular-season finale Wednesday at Northwood-Lena.

Red River continued its trend of handling less experienced programs with wins against Providence Classical Academy (15-6), and two against Pleasant Hill (22-0 and 16-2).

But elite competition has been tougher with losses to Montgomery (17-0) and Simsboro (11-1).

Close games haven’t been common for Red River this season as the Lady Bulldogs are 2-1 in games decided by three runs or less before Thursday’s game.

Red River edged Saline and lost to Saline in such games with a win over Dodson accounting for other close contest.

The playoff bracket will be released April 16 with the first-round deadline being April 19.

Red River baseball reaching for strong finish after late-season swoon
The Red River baseball team is trying to cobble together a strong finish after a rough past two weeks.

The Bulldogs (12-12) have dropped eight of their last nine games heading into last night’s series opener against Lakeside.

Red River finishes that series today in a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. if weather holds.

The Bulldogs have dropped five straight, which include two one-run losses and another two-run defeat.

Many swept Red River in a three-game set with a 3-2 win and wins of 19-17 and 9-3, the latter two coming Monday because of inclement weather.

Red River is 3-5 in District 3-2A play while Lakeside (14-13, 5-4) entered the series on a five-game winning streak.

Winnfield has series wins against Red River, Mansfield and Lakeside and is in the driver’s seat heading into the final series against Many.

The Bulldogs are fighting for their playoff lives as they’ve slipped to No. 23 in the Division III Non-Select power ratings (24 teams make the playoffs).

Riverdale baseball picks up second win
The Riverdale Academy baseball team doubled its season win total on Tuesday with a 6-5 win against Union Christian Academy.

The district win evens Riverdale’s district mark at 1-1 while improving its overall record to 2-10.

Riverdale gets a rematch with Briarfield Academy on Friday after Briarfield won the first meeting 16-0.

Riverdale has three more district contests remaining and a total of five regular-season games in the final two weeks of the season.