The Louisiana high school baseball playoffs are heating up, and the Ellender Patriots have drawn first blood in their Division II Non-Select series. Taking on the Belle Chasse Fighting Cardinals on the road, the Patriots secured a crucial 5-2 victory in Game 1, setting a commanding tone for the best-of-three series.

This win puts Ellender in the driver's seat as they look to close out the series. For Belle Chasse, the mission is clear: bounce back quickly. The Fighting Cardinals will aim to even the score and force a decisive Game 3 when the two teams meet again tomorrow, April 18th. Every pitch and at-bat carries immense weight in the postseason, where momentum can shift in an instant.

Want to catch all the thrilling playoff action from across the region? Tune in to WGNO's Friday Night Fastball, presented by Delgado Community College. The show airs at 11 p.m. on Nola 38, The CW, with a replay at midnight on WGNO, bringing you highlights, standout performances, and the stories behind the scores.