SULPHUR, La. — The Delta Charter School Lady Storm exceeded expectations by reaching the Class 1A quarterfinals of the 2018 Allstate Sugar Bowl/LHSAA Softball State Tournament in just their fifth season of varsity softball.

Unfortunately, South Cameron High School made sure that Delta Charter’s postseason run would not continue as the Lady Tarpons used a seven-run barrage in the top of the fifth inning to run-rule the Lady Storm 16-5 on Field 19 at Frasch Park on Friday.

“South Cameron is known for being in the state tournament. Their experience in the postseason (was a difference),” Lady Storm head coach Jeannie Beach said.

No. 3 seed Delta Charter and No. 6 seed South Cameron each received a bye in the bi-district round and both teams defeated their regional round opponents by the exact same score — 17-2.

But with South Cameron having as close to a home-field advantage as possible, the Lady Tarpons jumped out to a 6-1 lead after two innings of play. Delta Charter scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning to make it a 6-3 game.

Beach said if there was one thing she wished her team had done better to come out with a win it was to play relaxed.

“This was our first trip. Our nerves were there. That’s just part of being in a program. I wish I could rewind the first inning and start over,” she said. “We had a couple of rough first (two) innings.”

However, the Lady Tarpons put an end to the Lady Storm’s comeback attempt with three runs in the top of the fourth inning and seven runs in the top of the fifth.

Beach said that starting pitcher Sydney Watts and reliever Bailey Yates each had problems throwing strikes and that several defensive miscues did not help, either.

“We had five walks and three hit by pitches. They had a couple of good hitter. They hit the ball. They ran the bases well. We had a couple of wild pitches. The score makes it look like it was really good. Any other day, it could have been different.”

Delta Charter, on the other hand, managed just one run in the bottom of those innings and had their season come to an end.

The Lady Tarpons (13-11) finished with 13 base hits, with four players collecting two hits apiece. They also took advantage of four Delta Charter errors.

Watts ended up going four innings and allowed 11 runs (five earned) on 10 hits with two walks and no strikeouts.

“South Cameron is a good team even though they were seeded lower than us,” Beach said. “They didn’t get most of their hits until the last inning. Their pitcher was average.”

The Lady Storm ended up with eight hits. Darby Beach went 3-for-3 with a home run, one run batted in and two runs scored. Skylar Bolyer was 3-for-3 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored.

Delta Charter finished with an overall record of 15-14.

“We have something to look forward to next year. I’m glad they got the opportunity to go (this year). I’m looking forward to next year,” Beach said.