North DeSoto softball player Laney Johnson is the Louisiana High School Athlete of the Week (April 24-30)

Johnson hits pivotal late-inning home run in Lady Griffins' eventual state title-game win

By Buck Ringgold 

Laney Johnson came up with a big hit to help her team eventually repeat as state softball champions.

Johnson, a junior at North DeSoto, went 2-for-3, including hitting a go-ahead two-out two-RBI home run in the bottom of the fifth, lifting the Lady Griffins to a 7-4 win against Albany for the Division II non-select championship on April 29 in Sulphur.

She was named the Most Outstanding Player following the game. Johnson also went 2-for-3 with a home run and a double in the Lady Griffins' 11-0 semifinal win against Brusly on April 28, and even pitched a five-inning no-hitter.

The Lady Griffins have won state six of the past seven seasons, with the only thing keeping North DeSoto from a run of seven straight championships was COVID-19 three years ago.

For her efforts, Johnson was voted the SBLive Louisiana Athlete of the Week covering April 24-30.