How Vandebilt Catholic softball overcame slow start, rematches to win state-record title

Vandebilt Catholic has one of the best high school softball programs in LHSAA history. However, that doesn't mean the Terriers always live up to their high expectations.

VCHS had 14 state titles to its name entering this season, but it hadn't won any in a decade. In fact, before 2024, the Terriers had been to state twice since that 2014 championship, losing to Archbishop Hannan in the semifinals two years ago and losing a heartbreaker to Buckeye last season.

"It was very disappointing," said head coach Jeremy Duplantis. "We got there, but it didn't feel like we played our best ball."

Duplantis wasn't going to let himself or his team forget how close they came before falling short.

"When we lost, I took the lineup card from that game and I kept it in my office," said Duplantis. "I looked at that lineup card every single day. It was always on my mind."

But to start the 2024 season, the Terriers couldn't recapture the form that got them to state the last two years. By late February, Vandebilt Catholic was sitting at 5-4, and was shut out by rival E.D. White for a third loss in four games. The Terriers' season was on the brink.

As the weather warmed up, Vandebilt had a change of mindset that arguably saved the season.

More High School Sports: Three Houma Christian School athletes sign letters of intent to play college sports

"Three of our losses were by one run. We just couldn't quite win those games," Duplantis said. "I said, 'We need to stop thinking about the state championship. We need to worry about going 1-0.' And we kept thinking that throughout the rest of the season."

The Terriers didn't go 1-0 every day for the remainder of the season — they dropped a district game to Lutcher in late March to snap a 10-game winning streak — but that was the only blemish to an otherwise perfect regular-season finish. The VCHS bats were unbelievably hot, scoring at least 10 runs in 13 of the remaining 21 regular-season games. The pitching was masterful, with nine shutouts and six more games allowing three or fewer runs. By April, the same team that was on the verge of a losing record less than two months earlier was the second seed in the Division II select bracket, and was a serious contender for a state championship.

Barker Honda Athlete of the Week: Vote here for this week's Barker Honda Athletes of the Week in Houma- and Thibodaux-area

"When we got to that 2-spot, I told the girls '1-0 four times. Let's go 1-0 four times,'" said Duplantis. "We kept that attitude throughout the playoffs."

After a first-round bye, VCHS opened the playoffs with a dominant 10-0 run-rule victory over Cabrini, and cruised to a 9-2 victory over Teurlings Catholic to clinch a spot in Sulphur for the third straight year.

"That was very exciting," said Duplantis. "The girls were jumping up and down, we were very excited. But then we came and we shook hands because we knew our goal wasn't just to get there. Our goal was to win it all."

Awaiting the Terriers in the semifinals was none other than Archbishop Hannan. In addition to eliminating VCHS in the semifinals two seasons ago, the Hawks had won state titles in 2019, '21, and '22. Knocking off the Terriers that April afternoon was nothing short of the last step that Hannan needed to become a dynasty.

This season, though, Vandebilt brought the dynasty to its knees. Senior pitcher Corin Talbot starred in the circle and at the plate, throwing a complete game striking out 13 while allowing one run and hitting the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning for a 2-1 win.

But to win a state championship, the Terriers needed to win a second rematch. VCHS was set to face top-ranked Buckeye.

The Panthers were also a potential budding dynasty. In addition to defeating Vandebilt Catholic for the title in 2023, Buckeye — as the seventh seed — had previously upset No. 1 Iowa in 2022 for the championship.

But the Terriers didn't just win against the Panthers, they emphatically shut the three-peat door.

Through three innings, VCHS held onto a slim one-run lead, but the bats woke up down the stretch. Three runs in the fourth, two in the fifth — thanks to two more Talbot home runs — and one in the sixth put the title out of reach. The Panthers did get on the board in the sixth and seventh innings, but when Talbot caught the line drive for the final out, Vandebilt had won its 15th title, 7-3.

The championship not only extended the Terriers' state record for softball titles, but also prompted Duplantis to remodel his office.

"I took that card down as soon as we got back," he said.

This article originally appeared on The Courier: How Vandebilt Catholic overcame slow start, rematches to win state title