The Monroe area put on a dominant display at the 2025-26 LHSAA softball championships, with three local teams—Sterlington, Oak Grove, and Quitman—bringing home state titles on Sunday, May 3, at the North Frasch Softball Complex in Sulphur. It was a weekend of grit, comebacks, and standout performances that showcased the depth of talent in the region.

Sterlington, the No. 5 seed in Division III nonselect, faced a tough challenge against No. 2 Kaplan. The Lady Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, but the Lady Pirates quickly answered, taking a 4-2 advantage by the end of the second. Sterlington kept their composure, holding Kaplan scoreless for three straight innings. Then, in the sixth, freshman Neely Kilpatrick delivered the game-changing moment—a three-run homer on a 1-0 count that sailed to center field, giving the Lady Panthers a 5-4 lead they never relinquished.

"We talked about moving up closer to the plate and looking for the outside pitch, because (Kaplan pitcher Lexi Greene) had been throwing that to a lot of our girls," Sterlington coach Jeff Tannehill said. "She hit a long home run. Just her being coachable and having a good eye for the ball, she did a really good job of executing the plan."

Sterlington's success was fueled by a core of talented freshmen, including Ansley Johnson, who pitched a four-hit shutout in the semifinals against No. 1 Jena, and Bea Cerda, who recorded a hit in five of the Lady Panthers' final six games. The team will also bid farewell to seniors Jaleeyah Alford, Sullivan Cannon, and Tori Kelley, whose contributions have been invaluable to the program's championship run.

Oak Grove and Quitman also claimed titles in their respective divisions, continuing the Monroe area's strong tradition of softball excellence. For these teams, winning a state championship isn't just about the trophy—it's a testament to their resilience and hard work throughout the season.