Patrick Taylor’s strikeout machine powers the Tigers to 5-seed in Division II Select playoffs

NEW ORLEANS — The high school softball playoff brackets were released on Wednesday, and Patrict Taylor saw its highest seed in program history.

The Tigers are the five-seed in the Division II Select bracket.

“Man, this season has been unbelievable. You know, a 27-6 record with the teams that we played. We went after a really difficult schedule. We wanted to be ready and tough for the time the playoffs came around, and the girls shined all season. They did a great job,” said Patrick Taylor head coach Lance Reine.

Ashtyn Rogers is the lone senior on the Patrick Taylor roster, and when the Tigers’ ace is on the mound, she turns into a strikeout machine.

“In my opinion, you’re getting the best pitcher in the state of Louisiana. I don’t think there’s any question. I know there’s a lot of good ones, but there’s not a single one that I would want over her,” Reine said.

Rogers has been a pitcher in the Patrick Taylor softball program since the seventh grade, and the Southeastern Louisiana University signee has surpassed 700 career strikeouts.

“It’s definitely flown by, in hindsight, but it’s great. I’m glad I get to compete and represent Patrick Taylor. I just love competing for my team because we hate losing. So, I love to do whatever I can to help us out,” Ashtyn Rogers said.

That mentality has shown in Patrick Taylor’s historic run.

Rogers is 16-3 this season, with a .59 ERA, and 268 strikeouts.

She has 50 strikeouts in her last two outings, which include 16 against Chalmette and 34 in a 1-0, 16-inning win over Hahnville.

“That’s just ridiculous. The 34-strikeout game is something I don’t think you’ll ever see. I mean, to go 16 innings is impressive enough, but to have 34 strikeouts. I mean, some kids in that game struck out seven times,” Reine said.

That performance broke the state’s single-game strikeout record.

“I didn’t even really know. Like at the end of the game, coach Lance told us as a team after and I was like, wow, I really didn’t even know that could be possible in softball. But, it was just awesome. But, I was just feeling so zoned in that game, really locked in, and I wasn’t losing at the end of the day that game. So I was going to do whatever it took to win,” Rogers added.

Rogers’ competitive fire takes over when she steps foot on the diamond, and now it turns its attention to postseason play, where she hopes to help Patrick Taylor get over the quarterfinal hump and prove that the Tigers are a true contender in Division II Select.

“Patrick Taylor is not really known for athletics. We’re more of an academic-based school, but it’s awesome because we kind of just have that mentality like, hey, why not us? What’s stopping us?”

Patrick Taylor has a first-round bye.

The Tigers will open postseason play next week against the winner of the round one matchup between No. 21 McKinley and No. 12 Academy of Our Lady.

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