Month: April 2022

SPOTLIGHT: Evangel’s youngest Eagle doesn’t sweat the small stuff

/ NPJ
LITTLE BIG MAN: Evangel secret weapon Brody Turnipseed with teammate Isaac Erickson.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

There are lots of storylines when it comes to Evangel’s Brody Turnipseed. Let’s start with the name, because you’ve got to admit it’s an attention getter.

Then there is the fact that he is an eighth grader, which means the Eagles’ youngest baseball player is sometimes going against pitchers who could be as many as five years older than he is.

But Topic A when it comes to the reserve middle infielder for the Eagles is his height. How much of it there is remains a little sketchy.

“Four-foot 10,” Turnipseed says. “Maybe 4-11. Let’s just go with five feet.”

Whatever it may be, let’s understand that this is no sideshow for the Evangel team.

“Baseball’s a great game because it’s not always about your size or your age,” says assistant coach Joe Hulett. “Baseball is usually separated by skill. And his skill set is elite. He’s got great hands and great hand-eye coordination.”

And he uses that baseball skill set in a unique way.

When Turnipseed gets his opportunity off the Evangel bench, he can contribute in multiple ways in the same at bat. When he gets called, “mostly it’s to get the bunt down” he says.

But that’s where his size can work to his advantage. It can be tough for a pitcher to throw a strike to a small target, so if that becomes an issue, it can give the Eagles an extra base runner by drawing a walk. Because of that, he often gets perfect pitches to do what he does best.

“Usually when I come in there’s runners on first and second and my job is to get them over,” Turnipseed says. “If he doesn’t throw it down the middle, I pull back or if it’s right down the middle, I try to get it down.”

“He comes in and you expect a guy like that to be tough to throw a strike to and probably be able to bunt,” Hulett says. “But he’s also gone into games and fake bunted and slashed. He’s had success in a lot of different ways for us.”

Turnipseed says he doesn’t try to complicate matters too much. “My job is to do whatever it takes to help the team,” he says. “I’m just to get the bunt down and do what I need to do. I just go up there to have fun and do what I have to do.”

Turnipseed and his Evangel teammates are the No. 6 seed in the Division II playoffs. The Eagles will meet St. Michael’s (Baton Rouge) in the regional round later this week.

Turnipseed says he didn’t expect to make the varsity this year as an eighth grader, but it didn’t come as a surprise to Hulett.

“He’s always played high-level baseball and has had a good level of success,” he says. “We are always looking for guys who can do something to help the team win a game. He’s got a lot of tools that were very intriguing for us right from the get-go.”

But it’s more than just being able to lay down a bunt.

“Any time you bring an eighth grader up to a varsity program, it takes a special kid because they have to be able to fit into the group,” Hulett says. “He’s got to have the right humility and he really embodies everything that we want our guys to have in them as far as toughness and commitment to the team.”

As for being the “little kid” on the team?

“It doesn’t really affect me,” Turnipseed says. “Who cares? It’s all about the heart.”

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL 

April 25 links coaches’ families through tragedy, triumph

/ NPJ

To most, April 25 is probably just another day. That’s simply not the case in the world of Northwest Louisiana high school sports. It’s a day that rocked the community in consecutive years with incredibly different outcomes.

In 2014, Rodney Guin, then Haughton High School’s head football coach, suffered a heart attack on April 25. Doctors dubbed his eventual survival as a miracle. One year later, Richard Lary – Captain Shreve’s head coach – suffered a heart attack at a Gators baseball game. He did not survive.

On April 25, 2016, Mike Greene, now Loyola’s head football coach, said many in his business pondered going to a doctor in case something happened.

Although the outcomes were completely different, this didn’t simply become a story of one family’s tragedy and another’s gift. These men and their families are not only linked in tragedy, but inspiration, fortitude and heartwarming tales.

Guin left Haughton and eventually became the head coach at Calvary Baptist Academy. Since his heart attack, he and wife, Tracy, have acquired a pair of son-in-laws, four grandchildren for daughters Mallory and Maggie and a 2020 state championship.

“That is the one thing I think about: What if I hadn’t survived that?” Guin told The Journal. “What about all of the great things that have happened to my family since?”

Lary left behind wife, Becky, and two daughters, Ally and Camryn.

Ally, the oldest, is set to graduate from the University of Alabama. When the Larys and Bootys (Becky’s side of the family) gather in Tuscaloosa for the May 7 ceremony, it will mark Richard’s birthday on the first trip to T-Town for Richard’s mother, Joann.

Ally’s graduation isn’t the only reason for Richard to smile from above. The coach’s daughter will stay at Alabama to continue her education after accepting a position as a Recruiting Operations Intern in the Crimson Tide athletic department.

“She’s not a coach, but she’s in the sports industry,” Becky Lary said. “(Richard) would love it. She’s following in his footsteps in a little different way.”

As a 15-year-old, Ally showed incredible resilience following the unthinkable tragedy.

“She was our spokesperson,” Becky said. “She was a rock, but not just for me and Camryn — she went to school with all the (Captain Shreve) teachers and the football team – they were all devastated. Those were kids and coaches who used to come to our house. She told them all everything was going to be OK.”

Camryn joined her sister in Tuscaloosa and is nearing the end of her freshman year. She’s following in both parents’ footsteps as she pursues a career in education.

“Ally has Richard’s dynamic personality – she’s never met a stranger,” Becky said. “Camryn is like me, a little more quiet. She’s not shy, but she has Richard’s sense of humor and wit.”

Said Greene: “They are stubborn just like he was, so they’re going to be successful. They have the same drive as their dad.”

Bryant Sepulvado, who accepted the arduous task of replacing Lary, his best friend, at Captain Shreve, is amazed at how the family has progressed.

“I know he’s smiling,” Sepulvado said. “Ally is in the football business, Cam is on a great path and Becky holding everything together — she’s gotta be a saint.”

One of the Larys’ favorite things to do was travel.

“We would always do sports,” said Becky, who liked the Braves while Richard rooted for the Astros. “A typical vacation would be to Wrigley Field, but then the American Girl store and the mall. He was a good girl dad.”

Becky hasn’t stopped. There have been plenty of trips to see the girls and with the girls. And now she’s found some fellow empty nesters, too.”

“Richard and I made a bucket list – some of the places were just crazy,” Becky said. “I can still mark some of them off.”

Captain Shreve’s football program struggled to find its feet in the wake of the devastating loss, but now it’s thriving.

“I did fear the challenge (of following in Lary’s footsteps), but honestly I had just lost my best friend so a lot of that went out the window,” Sepulvado said. “At my first meeting with the team, I told them, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to do this, but we’re going to do it together.’”

Sepulvado has led the Gators to a couple of District 1-5A crowns. In 2021, Captain Shreve posted its first season with double-digit wins (10) since 1983.

“(Richard) would be the first one jumping up and down,” Sepulvado said. “He was my best friend. He’s on Cloud 9. He was one of the most selfless people I’ve ever met.”

Greene still feels the urge to call or talk to Richard Lary on a daily basis, and he recently had a difficult time parting ways with a reminder of his late friend.

“I had a truck with an RL sticker (made in Shreve colors to honor Lary following his death) on the back of it. It was so beat up I had to sell it — Richard probably tore it up back in the years,” Greene said. “I didn’t care about the truck, but that sticker. I tried to peel it off, but it crumbled. That hurt.”

Neither family has formal plans to do anything today, but reflection is certainly in order.

“We’ll pull out some pictures or some home videos and give ourselves that time,” Becky said. “It’s not really a tradition because we talk about him all the time. We don’t save those moments (for April 25).”

It’s like the Larys in Alabama and Louisiana will be able to press play on One Republic’s song “I Lived,” something impossible in the aftermath of Richard’s death.

At Lary’s funeral, the song accompanied a powerful slideshow of mostly family pictures.

“Now we can hear it and be happy about it,” Becky said. “My girls just think about how lucky they were to have Richard for the time they did.”

Rodney Guin continues to change the lives of young people and serve as an inspiration for others. Richard Lary isn’t much different. The darkest days in the lives of their families may have prevented others from the same fate.

“I know it’s true,” Sepulvado said. “When I took over (at Shreve), my wife said, ‘If you’re going to do this, you’re going to get checked out.’ The stress was one of her fears.

“Now I have a cardiology appointment every year before we start football season. After Richard died, I went to an appointment and I saw Mike Greene and four other coaches there.”

State title defense continues after Calvary scores walk-off win

/ NPJ
THE CATCH: Calvary’s Elena Franks makes the play of the game in the Cavs’ 1-0 victory over Central Catholic in the Division IV quarterfinal game Saturday.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Someone was going to walk out of the Calvary Baptist victory celebration with the game ball Saturday afternoon at the Lady Cavs softball complex. Who would it be after Calvary narrowly defeated Central Catholic 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Division IV playoffs?

Would it be Kelsey Coburn, who put down a bunt in the bottom of the seventh inning and induced a two-base error to score pinch runner Maggie Moore from second base?

Perhaps it would be Mary Grace Woodle, who opened the bottom of the seventh inning, grounded to shortstop and induced a two-base error to put the winning run in scoring position?

Or, maybe Kynzee Anderson, the eighth grader who pitched the complete-game shutout, giving up just three hits and striking out four?

You could make a good case for any of those three to walk out of the victory celebration with the game ball. That’s not who really deserved the game ball, however.

In the play of the game, freshman left fielder Elena Franks made an incredible catch at the wall with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to keep the Lady Eagles from starting a rally.

“That player (Amaya Williams) is a fast runner,” Calvary coach Tiffany Wood said of the Central Catholic hitter. “If that ball falls, it’s a double, at least, and a huge momentum changer. Instead, it was a momentum changer for us. That defensive play won the game.”

With the victory, No. 2-seed Calvary (22-12) advances to the state tournament in Broussard to defend its Division IV state championship. The Lady Cavs will face No. 3 seed Riverside Academy in the semifinals on Friday. In the other semifinal, top-seeded Opelousas Catholic will play No. 4 St. John.

“It went a lot like we expected,” Wood said of Saturday’s quarterfinal victory. “They have five seniors, and we knew their pitcher was really good. We knew it was going to be a close game.”

Indeed, it was. Central Catholic (15-11) senior Hallie Crappell lived up to expectations, giving up just two hits and striking out five in the complete-game loss. Both hits were singles by Calvary second baseman D.J. Lynch. The Lady Eagles’ hits also came on singles – two from Shelbie Mabile and one from Gracie Pintado.

The Cavs threatened in the bottom of the second inning. After a walk and an error put runners at second and third, Woodle was thrown out at home trying to score on a fielder’s choice. Crappell struck out Mallory Carver to end the threat.

Central Catholic had runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the fourth, but Anderson was able to induce one of her nine groundouts on the day to stop the Lady Eagles’ threat.

It was apparent a big play was going to decide the evenly-played matchup. Franks just didn’t realize it would be her big play.

“I didn’t expect it to come to me because everything was going to the right,” said Franks. “When I saw it, I started running. The wind caught it a little bit. I saw the fence out of my periphery and went to the ground to keep from hitting it. I’ve never really made a catch like that – so close to the fence.”

The spectacular running catch was all the Cavs needed to get them going in the bottom of the seventh.

“I never really yell, ‘Let’s go,’” said the usually quiet Franks. “But it was an exciting play and I got really excited. It fired us up.”

So, was the game ball Franks was holding after the victory really the ball she caught on the spectacular play?

“I don’t think it’s the actual ball,” Franks said with a smile. “But it’s the game ball.”

Photos by JOHN PENROD

Central Catholic’s Shelbie Mabile tags out Calvary’s Mary Grace Woodle at home plate in the second inning of the Cavs’ 1-0 victory in Saturday’s quarterfinal Division IV playoff game. 

Northwood leads local teams in to baseball playoffs

/ Megan Lowe

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Northwood leads 12 local schools in the Shreveport-Bossier Journal coverage area to the LHSAA baseball playoffs that will start today.

The Falcons, who finished their regular season with a 26-8 record and tied for first place in District 1-4A, were named the No. 4 seed in the Class 4A bracket released Sunday. Northwood will host No. 29 LaGrange (11-17) Tuesday at Dr. James Farrar field at 5 p.m.

Northwood was the only Shreveport-Bossier representative in the 4A bracket but five teams made the Class 5A bracket. Leading the way was No. 6 seed Haughton (26-6) who will host No. 27 Southside (15-18) Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Other host teams included No. 12 Parkway (21-13) will play No. 21 H.L. Bourgeois Tuesday at Ronnie Coker Field at 6 p.m. Airline (18-13) is seeded 16 and will entertain No. 17 Destrehan (20-13).

Benton (20-11), a No. 19 seed, is the only team playing on Monday as it travels to No. 14 Ponchatoula (21-9) for a 4:30 p.m. game. Captain Shreve (16-18) rounds out the local 5A entrants at No. 28 and will be at Zachary (22-12) Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Class 2A has North Caddo (13-15) earning a 28 seed and playing at No. 6 Many Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Plain Dealing (8-11) is a 19 seed in Class A and will travel to No. 14 Slaughter Community Charter (6-11) for a first-round matchup.

All first-round games are single elimination games with the Regional and Quarterfinal rounds being a best 2-out-of-3 series.

In Select brackets teams will start off in either a Regional or Quarterfinal series of games.

Evangel (17-15) is a No. 6 seed and Loyola (19-12) a No. 9 in Division II. Evangel will host No. 11 St. Michael (11-16) and Loyola will be in Baton Rouge to face University Lab (16-12) who is a No. 8 seed. Both are Regional round matchups.

A Division IV series will have No. 5 Calvary (20-14) hosting No. 12 St. Edmund in the Regional round.

Byrd (18-15) is the No. 4 seed in Division I and will host No. 5 Jesuit (21-12) in a Quarterfinal series May 4-7. The two schools faced each other in the 2019 Division I State Championship won by Jesuit 6-1.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Local teams’ matchups in LHSAA baseball opening round

/ Megan Lowe

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Here are the opening-round LHSAA baseball playoff games, with dates and times as available Sunday, involving teams in Caddo and Bossier parishes. Non-Select plays single-elimination first round games before advancing to Regional and Quarterfinal rounds where they will play a best 2-of-3 series. Select brackets start in either the Regionals (Divisions II-IV) or Quarterfinals (Division I) and play a series best 2-of-3. The local teams are in bold type.

Non-Select

CLASS 5A

No. 17 Destrehan (20-13) at No. 16-Airline (18-13), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
No. 28-Captain Shreve (16-18) at No. 5-Zachary (22-12), Tuesday, 5 p.m.
No. 21-H.L. Bourgeois (22-10) at No. 12-Parkway (21-13), Tuesday, 6 p.m.
No. 19-Benton (20-11) at No. 14-Ponchatoula (21-9), Monday, 4:30 p.m.
No. 27-Southside (15-18) at No. 6-Haughton (26-6), Tuesday, 6 p.m.

CLASS 4A

No. 29-LaGrange (11-17) at No. 4-Northwood (26-8), Tuesday, 5 p.m.

CLASS 2A

No. 28-North Caddo (13-15) at No. 6-Many (21-8), Tuesday, 5 p.m.

CLASS 1A

No. 19-Plain Dealing (8-11) at No. 14-Slaughter Charter (6-11), TBD

Select

DIVISION I

Quarterfinals (Best-of-3 series)

May 4-7

No. 5-Jesuit (21-12) at No. 4-Byrd (18-15)

DIVISION II

Regionals (Best-of-3 series)

April 28-May 3

No. 9-Loyola (19-12) at No. 8-University Lab (16-12)
No. 11-St. Michael (11-16) at No. 6-Evangel (17-15)

DIVISION IV

Regionals (Best-of-3 series)

April 28-May 3

No. 12-St. Edmund (15-16) at No. 5-Calvary (20-14)

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Evangel uses big inning to get past Loyola

/ Megan Lowe

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Evangel used a 9-run fourth inning in defeating Loyola 13-5 at Evangel Saturday to wrap up the prep baseball regular season.

Isaac Erickson scattered five hits in pitching a complete game and singled, double and homered at the plate to drive four runs for the Eagles. Garrett Burns also had three hits that included a double for Evangel (17-15) who will enter the Division II playoff bracket as a six seed.

William Soignier had a home run for one of the Flyers’ five hits. Loyola finishes the regular season 19-12 and is the No. 9 seed in Division II.

CALVARY 5, MANDEVILLE 4: At Mandeville, the Cavaliers scored their runs in the second inning and held off the Skippers. Caden Flowers was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI for Calvary (20-12).

BENTON 12, DOYLINE 2: Kade Davis’ second inning grand slam highlighted a 5-run outburst as the Tigers posted a five-inning win at home. Davis also had a run-scoring single in the first inning for a 5 RBI day. Colby Leepe went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one hit and two unearned runs as he walked one and struck out eight for the win for Benton (20-11).

BYRD 15, NORTH DESOTO 5: At Stonewall, the Yellow Jackets wrapped up the regular season with 15 hits led by Connor Pierce who tripled and homered and drove in five runs. Brooks Brossette, David Favrot, Walker Fox, Tyler Nichols and Christian Weddleton all had doubles while Nichols added a triple and Favrot a home run for Byrd (18-15).

Friday

CALVARY 5, BYRD 2: Landon Fontenot and Kyzer Smith combined to 1-hit the Yellow Jackets at The Hive. Fontenot didn’t allow a hit in 4 2/3 innings, walked four and struck out four to get the win. Smith allowed the one hit in the final two innings. Sawyer Fowler was 2-for-3 for Calvary (19-14). Dakota Futch had Byrd’s only hit a double in the sixth inning. David Favrot suffered the loss despite allowing only six hits, five runs, three earned, walked two and struck out four for Byrd (17-15).

HAUGHTON 20-14, HARRISONBURG 1-0: Colin Rains had a double in each game and recorded his 17th  win of the season to break the single-season school record as the Bucs swept a doubleheader from Harrisonburg. With the sweep Haughton finished the regular season on a nine-game win streak and 26-6 overall.  

LOYOLA 3, CAPTAIN SHREVE 2: At Cicero Field, the Flyers’ Gray Deason led off the seventh inning with a single and scored the winning run on a passed ball to get the non-district win. Jack Whatley and William Soignier combined to limit the Gators to six hits and two unearned runs. He walked three and struck out seven. 

PARKWAY 9, ZWOLLE 3: At Parkway, Trent Lape was 2-for-3 with a home run as the Panthers got the regular-season finale win. Tanner Kirkland, Zach Schoenborn and Barrett Newman all had two hits as well for Parkway (21-13).

NEVILLE 7, AIRLINE 5: The Vikings fell on the road in Monroe despite Harrison Waxley’s 3-for-4 day at the plate that included a double. Airline finished the regular season 18-13.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Final Regular Season Prep Baseball Standings

/ NPJ

 

Baseball
DISTRICT 1-5A Dist. All
Haughton 10-4 26-6
Parkway 10-4 21-13
Benton 10-4 20-11
Airline 9-5 18-13
Captain Shreve 7-7 16-18
Byrd 6-8 18-15
Natchitoches 4-10 18-16
Southwood 0-14 4-30
     
DISTRICT 1-4A Dist. All
North DeSoto 5-1 28-5
Northwood 5-1 26-8
Minden 4-2 15-13
Evangel 4-2 17-15
Huntington 2-4 4-16
Woodlawn 1-5 2-15
BTW 0-6 0-7
     
DISTRICT 1-3A Dist. All
Loyola 6-0 19-12
North Webster 3-2 20-13
Bossier 1-4 2-11
Mansfield 1-5 7-10
     
DISTRICT 1-2A Dist. All
Lakeside 9-0 23-8
D’Arbonne Woods 6-3 13-18
North   Caddo 3-6 13-15
J-Hodge 0-9 3-17
     
District   1-1A WEST Dist. All
Glenbrook 3-0 15-13
Calvary 2-1 20-14
Plain   Dealing 1-2 8-11
Ringgold 0-3 6-18
District   1-1A EAST Dist. All
Haynesville 3-0 13-11
Arcadia 0-1 6-11
Homer 0-1 4-11
Lincoln   Prep 0-1 2-7

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Mudbugs drop first two playoff games at Lone Star

/ Megan Lowe
RALLY TIME: The Shreveport Mudbugs dropped the first two games of their best-of-5 series against Lone Star. The series shifts to Shreveport on Friday.

By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas – It was a theme in the regular season, and it’s been a problem in the postseason: Generating scoring opportunities against the Lone Star Brahmas is tough.

However, the Shreveport Mudbugs, down one game and one goal entering the third period of Game 2 against the top-seeded team in the North American Hockey League, registered just one shot in the final 20 minutes.

Shreveport played the rival Brahmas tough, but a pair of one-goal losses in the first two games of a best-of-5 opening-round playoff series leaves the Mudbugs with no room for error as series shifts to Shreveport.

“We just didn’t come out in the third period with the urgency we needed – the urgency we were playing in the first two periods,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal.

Lone Star topped the Mudbugs 1-0 in Game 1 on Friday at the NYTEX Sports Centre and escaped with a 3-2 victory on Saturday in Game 2.

Shreveport managed just 22 shots in the opener and 17 in Game 2. The Mudbugs were solid defensively, as they allowed Lone Star just 42 combined shots over the weekend – 15 on Saturday.

The struggle on offense isn’t new against the rival Brahmas. Although Shreveport won five of the eight meetings in the series, three of the victories came in a shootout and the Mudbugs failed to outshoot Lone Star in any of the eight regular-season meetings.

It took Shreveport more than 11 minutes to record its first shot on goal in the series Friday, but the Mudbugs found their stride in the second period and early in the third. They were repeatedly denied by Lone Star netminder Arthur Smith and failed to take advantage of 4 straight minutes of power-play time.

“We just couldn’t find the net Friday,” Campbell said. “That’s the difference right now – their consistency and the minor inconsistency we are showing.”

Saturday, Lone Star pounced early and led 3-1 after the first period.

A power-play goal from Tim Khokhlachev cut the deficit in half in the second period, but the Mudbugs barely fired a shot with a chance to tie.

“Instead of possessing pucks and looking for a solid play, we were just throwing pucks, helping them out of their own end for them,” Campbell said.

Game 3 is set for George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum on Friday (7:11 p.m.). Should the Mudbugs win, Game 4 will be at The George on Saturday.

“We have to fight for every inch,” Campbell said. “We have to make sure shots get through and that guys getting to the net for rebounds and screens.”

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

Bulldogs spring toward Sept. 1 opener at Missouri

/ NPJ
SONNY DAYS AHEAD: LA Tech’s new head coach Sonny Cumbie talks with true freshman QB Landry Lyddy of Calvary Baptist (7-of-10 passing, 47 yards) during Saturday morning’s brief Spring Game “won” by the offense, 41-20.

By TEDDY ALLEN, Journal Sports

RUSTON — Louisiana Tech’s one-hour Spring Game Saturday morning didn’t have the urgency of a championship bout, but it wasn’t pick-up ball in the backyard either.

“It wasn’t (recess),” returning starting nose guard Keivie Rose said, “but the coaches did tell us to just have fun and not worry too much about messing up, to just execute the plays called and do our jobs. There wasn’t really pressure to it; it was just another practice.”

Only this one was with a healthy crowd of fans, including more than 100 lettermen and their families for a cookout and reunion in the North End Zone at Aillet Stadium. And this “practice” was one with scoring, although that was the weird part.

The offense won the “game,” 41-20. The offense’s scores came on some conventional TD passes (6 points each), some passes of 15+ and 10+ yards (2 points each), first downs (1 point each), and the like. The defense scored on some three-and-outs (3 points each), stopped drives and sacks (2 points each) but could have used a couple of defensive touchdowns (12 points a pop) to tighten things up.

Still, it was football. Rose seemed in midseason tackling and dance form after he got one of the defensive’s four sacks and busted an understated move.

“I think we finished spring at a good point to be ready to pick back up at the end of the summer,” said the personable 6-3, 301-pound sophomore from Henderson, Texas. “I’m going to do my best over the summer to get in the best shape I can and to learn more.”

Four-time C-USA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient and three-year starter at guard Joshua Mote was one of several front-liners to watch the game as a medical precaution instead of playing in it.

He would not be surprised by a breakout season from junior tackle Biron Rossell, who’s played through injuries the past two seasons, and feels the line has benefitted from a simplified offense that’s allowed them to “play faster.”

“I think we’ve got a good mix with the younger guys,” he said. “They’ve been around a year or two and realize what it takes to learn and understand what’s going on in live-action college football; it’s a whole lot faster than high school.”

Transfer quarterbacks Matthew Downing (TCU) and Parker McNeil (Texas Tech) have “fit in with the locker room,” an encouraging sign at a position that he’s seen as “up for grabs.”

Downing was 9-of-12 for 110 yards and a touchdown pass Saturday, and McNeil was 6-of-10 for 65 yards and a 24-yard TD on a flea-flicker to Bud Holloway, one of two scoring catches by “Air Bud.”

“Today was about our players, the fans, and the alumni having a great experience and getting to enjoy the day,” first-year head coach Sonny Cumbie said. “We as coaches have had 14 practices to work, coach, and prepare so we’ve had a chance to do our thing. Today was about the players getting to do theirs and the fans taking in the work we’ve put in so far.”

The Bulldogs open the season against the Missouri Tigers in Columbus on Sept. 1 at 7 pm on ESPNU.

Photo by TIM SMITH, Louisiana Tech

Weekend Sports Scoreboard

/ Megan Lowe

Friday

Pro Basketball (The Basketball League)

Shreveport Mavericks 130, Beaumont Panthers 127, OT

Hockey

NAHL Playoffs

Lone Star Brahmas 1, Shreveport Mudbugs 0

College Baseball

Appalachian St. 5, ULM 1
Centenary 3, Southwestern (Texas) 2
Grambling St. 16, Alcorn St. 0, 7 innings
LSU 4, Missouri 3, 10 innings
LSUS 17-23, Huston-Tillotson 5-1
Middle Tennessee 7, Louisiana Tech 3
Northwestern St. 4, Houston Baptist 3

College Softball

Grambling St. 1, Southern U. 0
LSU 8, Georgia 1
Louisiana Tech 9, UAB 1
Northwestern St. 1-5, Incarnate Word 0-3
South Alabama 4, ULM 1

High School Baseball

Calvary 5, Byrd 2
Haughton 20-14, Harrisonburg 1-0
Haynesville 15, Bossier 10
Loyola 3, Captain Shreve 2
Neville 7, Airline 5
North Caddo 14, Southwood 2
Parkway 9, Zwolle 3

Saturday

Pro Basketball (The Basketball League)

Dallas Skyline 112, Shreveport Mavericks 109

Hockey

NAHL Playoffs

Lone Star Brahmas 3, Shreveport Mudbugs 2

College Baseball

LSUS 31, Huston-Tillotson 7
LSU 8, Missouri 6
Paris 5-15, BPCC 1-1
Centenary 11-18, Southwestern (Texas) 0-4
Northwestern St. 4, Houston Baptist 2
Louisiana Tech 4, Middle Tennessee 2
Appalachian St. 10, ULM 0
Grambling St. 25, Alcorn St. 3, 7 innings

College Softball

BPCC 2-6, LSUE 1-1
St. Thomas 2-5, Centenary 1-6
Northwestern St. 2, Incarnate Word 0
Georgia 16, LSU 9
South Alabama 5, ULM 4
Grambling St. 6-4, Southern U. 1-3
Louisiana Tech 4, UAB 3

High School Baseball

Benton 12, Doyline 2
Byrd 15 North DeSoto 5
Calvary 5, Mandeville 4
Evangel 13, Loyola 5

High School Softball

LHSAA Playoffs – Division IV

Calvary 1, Central Catholic 0

Sunday

College Baseball

Houston Baptist 10 Northwestern St. 1
Middle Tennessee 6, Louisiana Tech 3, 12 innings
Grambling St. 26, Alcorn St. 3
ULM 8, Appalachian St. 5

College Softball

LSU 9, Georgia 5
Louisiana Tech 3, UAB 2
St. Thomas 7, Centenary 1
South Alabama 2, ULM 0

Page’s perfecto starts Grambling’s dominance; LSU, Centenary, LSUS sweep

/ Megan Lowe
PERFECTION:  Shemar Page recorded the 34th perfect game in NCAA Division I history Friday night, launching Grambling’s massacre of Alcorn State in a three-game SWAC series.

JOURNAL SPORTS

GRAMBLING – Shemar Page’s perfect game was the perfect start to a series sweep as Grambling torched visiting Alcorn State in three Southwestern Athletic Conference baseball wins this weekend.

Page needed just 84 pitches to collect a season-high 13 strikeouts and retire all 21 batters in the seven-inning run-rule 16-0 win Friday.

“I was aware going into the seventh of having a no-hitter, but wasn’t aware of a perfect game,” Page said. “I did a pretty good job of getting ahead all night and that was my focus going into the seventh.”

Page (5-4) has 98 strikeouts this season, ranking among NCAA Division I leaders, and five double-digit strikeout games. He’s fanned 25 in his two starts against Alcorn State. 

Grambling (18-21, 13-5 SWAC) finished the series with wins of 25-3 and 26-3 to beat down the Braves by a combined 67-6. 

On Sunday, Julian Murphy finished a single shy of the cycle as he doubled, tripled and homered en route to a 3-5 day with six RBIs and four runs scored.  Saturday, eight of GSU’s 20 hits went for extra bases in the 25-3 win. Murphy added a 4-4 outing with four runs scored and two RBIs. 

LSU: The Tigers overcame an early two-run deficit Saturday to complete the home sweep of Missouri in an 8-6 win. 

The Tigers won the three games by a combined five runs, including a 4-3 extra-inning affair on Friday on an RBI single by Cade Doughty in the 10th inning.  LSU (27-12, 10-8 SEC) started the sweep Thursday as Ma’Khail Hilliard allowed two runs in seven innings in a 5-3 win. 

NORTHWESTERN STATE: The Demons couldn’t complete the sweep of visiting Houston Baptist on Sunday as the Huskies scored eight runs in the final two innings in a 10-1 win. 

The Demons (19-20, 8-7 Southland) walked off HBU on Friday with a Gray Rowlett RBI to beat the Huskies 4-3 to start the series.  A two-run complete game effort from pitcher Johnathan Harmon handed the series win to NSU in a 4-2 victory. 

LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs surrendered three 12th-inning runs Sunday and dropped the home Conference USA series to Middle Tennessee with a 6-3 loss. 

Tech (28-13, 12-6 CUSA) took the middle game Saturday with eight innings and two runs from pitcher Ryan Jennings in a 4-2 win.  The Raiders tallied 12 hits Friday en route to a 6-3 MTSU win. 

LSUS: The Pilots hammered Hutson-Tillotson in a road series, 17-5, 23-5 and 31-7, posting a new high water mark for runs scored in Saturday’s finale. LSUS (44-3, 28-2 in the Red River Athletic Conference) trailed their hosts 2-1 after two innings in the opener,  but scored 10 in the next two innings to begin the dominating performance by the No. 3-ranked visitors.

CENTENARY: The Gents extended their season-high winning streak to nine with a dominating doubleheader sweep over the Southwestern Pirates in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday, 11-0 and 18-4 on Senior Day at Shehee Stadium.

The Gents (23-13, 13-5 SCAC) put away the Pirates (16-18, 7-11), starting with a 3-2 walk-off victory Friday. Centenary clinched a berth in the 2022 SCAC Championship May 6-8.

Seniors Preston Ludwick and Brady Robinson reached milestones Saturday as Ludwick recorded his 150th career RBI, preceded by Robinson’s 100th-career hit. Centenary, one of the top offensive clubs in the conference and all of division III, has now scored 10 or more runs in a game 15 times this season.

ULM: The Warhawks pulled out the series finale Sunday to avoid a home sweep to Appalachian State with an 8-5 win. 

A five-run second inning plus 14 stranded Mountaineer base runners propelled ULM (14-23-1, 6-11-1 Sun Belt) to the win.  ULM lost the first two games by a combined score of 15-1. 

Photo courtesy Grambling State University)

Hoover’s no-no ignites Lady Demons’ sweep; Tech breaks out brooms

/ Megan Lowe
HOOVER GEM:  Freshman Sage Hoover twirled the 15th no-hitter in five decades of Northwestern State softball Friday afternoon at home against UIW.

JOURNAL SPORTS

NATCHITOCHES – Two stellar pitching performances over senior weekend led the Lady Demons to a three-game sweep over Incarnate Word in their Southland Conference softball series.

In game one of Friday’s doubleheader, Sage Hoover threw the 15th no-hitter in NSU program history and secured the 1-0 victory over the Lady Cardinals (13-30, 3-9 SLC). Hoover now has the most single-season strikeouts (156) under coach Donald Pickett’s tenure. In Friday’s second game, Bailie Ragsdale’s two-run double set the Lady Demons (28-17, 10-5) up for a series-clinching 5-3 victory.

Bronte Rhoden threw the second complete-game shutout of the weekend and reached a new career-high in strikeouts (12) in the Lady Demons’ 2-0 victory in Saturday’s finale. It was the ninth shutout this season for the NSU pitching staff and the 16th time they have struck out 10 or more batters in a game.

LOUISIANA TECH – The Techsters (32-17, 12-6 C-USA) moved into a two-way tie with Marshall for third place in the Conference USA standings with their weekend conference sweep of UAB (21-21, 9-8).

Tech run-ruled the Blazers 9-1 in six innings in Friday’s game one at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. Brooke Diaz recorded a two-out, game winning walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Techsters to a 4-3 victory in game two Saturday. In Sunday’s conference finale, Sierra Sacco reached base four times, scored two runs and made an incredible defensive play in the first inning to rob a three-run homer from the Blazers.

ULM – The Lady Warhawks (23-20, 9-12 Sun Belt) were swept at home in their conference series against South Alabama (20-17, 12-4 over the weekend. ULM fell 4-1in game one on Friday and dropped Saturday’s game 5-4.

On Sunday’s 2-0 loss, ULM had three hits in the first four innings, but the bats were quiet the rest of the game. Kinsey Kackley (8-7) took the loss in two innings of work. Kassidy Giddens gave up five hits in five innings of work.

LSU – In Athens, Ga., the No. 21 Lady Tigers (30-17, 10-8 SEC) rallied to force extra innings and put up four runs in the eighth inning to steal game three and the conference series from No. 14 Georgia 9-5 on Sunday afternoon. Georgia Clark hit her second grand slam of the season and led LSU with four RBIs. Ali Kilponen threw a complete game and improved to 16-4 after striking out seven batters and allowing five runs on nine hits.

Taylor Pleasants turned in her second consecutive three-hit game to lead LSU to an 8-1 upset over the No. 13 Bulldogs 8-1 in Friday night’s series opener. Kilponen recorded six strikeouts to improve her record to 15-4. Georgia (37-11, 10-8) evened the series 1-1 on Saturday with a 16-9 win behind a 12-run first inning.

BOSSIER PARISH CC – The Cavaliers improved to 33-9 after sweeping LSU-Eunice 2-1 and 6-1 in Saturday’s doubleheader. Primrose Aholelei allowed three hits and struck out 10 in game one. In game two, Frances Robinson, Kennedy Cox (3 RBI), and Alohilani Napalapalai all had multiple hits for BPCC. Napalapalai also pitched five hitless innings for the Cavs.

GRAMBLING – After taking game one of their SWAC series opener against Southern 1-0 on Friday, the Lady Tigers (21-17, 8-10 SWAC) captured both games of Saturday’s doubleheader to sweep the Lady Jaguars (10-31, 8-13).

Sherrell Matthews (5-3) recorded the victory for Grambling in Saturday’s first game, allowing only one run in seven innings in the Lady Tigers’ 6-1 win. In the series finale, Grambling scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and held on for a 4-3 victory. Payton Shells (5-3) got the win for the Lady Tigers.

CENTENARY – While Centenary dropped Sunday’s game three of its Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series 7-1 to the University of St. Thomas (22-13, 14-7 SCAC) in Houston, it was the split of Saturday’s doubleheader that clinched the Ladies’ berth in the 2022 SCAC Championship next weekend in Irving, Texas.

After dropping game one 2-1 on Saturday, Centenary (14-19, 7-14 SCAC) came back to take a 6-5 victory in game two that secured the playoff berth for the sixth straight time.

Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State

Centenary’s Jack impressive at SCAC championships

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL STAFF

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Centenary’s Devante’ Jack became the first Centenary student-athlete ever to win an event at the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Track and Field Championships Saturday at the Trinity University Track and Field Stadium.

Jack, a sophomore and native of Jena, Louisiana, won the men’s 800-meter run in a conference-record time of 1:52.37. His time is also the 15th fastest in the event this season in all of Division III.

He was named the SCAC Men’s Track Athlete of the Week on Wednesday following his win in the 800 in a previous season-best time of 1:56.85 on April 15 at the Little Rock Twilight. Jack bested several athletes from Division I schools last weekend and now has four top-10 finishes and a runner-up finish in the 800 this season in addition to his two wins.

His gold medal won Saturday qualifies him for a spot in the Division III Outdoor National Championships May 26-28 in Geneva. Ohio.

TODAY’S SCHEDULE: BPCC to host DFW Post Grad in baseball

/ NPJ

Monday

College Baseball

DFW Post Grad at BPCC, 1 p.m.

College Softball

BPCC at Kilgore, DH, 1 p.m.

High School Baseball

LHSAA Playoffs

Benton at Ponchatoula, 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday

College Baseball

LSUS at Texas Wesleyan, 2 p.m.
Northwestern St. at Grambling St., 6 p.m.
ULM at McNeese St., 6 p.m.
LSU at New Orleans, 6:30 p.m.

College Softball

Grambling St. at ULM, 6 p.m.
McNeese St. at LSU, 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Destrehan at Airline, 6 p.m.
H.L. Bourgeois at Parkway, 6 p.m.
Southside at Haughton, 6 p.m.
LaGrange at Northwood, 5 p.m.
Captain Shreve at Zachary, 5 p.m.

Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule

Notice of Death – April 24, 2022

/ NPJ

Bossier Parish

Michael Seely Storey
August 23, 1952 – April 21, 2022
Services: 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive Bossier City

Caddo Parish

Stephen Allen Staples
February 3, 1994 – April 19, 2022
Visitation: 11:00 a.m. with the memorial service to follow at noon in the chapel
Services: Monday, April 25, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

John Albert Tallman, Jr.
January 14, 1940 – April 20, 2022
Visitation: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to service time.
Services: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Alan Scott Kimball
April 7, 1936 – April 13, 2022
Services: Tuesday, April 26, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, 7970 Mike Clark Rd. in Keithville

Margaret Donaldson Newton
October 16, 1943 – April 14, 2022
Visitation: 11:00 a.m., and services at 12:00 p.m
Services: Friday, April 29, 2022 at Kilpatrick’s Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

David “Mack” McKneely
November 28, 1946 – April 14, 2022
Visitation: Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. prior to the service at the funeral home
Services: Thursday, April 28, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

SPOTLIGHT:  Haughton’s Stovall has come a long way in a short time

/ NPJ
IF AT FIRST: A former shortstop, Peyton Stovall has a new position and a new glove. ‘I didn’t have a first baseman’s mitt.’

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

It’s a long way from Haughton to Fayetteville, Ark. It’s a long way from District 1-5A to the top of Division I college baseball. And though it’s only about 120 feet from shortstop to first base, that may have been the toughest trip Peyton Stovall has made in the past year.

A year ago, he was perhaps the most feared hitter in Louisiana high school baseball. But instead of making the trip to the Major League Baseball draft – he was a certain early-round pick – he made the trip to college baseball.

That’s worked out quite well, by the way. The former Haughton star is a freshman starter on the No. 4 team in the country which, as you might imagine, can be pretty awesome stuff when you stand around and think about it.

Which he did, by the way.

“I did that my first couple of weeks,” he says. “But playing Mississippi State and LSU, you have to forget about looking out at the crowd. You have to stay between your own ears. Just play the game you’ve always played. Buy yeah, I remember looking around at the ballpark I’m playing in and thinking ‘This is insane’ with the number of people who show up. It’s a dream come true for sure.”

There have been lots of adjustments to make, but none bigger than moving from shortstop in high school to first base in college. “I didn’t have a first baseman’s mitt,” he says. “I’d never played it before.”

But the transition wasn’t as tough as he thought, even though he gained an appreciation for his new position.

“I know now that first base isn’t as easy as I thought it was,” he says. “But after playing there a couple of months in the fall and in the spring, it started becoming comfortable. After that, I feel like I’ve played it my whole life.”

As you might expect for a freshman playing at the highest level of college baseball, it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Stovall.

He is batting .254 with three home runs and 14 RBI. He has started 31 of the games played by the 30-7 Razorbacks, who will take on Texas A&M this weekend in a three-game series in College Station.

At the beginning of March, he had an 11-game hitting streak in which he went 18-for-42 (.426). But he has hit only .172 in SEC play, though he has started all 15 games.

“At this level it’s tough,” Stovall says. “I started out slow and then for a while, I really had it going. It’s a challenge. It’s a grind. I was swinging it pretty well and then SEC play started. I just try to grind out each at bat. Getting better each game is a goal of mine and hopefully I can continue to do that.”

Stovall says he quickly realized the difference in pitching when SEC play rolled around.

“Definitely the depth of pitching and guys throwing harder,” he says. “They are able to locate better with all their pitches. Most pitchers can locate their fastball, but SEC guys can locate more than two pitches. If something isn’t working, they can throw something else. You have to let your hand-eye coordination and instincts take over. Just react. That’s something I’m still trying to get better at.”

Right now, Stovall says his focus is on the team and what the Razorbacks are trying to accomplish. When he arrived at Arkansas, his goal was simple and has remained the same.

“My number one goal is just to put the team in the best position to win, no matter what my role is,” he says. “I just want to give it my all, no matter how much I play. I knew if I did get my opportunity, to just give it 100 percent and don’t have any regrets. I can say I’ve done that so far. “

Photo courtesy Arkansas Razorbacks

Parting is such sweet, insincere sorrow

/ NPJ

Among the many things I’m tired of reading and hearing about are these “goodbye” messages from college athletes when they are about to abandon leave one school and head for another.

First of all, it’s not like they are the ones carefully crafting every single word and then working on their Photoshop skills to put together this disingenuous heartfelt, BS-filled tear-jerking Instagram post to all of their fans. (There’s a cottage industry I should have gotten into – creating and designing transfer portal graphics. With the new freedom of movement, I’d never be out of work.)

Secondly, these posts are all basically the same. Here’s some news for you Mr. Wide Receiver who is leaving State U. – you’re not exactly breaking new ground here with your epistle. And no one is going to confuse you with Maya Angelou.

And most importantly, it’s not going to make any of the jilted fans feel any better. By the time they read what you didn’t write, they’ve already put you in their rearview mirror. See ya.

But let’s get out the ol’ Excrement Detector and translate what these players are really saying without actually saying it. What follows is a compilation of a few of these transfer messages that seem to hit the social media car wash with increasing regularity.

***

To the (school) family – [you can stop right there; they aren’t your “family” anymore. You are basically running away from home.]

I want to start off by saying that I really do appreciate the opportunity that I had to come develop myself academically and athletically. [Really? Doesn’t sound like it to us.] My time as a (school nickname) has come to an end [It’s come to an end because you’re quitting]. I would like to start a new chapter in my life and explore my options to continue my career as a student-athlete elsewhere. [How about exploring your options of sucking it up?]

I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play the game I love. For the past two years, the (school nickname) family has been amazing. [Here we go with the “family” again.] Your love and support have earned a special place in my heart. [But not enough to get me to stay.]

To my teammates, you pushed me every day to be a better player and we became brothers throughout that journey. Going into battle with you weekly has given me memories I will always cherish. [Until I get to a new school and then I won’t remember any of your names.]

I want to thank Coach and the entire coaching staff. I am forever grateful for the opportunity and support to represent this university. [And then leave it because I think I’m better than I really am.]

(School nickname) Nation, thank you for allowing me to be a student-athlete at this prestigious institution. [Leaving out the part about how you don’t even know where the library is at the “prestigious institution.”]  Thank you to every teammate and coach these last three seasons. We won several games together and made memories that I will cherish forever. [If we had won more, I’d probably stay.] Special thanks to my family and friends for your support. [And those who never tell me no.] At this time, I would like to announce that I have decided to enter the transfer portal to continue my academic and athletic career. [So you’re transferring to search for a better biology department?]

Thank you again, (jilted school). I will miss you. [Until the U-Haul hits the interstate.] 

Hockey, Chipotle provide respite for Mudbugs’ Russian star

/ NPJ
FROM RUSSIA, WITH LOVE: After a tumultuous couple of years, Shreveport Mudbugs forward Timofei Khokhlachev (22), a Moscow, Russia product, hopes to end his junior career with a Robertson Cup championship.

By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

Instead of throwing his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame around the ice and creating havoc for opponents, 10 months ago, Timofei Khokhlachev was forced to watch the Shreveport Mudbugs capture the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup on a computer screen.

In Moscow, Russia.

At 3 a.m.

Amid an uncertain and unsettling time in the world.

It was a bittersweet moment for the 20-year-old who sacrificed blood, sweat and tears alongside many of the players who lifted the Cup in Blaine, Minnesota.

“Sometimes I wouldn’t sleep,” Khokhlachev, who played with the Mudbugs for two years before the pandemic derailed the 2019-20 season, told The Journal. “I missed hockey and I missed everything back home.”

“Home,” as in Shreveport.

The Moscow product, whose requests for a visa — required to join the fight with his teammates — were repeatedly denied at the American embassy, didn’t just miss playing the game he loved, he missed Northwest Louisiana.

“I missed the boys and going to the rink and battling for one another,” Khokhlachev said. “I missed the team. I missed the Shreveport weather.”

And Chipotle.

Twenty-five months after a pandemic sent him to isolation in Siberia, Khokhlachev gets his final opportunity to lead the Mudbugs to the promised land. Tonight, Shreveport begins a best-of-5 first-round playoff series against rival Lone Star in North Richland Hills, Texas.

“It’s important to finish my career in Shreveport strong,” said Khokhlachev, whose first stop after his return to the states was to eat at Chipotle. “Seeing the guys win was unbelievable, but of course I want to do it myself. I want to be a part of it.”

However, the obstacles in the life of “Koko” didn’t end with his return to America. Midway through this season, things at home turned upside down with the start of Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.

“Sometimes we don’t know what’s going on in these kids’ personal lives,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell said. “We all know what’s going on over there.”

Khokhlachev’s morning routine is even more important these days: Wake up, eat breakfast, practice, call his family.

“I talk to them as soon as I get off the ice,” he said.

Hockey is no longer just the fuel to the fire that burns inside Khokhlachev.

“It’s an escape,” he said. “I love showing up to the rink every day and getting my mind off a few things and focusing on putting the puck in the net. It’s huge for me.”

Khokhlachev can certainly put the puck in the net. He tied for third on the team with 15 goals in the regular season and is the franchise’s all-time NAHL leader in game-winning goals, despite the lost year.

“He knows what it’s all about here. He’s a great player,” teammate Austin Brimmer said. “It’s really rare for a guy that size to move as well as he does. He has skill, experience and size. In the (locker) room, he’s an unbelievable guy to have.”

Other locker rooms may have proven to be a challenge for Khokhlachev, especially in today’s political climate marked by tasteless hot takes.

But even when Shreveport boasted a professional team, coaches demanded recruits parlay talent and character in order to be considered for a Mudbugs sweater. Things haven’t changed under Campbell.

“We don’t worry about it at all,” Campbell said. “If something is said that hits a nerve, then somebody can respectfully step up and guys won’t get their feelings hurt. That’s where character comes in.”

Brimmer understands that sometimes Khokhlachev might just need an arm around his shoulders or a pat on the back.

“He knows we’re here for him,” Brimmer said. “He’s one of my best friends.”

Khokhlachev provides an unmistakable presence on the ice, and Campbell has seen no sign of No. 22 being distracted.

“The best thing is his work ethic,” Campbell said. “There is no off switch for him. He never stops. He works so hard and wants to improve all the time. He’s a pleasure to have around and he can lead by example.”

His high energy level actually worked against the powerful forward after a year away from the game.

“He plays so hard he puts himself out of position,” Campbell said. “He’s so full of energy that we were trying to calm him down.”

Khokhlachev had ice in Moscow, but he was limited to pick-up games with his brother, Alexander (a former NHL player), and other countrymen – some professionals, but most waiting for clearance to return to leagues around the world.

“The first couple of weeks (back with the Mudbugs) were tough,” Koko said. “I had to adjust to the speed. Some of the muscles weren’t working yet.”

He’s firing on all cylinders now.

Said Campbell: “He played a big role in the last playoffs we had him for (2019). It will be interesting to see. We’re going to lean on him.”

Khokhlachev turns 21 in June and is committed to play NCAA Division I hockey at American International College in Springfield, Mass. No matter how long the Mudbugs’ run toward a repeat lasts, he will always remember the chaotic end to his junior hockey career and how valuable Shreveport and its hockey franchise proved to be.

“It’s been really important,” he said. “There are multiple things going on in life. The boys have done an unbelievable job — not just taking care of me, but the rookies, the young guys — whatever they’re going through. You can go to anyone in the locker room and talk and they will be there for you. It’s priceless, amazing.”

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

Benton defeats Natchitoches for share of 1-5A title

/ NPJ

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Benton used a 4-run fourth inning to take a 7-4 win over Natchitoches Central Thursday at home to claim a share of the District 1-5A baseball championship.

The Tigers share the championship with Haughton and Parkway, all finishing with 10-4 records in the district.

It is the ninth consecutive district championship for Benton, counting 1-4A titles from 2013-19 and Benton’s titles in 2020 and now 2022.

There was no champion in 2021 because COVID cut the season short.

A Cole Weir double to left put the Tigers ahead 4-3 to start the fourth inning scoring. An infield error scored Weir and a Hudson Brignac single and Kenner Lauterbach double brought in the final two runs for a 7-3 lead.

Sophomore lefthander Bryson Pierce got the win, going 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, four runs, one earned, as he struck out five and walked two for Benton (19-11).

Pierce also had a big night at the plate with three doubles to go along with Lauterbach and Weirs’ extra base hits.

BYRD 15, SOUTHWOOD 2: The Yellow Jackets needed just four innings to get the win in the final District 1-5A game of the season for both teams at The Hive. Tyler Nichols went 2-for-3 and Lake Lambert had two hits in two at bats with Nichols adding a triple for Byrd (17-14, 6-8). Patrick Snead also had a triple and David Favrot a 2-run double. Connor Pierce got the win by going the full four innings, allowing one hit and two runs. He walked six and struck out eight. Devin Watkins had a double for Southwood’s only hit as the Cowboys fell to 5-28, 0-14.

NORTHWOOD 4. EVANGEL 3: The Falcons defeated the Eagles for the second night in a row in their final at bat, scoring two runs in the top of the seventh for the non-district win at Evangel. A Luke Bloxom single tied the game and Cayne Little singled in Bloxom with the go-ahead run. Bloxom was the only Falcon with multiple hits with two in three at bats. Christian Blackmon pitched a complete game allowing three runs on five hits and striking out five for Northwood (26-8).

Evangel scored its three runs in the fourth inning thanks to RBI singles from Parker Fulghum and Garrett Burns and a run-scoring double by Brock Reedy, who finished with two hits for the Eagles, who fell to 16-15 on the season.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

High school golf, tennis competition heats up

/ NPJ
CAVS ACE: Cayden Simmons will represent Calvary at the Division IV state tournament in Monroe on Monday and Tuesday.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Both the Loyola and Byrd boys’ golf teams captured district golf titles this week in preparation for next week’s regional tournaments.

Capturing the District III-1 title for Loyola were Ross Alford (71), Connor Cassano (71), Holden Webb (72), Charlie Bell, and Charles Valiulis with a team score of 289, which was 61 shots better than the second-place team.

The Division III regional tournament will be held at The Golf Club at Stonebridge in Bossier City on Monday.

Byrd took first place in the District I-1 competition with a team score of 272, followed by Benton (302), Airline (319), and Ruston (333). Grant Reagan (67), James Holtsclaw (69), Peyton Johnson (71), Duke Bowen (67), and Brown Snyder (69) led the Yellow Jackets to the title.

The second-place Benton team included Noah McWilliams (75), Cason Toms (69), Miller Davis (82), Kade Bryant (80), and Cade Robinson (78). Taking third place for Airline were Eli Hill (75), Madden Sawrie (79), Carter Priestly (80), Hunter Kendrick (85), and Jake Elbert (87).

The Division I regional tournament will be held at Huntington next Wednesday. The state tournament for Divisions I, II, III and IV will be held May 2-3 in Lafayette.

Tennis players going to state

The state tennis tournaments for Divisions I, II, III and IV will be held in Monroe next week. Divisions III and IV will compete on Monday and Tuesday while Divisions I and II will play on Thursday and Friday.

Representing Calvary in singles at the Division IV state tournament will be Cayden Simmons. Regional champions Zach Hicks and Jake Brown will represent the Cavaliers in doubles, along with the teams of Chase Stripland/Miles Williams and Mason Batts/Bryce Colvin.

Representing Loyola at the Division III state tournament will be regional champ Ravi Ahuja and Stander Olsan in boys’ singles. The Flyers will have three teams competing at state – regional winners Brannigan Bissell/James Graf, regional runners-up Charles Valiulis and Patrick Gooszen, and Bo Bowman and Gregor Ghali.

Loyola girls’ doubles teams competing at state will be Taylor Nash and Mary Elberson, Julia Hancock and Katelyn Pavlick, and Addison Knox and Cassidy Kirk. State qualifiers in singles for Loyola are Tristin Knox and Stella Marie Hobley-Depestre.

Competing in girls’ singles at the Division I state tournament will be Byrd’s Bella Young (regional champ) and Elizabeth Hubble and Captain Shreve’s Faith Quarles. Regional champs Morgan and Sydney Young will represent Byrd in girls’ doubles along with Captain Shreve’s Katherine Ferrier and Baylor Thornton.

Freshman Drew Kolniak, who won the regional title, will represent Airline in boys’ singles along with teammate Madden Sawrie and Captain Shreve’s Hayden McFarlain. Doubles teams competing at state will be Ronit Ahluwalia and Carter Priestley of Airline along with James Auer and Mark Quarles of Captain Shreve.

In Division II, girls’ singles players will include Natalie Sin and Thuy Chau of Caddo Magnet, Haughton’s Addison Yarbrough, and Benton’s Raelee Craft. Girls’ doubles teams competing will be Tuyen Chau and Neelie Lim of Caddo Magnet and Haughton’s Mallory Benton and Shelby Haley.

Competing in boys’ singles will be Haughton’s Zach Haley and Benton’s Alex Gonzalez. Caddo Magnet has two doubles teams competing – Thaeh Chau/Marshall O’Callaghan and Ethan Hood/Daniel Wright.

Querbes Cup deadline extended

The deadline is approaching to play in one of the most unique tennis events around. While registration officially closes on Sunday, that deadline has been extended until Wednesday, April 27 for the 2nd Annual Querbes Cup, which will be held on Saturday, April 30 at Querbes Tennis Center.

“We use a little different format than most places,” says Querbes tennis pro Chris Dudley. “There’s more of a social feel.”

The team-format doubles competition will include 6.0-8.0 Combo for Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Doubles. Each team will consist of three doubles teams, some mixed, some men’s, and some ladies. Teams will be announced at the player party on Friday, April 29.

Entry fee of $60 per player covers food, drinks, play, and the Friday Player Party. Play begins at 8 a.m. Saturday. Players are guaranteed three rounds. For more information, contact Michael Schaff at 318-673-7787 or michael@querbestenniscenter.net.

Got info on local golf or tennis?

Send golf/tennis results and information to harrietpenrod1960@gmail.com via email.

Photo by HARRIET PENROD

Tech slates Saturday unveiling of statue of Shreveporter Dr. Billy Bundrick

/ NPJ
THE GOOD DOCTOR: Much-admired local orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Billy Bundrick will be honored by his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, Saturday morning in Ruston.

JOURNAL SPORTS

RUSTON — In February 2021, Louisiana Tech announced that the university’s new softball field would be named in honor of legendary team orthopaedist, Dr. Billy Bundrick of Shreveport.

Now, the Louisiana Tech Hall of Famer’s life-size statue will stand in the commons area adjacent to the field and directly outside of the Origin Bank Soccer and Softball Complex, thanks to a generous donation from the Malone Family.

“We appreciate the generous gesture by the Malone Family in making this statue a reality,” said Louisiana Tech President Les Guice. “We are happy to help recognize a man who has meant so much to this University and its student-athletes in such a special way.”

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the statue unveiling ceremony will be open to the public at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field, located adjacent to the east side of Aillet Stadium, the home of Bulldog football.

“I’ve had the opportunity to meet Dr. Bundrick a couple of times over the last year and a half, and while I didn’t have the pleasure of being around during his decades of service to Louisiana Tech and its student-athletes, his reputation as a loyal Bulldog precedes him,” said VP and Director of Athletics Eric Wood. “We are honored to have his name forever associated with this beautiful park, and now we have a striking statue that will remind our student-athletes and fans of the contributions Dr. Bundrick made and impact he had on this university.”

Louisiana Tech has honored Dr. Bundrick in numerous ways over the past four decades. The resume of the Bulldog football letter winner (1957-59), team captain, and longtime team orthopedic doctor (1973-2013) is loaded with accolades from both the university and the athletics realm.

Although he first made a name for himself playing for legendary coach Joe Aillet and the Bulldogs, Bundrick spent more than half of his life taking care of Louisiana Tech’s Bulldogs and Lady Techsters.

“He was always on call for Louisiana Tech student-athletes 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” said former longtime Tech athletics trainer Sam Wilkinson, who worked closely with Bundrick for decades. “Wherever we were, he was available to help with whatever we needed. He was never too busy for us. It’s unbelievable how good Dr. Bundrick was to Louisiana Tech and how much he meant to us. He is one of a kind, and he bleeds Louisiana Tech.”

“Dr. Bundrick is one of the most passionate, loyal supporters of Tech athletics in school history,” said former director of athletics Jim Oakes, Bundrick’s longtime friend. “His contributions to the university are immeasurable. In my view, he is the greatest sports medicine doctor to ever serve a university athletic program.”

In addition to donating countless hours to Louisiana Tech’s student-athletes over a four-decade stretch, Bundrick has also supported the university and its athletic department financially. He and his wife Linda are members of the Team Tech $1 Million Lifetime Giving Club, an elite membership that includes less than 15 couples who have each given more than $1 million during their lifetime.

“Dr. Bundrick is truly a great man who has made such a positive impact on our student-athletes throughout the years,” Guice said. “The numerous honors he has earned only scratch the surface of his significance to Louisiana Tech; his greatest contribution has been in the service of others. We’re proud to be able to honor him after the many years he spent ensuring our student-athletes stay healthy and able to perform to the best of their abilities.”

Dr. Bundrick was enshrined into the Louisiana Tech Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1986. He has earned numerous other honors, including the Louisiana Tech Alumnus of the Year (1980), the Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Life Sciences (1986), Centennial 100 Distinguished Alumni (1994) and Tower Medallion recipient (1995).

He served as the University Foundation Board President (1981-83) and was a Privileged Director of the Foundation Board (1986-87). He received an honorary doctorate in 1984.

Bulldogs wrap Cumbie’s first spring drills Saturday morning

/ NPJ

JOURNAL SPORTS

RUSTON – New Louisiana Tech football coach Sonny Cumbie will wrap up his first spring practice with the Bulldogs Saturday at 11 a.m. inside Joe Aillet Stadium in a scaled-back spring game.

There won’t be quarters, just two 15-minute halves with a running clock for most if not all of the competition.

The offense will compete against the defense with a customized scoring system to determine a winner. The competition should last approximately 60 to 90 minutes, said Tech officials.

Cumbie, hired after a year as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech following a successful run in the same post at TCU, is installing a high-tempo passing attack with a wide-open quarterback competition.

Saturday morning’s session will be the final one of 15 spring workouts over a four-week stretch including spring break and Easter.Admission is free. Fans will be welcome on the west side of Aillet Stadium where apparel, concessions, and bathrooms will be accessible. Gates will open at 10 a.m.

The 10-minute halftime will feature an introduction of new Bulldog basketball coach Talvin Hester.

Photo courtesy Louisiana Tech

Lady Cavs softball gets an A-plus effort in road sweep; LSU shows Mizzou

/ NPJ

JOURNAL SPORTS

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas – Primrose Aholelei pulled double duty in the circle Thursday for the Bossier Parish Community College softball team, leading a doubleheader sweep by piling up 21 strikeouts.

The Lady Cavaliers swept the Region XIV doubleheader as Aholelei pitched a complete game two-hitter with 17 strikeouts in the opening game, hen finished off the last four innings of game two with six more strikeouts.

She was also 2-for-3 with two RBI in the first game while Dylian Sanay had two doubles. Haylee Ladner, Kennedy Cox and Alohilani Napalapalai all had two hits in the second game. Cox had a double and Napalapalai a home run for BPCC (31-9, 15-1).

BASEBALL

LSU 5, MISSOURI 3: Ma’Khail Hilliard scattered seven hits over seven innings and third baseman Jacob Berry slugged two homers to lead LSU (25-12, 8-8 SEC) over Missouri (22-13, 5-11) in Alex Box Stadium, Skip Bertman Field.

Hilliard (4-0) limited Missouri to two runs on seven hits in seven innings with no walks and five strikeouts, firing 104 pitches.

“Ma’Khail was outstanding, I can’t even fathom where our team would be without him,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “He did a great job again tonight, and I just feel like we’re going to win every time he pitches.”

Berry was 3-for-4 at the plate with two homers, two RBI and three runs scored. His first homer gave the Tigers a 1-0 lead in the first inning, and his second dinger – his 12th of the season — tied the game at 2-2 in the third.

“Jacob hit three different pitches about as well as you can hit those pitches,” Johnson said. “He showed he’s one of the best hitters in the country; his mindset is great, he’s working his tail off, and I’m sure glad he’s here.”

LSU broke the 2-2 tie in the fifth with a three-run outburst highlighted by second baseman Cade Doughty’s RBI double and a two-run single by first baseman Tre’ Morgan.