Month: April 2022

Fair Grounds Field left us a long time ago

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We would finish laying out the Shreveport Journal’s Saturday edition about 10 a.m. and instead of going home, I would go in a different direction. There was something I had to see.

This was 1985-86 and I had to get a look at what was being built on the east end of the Fairgounds. Almost every Saturday, I would just drive by and sit in my car and marvel at what was being built before my eyes. Just to see the weekly progress was enough to whet my appetite. I’d stay for maybe 10-15 minutes and then head home, knowing that it was one week closer to being a reality.

And now it is 2022 and what came to be known as Fair Grounds Field will become a destruction site instead of a construction site. I’d love to say that my emotions are at the same level about this as they were more than 35 years ago — just in a different direction — but they aren’t.

I said goodbye to Fair Grounds Field a long time ago.

There are a great number of things I have experienced that I count as blessings and many of them have come from life simply putting me in the right place at the right time. The mid-1980s intersection of SPAR Stadium, Fair Grounds Field, the Shreveport Captains and sports writing is certainly one of those.

Quite by accident, I became the PA announcer at SPAR Stadium in 1983 and continued in that role for the next two years. The pay wasn’t great ($14 per night!), but I loved baseball and covering the team, plus I got free hot dogs and ice cream sandwiches.

But thanks to a bond proposal (that barely passed, by the way), $3.5 million was allocated to build Fair Grounds Field. Though I loved SPAR Stadium – my third-grade birthday party was there … I got Joe DiMaggio’s autograph there … the first seed of being a sports writer was planted there (long story) – it was time to move on.

I was a little surprised to be asked back to be the PA announcer — $35 per game! — but honored nonetheless.

In anticipation of the opening of FGF, I was sent to Arizona to cover the Captains’ spring training. The team was shaping up to be almost completely made over from ’85, but the guys who were going to come back in ’86 were aware of how big of a change was in store.

They had no idea.

Shreveport had no idea.

I will never forget standing in front of the Captains’ dugout with a few of the players when the gates opened at 5 p.m. (an hour earlier than normal) and saw fans literally running in to get a general admission or beer garden seat. The place was full in 30 minutes.

I have always said the biggest accomplishment in Shreveport baseball history wasn’t that 7,213 people showed up on April 14, 1986 for the first game at Fair Grounds. It’s that 1,527 people showed up on April 15. (The year before, the second-night crowd was 330.) That’s when I knew this was going to be the real deal.

For the next five years, I continued as the PA guy (“the shortstop, number 1, Tony Per-ez-CHI-CA!”) and had a blast.

But I came to realize that it wasn’t the stadium that made a difference. It was the people and the relationships that Fair Grounds Field brought about: Getting to know the players … sitting in the manager’s office discussing strategy … looking down into the crowd and watching the fans enjoy the night, even if they didn’t know their hats from second base.

My son got to be one of the Little Chickens as part of one of the San Diego Chicken’s routines. After games, I’d walk out of the player’s entrance and watch as little boys asked for autographs. I saw the look on faces of players leaving the manager’s office after they had just found out that their dream had come true – they were going to the big leagues.

Life took me in a different direction in the 1990s and later in the decade, it took Fair Grounds Field in one as well. In 2002, I attended a game at the now-renovated stadium after the ownership change had turned the Shreveport Captains to the Shreveport Swamp Dragons.

That wasn’t the only noticeable change. There were fans in attendance that night (sadly, the team averaged 431 fans per game that year), but the greater sense of emptiness throughout the stadium was obvious. The marriage between Shreveport and minor league baseball was over.

I should have felt nostalgic.

I should have felt sad.

I should have taken a moment to take one last look when I turned out of the parking lot that night.

Instead, I turned right.

Untended Fair Grounds Field set for demolition

 

SPOTLIGHT: Airline’s Chaffin is staying ready at LSU

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A ROARING START: LSU freshman pitcher Raelin Chaffin recently one-hit No. 2 Alabama, a 5-1 win the former Lady Viking earned as a last-minute starter.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

If there is one thing Raelin Chaffin has learned early in her LSU career, it is to be ready at all times. Prepare as if you’re going to be called on at a moment’s notice because, chances are, you will be.

Chaffin wasn’t planning on pitching when No. 21 LSU took on No. 2 Alabama in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 12 at Tiger Park. When one of the Tigers’ pitchers got hit in the face during practice, however, LSU coach Beth Torina knew she could rely on Chaffin.

“You never know what is going to happen when you go into a series; that’s why you have everyone ready,” Torina said. “We had all-hands-on-deck, and that is the point of having a deep pitching staff. You never know when your number was going to be called, and she was ready when her number was called today.”

Yes, one year removed from her stellar career at Airline High School, Chaffin was ready. The Tiger freshman:

  • retired 21 of the 22 batters she faced
  • recorded five strikeouts and no walks
  • pitched her second consecutive complete game
  • gave up just one hit (a home run in the second inning)
  • raised her record to 3-0 with the 5-1 victory.

“I guess I do not pay attention that much, but I did not even know it was a one-hitter,” Chaffin said after the game. “It was the last inning and I looked up and saw a 1 on the board. I did not even know I was going to start; I thought they were going back to Ali (Kilponen). Once I knew I got the start, I knew it was time to get to work.”

Since the Tigers had taken game one of the doubleheader (13-6) against the Crimson Tide earlier in the day, Chaffin’s victory clinched the series against the nation’s No. 2 team (LSU dropped the third game of the series, 2-1, the next day),“Now, I tell myself I’m pitching every game,” Chaffin says of her mindset. “After the Alabama game, I was prepared for everything.”

It was also after the Alabama game that Chaffin was named SEC Freshman of the Week. Three days later, Chaffin pitched four innings, gave up just two hits, recorded four strikeouts and improved her record to 4-0 as LSU defeated Southeastern Louisiana 11-2 in five innings.

Chaffin suffered her first loss of the season in a five-inning outing on the road to Texas on March 19. This past weekend in Bryan-College Station, she gave up four runs on eight hits and struck out two in LSU’s 5-4 loss Sunday against Texas A&M. The Lady Tigers had taken the series with 2-1 and 11-8 victories on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

“Right now, I’m working on getting better on every pitch,” says Chaffin, who fell to 4-2 with the recent loss. “I have to remember at times that I’m a freshman and this is the SEC. Nothing is easy. Whether we’re playing the worst or best team in the conference, everybody is talented.”

While pitching for LSU was always a goal and a dream for Chaffin, she wasn’t expecting to get her chance so soon. She saw her first action on Feb. 12, pitching four innings in the Tigers’ 3-2 loss to Central Arkansas. In her next outing one week later, Chaffin gave up three runs on three hits in just 1.2 innings of work in LSU’s 9-4 loss to Washington.

On opening day of the Purple & Gold Challenge on Feb. 25, Chaffin got the start against Drake and struck out three batters in four innings to earn her first victory as LSU took care of the Bulldogs 12-4 in five innings.

“She is a freshman, and she is learning every time she goes out there,” Torina said after the Drake game. “This was better than her last start, and she was able to get her first win today, which was awesome. I saw some really good things; she just needs to continue to work on her depth a little bit and be a little more versatile as the game goes on.”

Her next start was memorable. In the final game of the LSU Invitational against Central Connecticut State on March 6, Chaffin registered her first complete-game shutout as the Tigers blanked the Blue Devils 5-0.

Chaffin, who struck out a season-high 12 batters and gave up up just three hits and two walks, calls that game “a big confidence booster.”

“I thought Raelin did a great job,” Torina said after the Central Connecticut State game. “She did everything we needed her to do. She obviously had her best start of the year, and one of the best starts we have had from a pitcher all year, honestly.”Chaffin’s immediate success is no surprise to Brittany Frazier Smith, her coach at Airline.

“Raelin is one-of-a-kind on and off the field,” Smith says of the three-time Pitcher of the Year for the Lady Vikings. “I am so thankful that I got to coach her for four years. She puts a lot of pressure on herself to succeed, constantly get better, and be great. She always worked super hard, even outside of practice. Lots of time, sweat, and tears have gone into what she is today.”

Smith says getting to watch her former star pitcher play on TV is the “icing on the cake.”

So, when will Chaffin step into the circle next? “That’s a good question,” she says. “We don’t know until 35-40 minutes before a game if we’re going to pitch.”

As the LSU coach has learned, Chaffin can be ready on a moment’s notice.

Calvary secures No. 2 seed in Division IV softball playoffs

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Calvary Baptist finished the regular season with the highest seed of Shreveport-Bossier schools in the LHSAA state softball playoffs, earning the No. 2 seed in Division IV.

The Lady Cavs carry a 20-12 record to a first round game with No. 15 Ascension Christian (7-11). They were the district 1 champions and half of their schedule has been against teams in Class 5A. The only two losses in the last eight games were to Florien, the No. 4 team in the Class B playoffs and the top ranked team in 2A, Many, the defending state champions in that class.

All eight teams from District 1-5A made the playoffs.

Benton, at No. 15, is the highest local seed in the Class 5A bracket. The Lady Tigers, who finished tied for third in the district with Haughton, are 19-9 overall and will host Dutchtown (17-14) Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Haughton is a 16th seed after finishing the regular season at 16-12 and will host No. 17 Southside (17-10).

Airline, who finished tied for first in the district with Natchitoches Central, is seeded No. 19 and will take its 18-12 record on the road to play Chalmette (20-6) Saturday at 11 a.m. The Lady Owls finished undefeated in district 8 for the championship.

Southwood (No. 30), Captain Shreve (31) and Parkway (32) filled in the last three spots of the bracket.

The Lady Cowboys (19-9), who have won four straight and eight of their last nine, will travel to take on No. 3 Walker (28-4) on Monday at 5 p.m.

In a battle of Lady Gators, Captain Shreve (16-14) will have its hands full Saturday when it faces No. 2 St. Amant (26-2) at 2 p.m. The south Louisiana squad has won 24 straight while Shreve host lost its last four.

Parkway (9-13) goes to Alexandria to play top-seed Pineville (31-2) on Monday at 5 p.m.

Natchitoches Central is the highest seed from the district at No. 9 and will host Sulphur (16-10) Monday at 4 p.m.

Northwood is the No. 7 seed in Class 4A and will host New Orleans Military and Maritime Monday at 4 p.m. The Lady Falcons finished 16-10 overall and were second in district 1 to top seed North DeSoto. The Lady Griffins host Tara of Baton Rouge.

Huntington (10-6) is a No. 20 seed and will travel to play No. 13 North Vermilion (9-13) Monday at 4 p.m.

In Class 2A North Caddo (4-19) is the No. 25 seed and plays at No. 8 French Settlement (18-12) Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Byrd is in the Division I bracket and takes an 8-18 record to St. Joseph Academy (15-6) for a Tuesday game at 4:30 p.m.

Local teams’ matchups in LHSAA softball first round

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Here are first-round LHSAA softball playoff games, with dates and times as available Thursday, involving teams in Caddo and Bossier parishes. The local teams are in bold type.

CLASS 5A

No. 32-Parkway (9-13) at No. 1-Pineville (31-2), Monday, 5 p.m.

No. 17-Southside (17-10) at No. 16 Haughton (16-12), TBA

No. 30-Southwood (19-9) at No. 3-Walker (28-4), Monday, 5 p.m.

No. 19-Airline (18-12) at No. 14-Chalmette (20-6), Saturday, 11 a.m.

No. 18-Dutchtown (17-14) at No. 15-Benton (19-9), Tuesday, 4 p.m.

No. 31-Captain Shreve (16-14) at No. 2-St. Amant (26-2), Saturday, 2 p.m.

CLASS 4A

No. 20-Huntnigton )10-6) at No. 13-North Vermilion (9-13), Monday, 4 p.m.

No. 26-NO Military & Maritime (9-17) at No. 7-Northwood (16-10), Monday, 4 p.m.

CLASS 2A

No. 25-North Caddo (4-19) at No. 8-French Settlement (18-12), Tuesday, 5 p.m.

CLASS 1A

No. 20-Plain Dealing (4-5) at No. 13-Northwood-Lena (10-20), Tuesday, 4 p.m.

DIVISION I

No. 6-Byrd (8-18) at No. 3-St. Joseph Academy (15-6), Tuesday, 4:30 p.m.

DIVISION II

No. 16-Evangel (9-16) at No. 1-Haynes Academy (23-5), Tuesday, 4 p.m.

DIVISION IV

No. 15-Ascension Christian (7-11) at No. 2-Calvary (20-12), TBA.

Vikings score early and often to defeat Benton

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LUCKY 13: Airline pitcher Tyler Ferguson took advantage of the Vikings’ offensive explosion and shut down Benton.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

BENTON – Don’t try to explain it, because you can’t.

Don’t try to make a prediction from it, because it doesn’t work that way.

Don’t laugh about it or cry about it, because there’s only one way to look at it.

“That’s just baseball,” said Airline baseball coach Toby Todd, who has 706 games under his belt and has just about given up trying to figure it all out.

In one of the feature matchups of the District 1-5A season, Airline scored 13 runs in the top of the first inning against Benton Thursday night. Thirteen. One-three.

There was a passed ball, a wild pitch, a squeeze bunt, two infield errors, two hit batsmen and two excuse-me singles. Every batter in the Vikings lineup scored a run and four scored twice.

The top of the first inning lasted 42 minutes. The entire rest of the game lasted 72 minutes.

Airline went on to win 18-1 and drop Benton out of first place in the district standings. But coaches are nothing if not philosophical, especially after a game like this.

“You just gotta get back on the horse,” Benton coach Dane Peavy said. “Sometimes you just have a bad game and you just have to reset.”

“It’s one to nothing, that’s how I look at it,” Todd said. “We’ve beaten them one time. Now we have to play them again.”

That will take place Saturday (1 p.m., at Airline) and you’d be tempted to say that nothing like what happened in the first meeting will happen again. But with the way the district has played out so far, who knows?

Peavy found himself huddling together with his team in front of the third base dugout before they even came to bat. There’s not a handbook on what to say when you give up 13 to start the game.

“I didn’t anticipate that and I don’t think anybody in the park did either,” he said. “But all you can do is stay positive and try to scratch and claw to try to get as many at-bats as possible.”

On the other side of the field, the most forgotten player in the park was about to make his first appearance in the game. They say that a double play is a pitcher’s best friend, but how about being staked to a 13-run lead before you ever take the mound?

“My mindset is always that it’s 0-0,” said Vikings right-hander Tyler Ferguson. “I just went out there and pitched like nobody had scored yet and I had to do my thing.”

Ferguson retired the first five batters he faced before getting out of bases loaded jams in the second and fourth innings. He allowed one unearned run and only two hits in throwing 82 pitches. Even without the 13-spot in the first, he still got more than enough run support in the other four innings.

“Before the game, I kind of figured some things out with my stride and how to be more accurate,” Ferguson said. “I mostly attacked with the fast ball.”

The Vikings onslaught actually started with a whimper. Leadoff batter Matthew Scripture reached on an error, followed by Clayton Brandon being hit by a pitch with two strikes. That was followed by a strikeout.

“When the leadoff guy gets on, it just sets the tone,” Todd said. “Look how close we are to doing nothing (in the top of the first). But instead of folding right there, we found a way. And I really think when we got the suicide squeeze down (by Caleb Hemmings four batters later), that just solidified that we could do some things.”

The Vikings did a lot of things and most of them involved hitting. Hemmings had four hits, Mason Morgan had three and Brandon and Keegan Lehr had two each. Lehr had three RBI on a bases-loaded double and Morgan and Carson Carey each had a pair of RBI.

Airline is now 8-3 in the district (16-10 overall) and in a tie for second with Benton (8-3, 18-10-2). Both sit one game behind Parkway.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Red-hot Panthers take over first place in 1-5A

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By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Parkway won its seventh straight baseball game Thursday, beating Natchitoches Central 7-1 in a District 1-5A contest in Natchitoches.

With the win Parkway improves to 9-2 in 1-5A, ahead of Airline and Benton, both 8-3.

The Panthers’ last loss was a 19-6 drubbing at the hands of Benton. Since that game Parkway pitching has allowed 10 runs, only three in the last four games.

Tyler Bouillion and Shawn Driggers combined to hold the Chiefs to one run on six hits as they struck out nine. Bouillion picked up the win by allowing six hits in six innings. He walked four and struck out seven. Driggers pitched the final inning striking out two of the three batters he faced.

Ashton Martin led Parkway (18-11) at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Driggers had a two-run single in the Panthers’ three-run fifth inning.

HAUGHTON 11, BYRD 4: At Byrd, the Bucs used a pair of four-run innings to get the 1-5A win. Chan Lytle, Roman Tolbert and Parker Lowrie all had two hits with Tolbert and Lowrie getting doubles. Austin Alexander got the win on the mound going 6 1/3 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs, walked three and struck out five. Alexander also had two RBI for Haughton (20-6, 7-4).

CAPTAIN SHREVE 17, SOUTHWOOD 5: At Southwood, the Gators had 10 hits and collected 13 walks from Cowboy pitching to get the 1-5A win. Walker Wicklund was the only Shreve batter with more than one hit, delivering a single and home run, scoring four runs and driving in four. Bryce Powell and Rhyson Carroway had doubles with Carroway driving in two runs.

MINDEN 5, EVANGEL 0: The Crimson Tide limited the Eagles to three hits to post the District 1-4A win at Griffith Stadium in Minden. Brody Bower went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three hits, while he walked only one and struck out 11 for Minden (14-10, 3-1). Jakobe Jackson hit a two-run home run, Andrew Cooper doubled and Brandon Winston was 2-for-3 for Minden. Evangel dropped its first district game in four outings and is 13-12 overall.

NORTH DESOTO 4, NORTHWOOD 0: At Stonewall, the Falcons outhit the Griffins 7-6 but couldn’t find a way to get a run across in dropping their first District 1-4A game. Brendan Burns singled and doubled for Northwood (23-7, 4-1), which was shut out for the first time this season.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

Mudbugs’ regular-season finale offers plenty of intrigue

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HOME FINALE: Shreveport will close out the 2021-22 regular season with a pair of games against El Paso on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum this weekend.

By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports

The Shreveport Mudbugs will complete the 2021-22 regular season this weekend on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum. For once, positioning will not be a factor. The top four seeds in the North American Hockey League’s South Division – and the first-round playoff matchups – are set.

The standings – especially recent play – would make this weekend’s result seem pretty obvious. The Mudbugs are on a crazy run in the second half, rallying from last place to fourth place in the North American Hockey League’s South Division. On the flipside, El Paso will enter The George with just one win in its previous 25 games.

Make no mistake: There is plenty to play for.

Although El Paso (14-40-4) has won just 14 games this season, two of those victories have come against the Mudbugs. The Rhinos have only beat one other team – Odessa, three times – more than Shreveport.

If the Mudbugs (33-20-5) want to enter the postseason – a best-of-five battle with rival Lone Star — on the right foot, the process begins tonight against El Paso.

“These games are going to get us ready for playoffs,” Shreveport defenseman Niklas Miller said. “If we lose these two games, it’s not good. We need to go into the playoffs with some confidence.”

Brimmer eyes Triple Crown

Shreveport forward Austin Brimmer has a great opportunity to make a little franchise history this weekend. The Markham, Ontario, native leads the Mudbugs in goals (19), assists (33) and therefore points (52) with two games remaining.

If Brimmer retains the outright lead in those categories, he would become the first Mudbug in the NAHL era to end the season with sole possession of the lead of those categories. Last year, Braiden Dorfman led the team in assists (38), points (59) and was tied for the lead in goals (21) with Joe Mack.

Brimmer is eight assists clear of Connor Gatto, but has just a three-goal advantage on Gatto. Timofei Khokhlachev is four goals behind Brimmer entering the final weekend.

During Shreveport’s professional era, only three players scored the team Triple Crown — Toby Burkitt (30 goals, 50 assists, 1999-2000), Dan Wildfong (32G, 37A, 2004-05) and Joe Blaznek (24G, 39A, 2008-09).

Bugs vs. El Paso

Friday, Saturday (7:11 p.m.)
George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum
Mudbugs lead season series, 4-2

Photo by CHRISTI LANG

Thursday’s Sports Scoreboard

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NSU 6 Cam Sibley

College Baseball

Arkansas 5, LSU 4
Centenary 10, Austin College 0
Nicholls St.8, Northwestern St. 2
North Texas 8, Louisiana Tech 2
Texas Southern 8, Grambling St. 2
ULL 14, ULM 2

College Softball

LSU 4, South Carolina 0
McNeese St. 1, Northwestern St. 0
ULM 11, Coastal Carolina 3

High School Baseball

Airline 18, Benton 1
Captain Shreve17, Southwood 5
Parkway 7, Natchitoches Central 1
Minden 5, Evangel 0
North DeSoto 4, Northwood 0
Bossier a Mansfield, ppd.

Yellow Jackets enjoy home lacrosse finale, top Gators

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By JERRY BYRD JR., Journal Sports

On Friday nights in the fall, Byrd seniors Andrew Black, James Basco, and Ryan Pearson were in the stands at football games leading Byrd’s infamous Hive, the school’s student section.

Last night, in the shadows of Centenary College’s Gold Dome, playing their final high school lacrosse game in Shreveport against their rivals, it was their turn to lead the Jackets. It was spring, and it was on the field to delight an appreciative crowd as Byrd beat Captain Shreve 9-4.

The game was closer than the score indicated.Black scored the first and final goals. The opener came with 7:40 remaining in the first quarter. The finisher landed with 1:45 left in the game.

“We just wanted to get out here and score some goals to get the momentum going,” Black said. “We are trying to run through anything in the state. The last goal, was just for fun.”

Basco, who led the Yellow Jackets with three goals, called his teammate’s final goal a “rocket.”

“I knew I had to score a lot,” Basco said. “Score for the team. We had to beat this team. Last game for me in Shreveport, I just had to put it in the net and have fun.”

Pearson had two assists and managed the game well for the Byrd offense, including the final moments when he threw the ball high into the air.

“You always have to have that team play,” Pearson said. “It was a great crowd out here tonight. Shreve was definitely physical, but we were hitting harder. You got to love that.”

Byrd head coach Steve Martino certainly did love it.

“It was critical that we came out and set the tone,” Martino said. “We had great face off wins all night with Dixon Poirier, and our senior leadership propelled us to victory here.”

It was that senior leadership, and a goal from junior Hunter Thrasher, which helped build a 3-1 first half advantage for Byrd.

The Gators battled back. Freshman Danny Wade made quick work of the Jacket defense in the early stages of the second half, scoring to narrow Byrd’s lead to one.

Shortly after, Shreve’s Liam Johns, playing on the Centenary field where he will continue his lacrosse career, tied it up by finding the back of the net with 4:48 left in the third quarter.

But Byrd’s underclassmen answered to help the Yellow Jackets pull away. Sophomore Ian Dawson scored with 3:23 left in the third to give the Jackets the lead. Thrasher added another goal late in the period with 2:26 to go, and then —just 10 seconds later — Poirier, a sophomore, won a face off and took it up the middle of the Captain Shreve defense to double the lead.

Despite Shreve gaining the momentum early in the second half, Pearson said the Jackets never blinked.

“I know our offense,” Pearson said. “We always come back. We can put the ball in.”

Along with Johns and Wade, Captain Shreve head coach Garrett Faktor was impressed with the play of the Gators’ Will Moore.

“Every game, he is a leader for us,” Faktor said. “He caused turnovers tonight, chased down loose balls, and was a monster. He does the same things for us that Pearson does for Byrd.”

The victory for the Yellow Jackets comes on the heels of a rollercoaster in South Louisiana last weekend.

Byrd defeated Catholic 5-4 on Friday before falling to Newman, 8-3, on the following day.

Another date with Newman looms large for the Yellow Jackets as they prepare for their Super Eight quarterfinals in Lafayette, hoping to make a return appearance in the state championship game.

Photo by JERRY BYRD JR.

Gents roll, other local colleges stumble on diamond

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JOURNAL SPORTS

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Fifth-ranked Arkansas scored three seventh-inning runs Thursday night to erase a 3-2 deficit and post a 5-4 win over No. 12 LSU at Baum-Walker Stadium.

Arkansas improved to 26-7 overall, 9-4 in the SEC, while LSU dropped to 23-10 overall and 7-6 in conference play.

“We’ve got to play better,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “If we handle the baseball, we win tonight. We’re working extremely hard at it; we’ve got to be aggressive and do a better job on defense. Our pitchers executed the way they’re supposed to, but we didn’t give them the support they needed.

“It was a battle. Arkansas is in first place (in the SEC Western Division) for a reason. They’re a very complete team in terms of athleticism, pitching and defense, so we need to perform at a higher level in order to beat them.”

Haughton’s Peyton Stovall, a true freshman first baseman for the Razorbacks, had an eighth-inning single among his four plate appearances. He stole second.

CENTENARY 10, AUSTIN COLLEGE 0: Parker Primeaux tossed a three-hit, seven-inning shutout of the Kangaroos in Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference play at Shehee Stadium. Primeaux didn’t walk anyone and struck out six to improve his record to 6-3. Brady Robinson was 3-for-5 with an RBI while Tyler Erickson and Cade LaBruyere were both 2-for-3, with LaBruyere driving in two runs for Centenary (18-13, 8-5).

NICHOLLS 8, NORTHWESTERN STATE 2: The Colonels converted their fifth-inning opportunity after the Demons didn’t, as Nicholls distanced itself in the Southland Conference series opener in Thibodaux. The visitors (15-17, 5-5) loaded the bases with one out but didn’t break a scoreless tie, but the Colonels (18-13, 6-4) plated three in the fifth and pulled away from a 3-2 edge with a five-run eighth.

TEXAS SOUTHERN 8, GRAMBLING 2: The visiting Tigers (13-20, 8-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the second inning, but Texas Southern (16-15, 7-6) scored eight straight runs, including five between the fourth and fifth innings, to pick up the Southwestern Athletic Conference win in Houston.

UL LAFAYETTE 14, ULM 2: In Lafayette, the Ragin’ Cajuns unleashed a season-high 19 hits and plastered the Warhawks in the opener of a Sun Belt Conference series. ULL (19-14, 8-5) raced to a 10-2 lead after three and ULM (11-20-1, 4-8-1) made three errors.

SOFTBALL

MCNEESE 1, NORTHWESTERN STATE 0: Each team managed only three hits, but league-leading McNeese cashed in to start a Southland Conference series at the Lady Demon Diamond. A two-out, seeing-eye single through the right side in the top of the third plated the only run of the game for the Cowgirls (25-15, 8-1). The Lady Demons (24-16, 6-4) didn’t convert after their first two hitters reached base, and Maggie Black was stranded after she cracked a leadoff double in the third.

NORTH TEXAS 8, LOUISIANA TECH 2: A five-run fifth inning blew open a tight game as the Mean Green prevailed at Lovelace Stadium in the first game of the Conference USA series. Trailing 3-2 after plating a run in the top of the fifth, the Lady Techsters (27-16, 7-6) surrendered five runs in the bottom of the frame as North Texas (25-8, 12-3) capitalized on two home runs and a two-run double in the inning.

Lady Demons edge Techsters in nailbiter

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DECISIVE DEMON: Viktorie Wojcikova clinched the doubles point and scored a match-ending three-set singles win to lift Northwestern over Louisiana Tech, 4-3.

JOURNAL SPORTS

NATCHITOCHES – Fitting of a matchup of the two winningest women’s tennis programs in Louisiana this spring, Thursday’s collision of Northwestern State and Louisiana Tech came down to the final point. 

Delivering the winner, on the 19th stroke of the point, was Viktorie Wojcikova, who squeezed out a doubles tiebreaker early in the 4:06-long battle, then gutted out a tenacious No. 6 singles triumph to give Southland Conference champion NSU (14-4) a 4-3 victory against visiting Louisiana Tech (17-5).

Wojcikova crawled away from a 4-4 third-set tie to top Tech’s Ilana Tetruashvili 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 in a three-hour epic. 

“I just believed I could win,” said an exhausted Wojcikova, who was screened in the third set for heat-related illness. “(Tetruashvili) gave me nothing for free, and she had a couple of match points in that second set, so either of us could have won. 

“I knew that I trailed most of that second set, but I was just trying to win every ball and focus on myself.” 

The rest of the matches were completed by the time Wojcikova finished a second-set rally by winning the final three games. Both teams stood alongside Court 6 at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex, sweating out the entire decisive set as Wojcikova and Tetruashvili traded six straight service breaks.

“The way that Vikki came through today in doubles and singles was phenomenal,” said NSU coach Jonas Brobeck. “In a match like this, there shouldn’t be a loser, but there’s no tie in tennis and I’m happy we’re on the good side.”

Wojcikova and her partner Rozalie Dohnalova delivered NSU the doubles point via a 7-6 (6) tiebreaker against Tiffani Nash/Najah Dawson. 

The NSU tandem fought off a Tech rally by winning the final two points of the tiebreaker to secure the doubles point. The Lady Demons led 5-3 at No. 2 doubles before Tech won three straight games to help force the tiebreaker. 

“We were just trying to play simple and aggressive, and it worked,” Wojcikova said. 

Northwestern finished its regular season with nine straight wins, which included a 6-0 Southland Conference slate that garnered the program’s first regular season title since 2014. The Techsters have two Conference USA weekends left.

“I’m super proud of these girls and how we competed and problem solved,” said Brobek. “It’s great to pull one out against a very good Louisiana Tech team, a gritty and hard-working bunch.” 

Opening the match contesting the doubles point, NSU’s No. 3 pair of Ayu Ishibashi/Patrycja Polanska notchee a 6-2 win before Tech’s No. 1 pairing of Olga Bienzobas/Leonie Schuknecht topped Tjasa Klevisar/Mariella Minetti 6-2. 

The Lady Demons and Techsters went back and forth in singles, trading points as NSU clutched to a 3-2 lead. 

Needing both points to capture its first win in Natchitoches since 2015,  Tech picked up the equalizer on No. 2 when Bienzobas overcame a first-set defeat to beat Klevisar 2-6, 6-4, 6-4. Klevisar stormed to a first-set win before Bienzobas steadied, winning five of the last seven games in the second set and the last two games in the third set. 

“It is tough to lose when it comes down a matter of points and that is the way the day went for us,” said Techster coach Amanda Stone. “We had opportunities for the doubles point, but even after losing it we still had chances to win four of the singles.  We needed to step up and execute when it really mattered.  That was the difference between a win and a loss.” 

Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State

Final Regular Season Softball Standings

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Softball
District 1-5A Dist. All
Natchitoches 6-1 20-8
Airline 6-1 18-12
Benton 5-2 19-9
Haughton 5-2 16-12
Captain Shreve 3-4 16-14
Parkway 2-5 9-13
Southwood 1-6 19-9
Byrd 0-7 8-18
     
District 1-4A Dist. All
North DeSoto 7-0 29-5
Minden 5-1 17-9
Northwood 5-2 16-10
Huntington 5-4 10-6
Evnagel 4-3 9-16
Caddo Magnet 3-3 8-16
Woodlawn 1-6 5-14
BTW 0-11 1-15
     
District 1-3A Dist. All
Mansfield 4-0 11-7
North Webster 3-1 11-15
Loyola 2-2 41-2
Bossier 1-3 5-10
Green Oaks 0-4 1-12
     
District 1-2A Dist. All
D’Arbonne Woods 3-0 18-12
North Caddo 2-1 4-19
Lakeside 1-2 6-14
Jonesboro-Hodge 0-3 1-13
     
District   1-1A West Dist. All
Calvary 2-0 20-12
Glenbrook 2-1 8-12
Haynesville 1-1 10-6
Plain   Dealing 1-1 4-5
Ringgold 0-1 7-15
Arcadia 0-1 2-9
Lincoln   Prep 0-1 1-6

WEEKEND SCHEDULE: Gents play host to Austin College

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Friday

College Baseball

Austin College at Centenary, DH, 1 p.m.
BPCC at Angelina, DH, 1 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at Marshall, 1 p.m.
Grambling St. at Texas Southern, 2 p.m.
Texas College at LSUS, 6 p.m.
Northwestern St. at Nicholls St., 6 p.m.
LSU at Arkansas, 6 p.m.
ULM at La-Lafayette, 6 p.m.

College Softball

Schreiner at Centenary, DH, 1 p.m.
Alcorn St. at Grambling St., 3 p.m.
McNeese St. at Northwestern St., 6 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at North Texas, 6 p.m.

High School Baseball

Benton at Zwolle
Captain Shreve vs. Family Community, 2 p.m.
Captain Shreve at D’Arbonne Woods, 6 p.m.
Haynesville at Calvary

Saturday

College Baseball

Texas College at LSUS, DH, noon
Louisiana Tech at Marshall, DH, 10 a.m.
Northwestern St. at Nicholls St., 1 p.m.
Grambling St. at Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
LSU at Arkansas, 2 p.m.
ULM at La-Lafayette, 4 p.m.

College Softball

Alcorn St. at Grambling St., DH, noon
Schreiner at Centenary, 1 p.m.
McNeese St. at Northwestern St., DH, 1 p.m.
Louisiana Tech at North Texas, 1 p.m.
Baton Rouge CC at BPCC, DH, 2 p.m.

High School Baseball

Benton at Airline
Southwood at Captain Shreve
Byrd at Haughton
Natchitoches Central at Parkway
Calvary at Evangel, DH
Bossier at North Webster

Sunday

No events scheduled

Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule

Notice of Death – April 14, 2022

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Bossier Parish

Reginald Boyd Rowell
March 17, 1943 – April 9, 2022
Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until service time
Services: 12:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2022 at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Dr.

Everett Graham Cathey
July 17, 1945 – April 6, 2022
Services: Tuesday, April 19, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Cemetery, 5185 Swan Lake Rd., Bossier City, Louisiana

Caddo Parish

Surpiner Benjamin
January 1, 1933 – April 8, 2022
Visitation: 1pm to 8pm Friday Night at Good Samaritan Funeral Home. 
Services: Saturday, April 16, 2022, 11am at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church

Doyle Franklin Brents
March 12, 1934 – April 13, 2022
Visitation: Saturday at the funeral home from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service
Services: Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr., Shreveport

Vallarie Lynette Campbell
December 8, 1964 – April 10, 2022
Visitation: 1pm to 8pm Friday Night at Good Samaritan
Services: Saturday, April 16, 2022 1:00 PM GOOD SAMARITAN FUNERAL HOME 2200 LAUREL ST
Shreveport

Wilford Claville
June 24, 1941 ~ April 6, 2022
Visitation: 11 to 6 p.m., Thursday at Heavenly Gates
Services: Friday April 22, 2022 11:00 AM Morning Star Baptist Church 5340 Jewella Avenue Shreveport

Phyllis Marie Walker
August 12, 1963 ~ April 8, 2022
Visitation: 11 to 6 p.m., Monday at Heaveny Gates
Services: Tuesday April 19, 2022 11:00 AM Morning Star Baptist Church 5340 Jewella Avenue
Shreveport

James L. Beck, Sr.
March 30, 1947 ~ April 7, 2022
Visitation: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday at New Bethel MBC
Services: Friday April 15, 2022 11:00 AM NEW ZION B.C. BARBARA ST BOSSIER CITY

Carson Winbush
August 6, 1948 ~ April 9, 2022
Visitation: Friday April 15, 2022 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services: Saturday April 16, 2022 11:00 AM Heavenly Gates 1339 Jewell st Shreveport

Linda Ford
September 8, 1953 ~ April 7, 2022
Visitation: 11 to 6 p.m., Friday at Heavenly Gates.
Services: Friday April 15, 2022 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport

Emmett Antwine
May 14, 1937 ~ April 3, 2022
Services: Saturday April 16, 2022 11:00 AM Bright Star MB.C. 2415 Hearne Ave Shreveport

Patricia “Trisha” McKee Spurlock
August 21, 1948 – April 8, 2022
Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Burial will be held at Hurricane Cemetery in Arcadia, LA.
Services: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 22, 2022 at Ellerbe Road Baptist Church, 10705 Ellerbe Rd, Shreveport

Kenneth George Cunningham
May 25, 1943 – March 30, 2022
Visitation: 10:00 a.m. until time of service in the church parlor
Services: Broadmoor United Methodist Church on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11:00 a.m.

Archie Ford
May 27, 1949 ~ March 30, 2022
Visitation: Friday April 22, 2022 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services: Saturday April 23, 2022 11:00 AM New Boggy B.C. Bethany

Bernice Jones Hardman
August 30, 1934 ~ April 6, 2022
Visitation: Friday April 15, 2022 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Heavenly Gates
Services: Saturday April 16, 2022 12:00 PM Calvary B.C. benton

Micheal Thomas
May 10, 2018 ~ April 1, 2022
Visitation: Friday April 15, 2022 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport
Services: Saturday April 16, 2022 11:00 AM Lincoln Cemetery

Lillie (Wright) Dinkins
February 11, 1946 ~ April 6, 2022
Services: Friday April 22, 2022 1:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport 3701 Hollywood Avenue

Jeremiah Guiden
April 3, 2022
Visitation: 1pm to 8pm Friday Night at Good Samaritan Funeral Home
Services: Saturday, April 16, 2022, 11am in the Chapel of Good Samaritan Funeral Home

Francis Marie (Cockerham) Gardner
February 10, 1952 ~ April 1, 2022
Visitation: Friday April 15, 2022 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Winnfield Funeral Home – Shreveport
Services: Saturday April 16, 2022 1:00 PM New Friendship Baptist Church 100 New Friendship Road
Castor

Stephen Adger “Cub” Glassell, Jr.
April 18, 1969 – March 22, 2022
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m., Friday, April 15, 2022, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 1815 Marshall Street, Shreveport

BPCC’S Hamilton a major ‘get’ for Miners

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COMMUNITY SERVICE: A true post player, Derick Hamilton is BPCC’s third major college signee in J.A. Anglin’s two years as coach.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

The Bossier Parish Community College basketball season has been over for a few weeks, but Wednesday was still a big day for the Cavaliers’ program.

Derick Hamilton, a 6-foot-10 forward who broke the school record for field goal percentage for a season and a career, signed with the University of Texas-El Paso.

“Derick made tremendous strides in his time at BPCC,” said BPCC coach John Anthony Anglin. “His skill set combined with his ability to be coached solidified his name in our record books at BPCC. Derick’s presence on the block was second to none in Region 14. We are all looking forward to following his career at UTEP.”

It’s the third signing for a BPCC player in Anglin’s two years as coach. Anglin began his coaching career at UTEP an assistant coach in 2011 and later returned as assistant director of basketball operations.

“We are excited about Derick being a part of our program,” UTEP head coach Joe Golding said on the school’s website. “He comes from an unbelievable family and has improved as a player every year. His unique combination of size and skill, combined with an extremely high ceiling, will provide a low post presence for years to come at UTEP.”

Earlier in the season, Anglin said Hamilton was the player who made the Cavs go. “He’s packing a punch inside,” Anglin said “And he’s a traditional 5; he plays with his back to the basket and he has great hands and great touch.”

Hamilton, a Baton Rouge product (Broadmoor High), played in 30 games this season, started 23, and averaged 11 points a game. He had a career-high 20 points (missed just one of 11 shots) in a win over Baton Rouge Community College Nov. 21.

He also appeared in 15 games for BPCC in 2020-21.

Hamilton will have three years of eligibility remaining for the Miners.

Previous major college signings in BPCC program history include Mo Muhammad (Louisiana Tech, 2018) and Oral Roberts (Mississippi State, 1997).

BPCC was 16-14 this season and reached the quarterfinals of the Region XIV tournament.

Photo courtesy BPCC

Airline’s Hampton will sign with NSU today

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VIKING SIGNEE: Senior guard Kayla Hampton (shooting), who has averaged 17 points in her last two seasons, will sign with Northwestern State today during a 1 p.m. ceremony in Airline’s library.

JOURNAL STAFF

Kayla Hampton was a rising star going into her junior season at Airline, then disaster struck. Today, she gets rewarded for coming all the way back.

Hampton, a 5-foot-8 guard for the Lady Vikings, will sign a full athletic scholarship with Northwestern State in a 1 p.m. ceremony at the AHS library. She earned a spot on The Journal’s All-Metro first team as a senior after recovering from major knee surgery that wiped out her entire junior campaign.

Before getting hurt in the 2020 preseason, Hampton was ranked among the state’s top 10 prospects in the Class of 2022.

She scored over 1,500 points in three seasons at Airline, averaging 17.3 as a sophomore and again as a senior. Hampton set the Lady Vikes’ career record with 273 steals, starting fast. As a freshman, she broke the season steals record with 106. She topped the 1,000-point mark in Airline’s final playoff game of her sophomore year.

Hampton has been selected to be a part of the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association’s All-Star Game on the West team.

Today is an especially sweet occasion for her coach, Lyndzee McConathy, who played collegiately at Northwestern. While Hampton’s future is exciting for her proud coach, her comeback, and her talent level, is extremely impressive.

“Kayla is a special player that has been through a lot of adversity to get where she is now,” said McConathy. “She is one of the smoothest players I have ever had the opportunity to coach. Her natural ability and instinct will carry her through college.

“I am honored to share my alma mater with her and excited to watch her grow as a Lady Demon. She is going to be one special player for coach (Anna) Nimz and NSU.”

Hampton was twice first-team All-District 1-5A, as a freshman and senior, and was a second-team pick as a sophomore.

This season, she averaged 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.6 steals, and 2.1 assists.

Parkway pair obvious picks to head SBJ All-Metro girls’ team

Nil chance that LHSAA’s NIL stance wasn’t rushed

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One week ago today, the LHSAA’s executive committee and the organization’s director, Eddie Bonine, dropped a bombshell by producing a “positioning statement” allowing Louisiana high school student-athletes to benefit from their name, image, and likeness.

“Education. Not regulation,” Bonine told the media. For some, this raised the question whether or not the association, which governs Louisiana high school athletics, has lost its collective mind. The sudden education thrust concerning NIL comes after a presentation by Eccker Sports last week to the LHSAA executive committee, made of up principals from around the state. This company will partner with the LHSAA to educate principals and athletic directors with online training.

Last week’s statement says Eccker Sports has 60 years of experience in the sports industry, but the website – ecckersports.com – makes no mention of what the company has been doing for the first 59. The website is solely devoted to NIL, which only came to the forefront on July 1 when college athletes received the NIL green light from the NCAA after some states around the nation passed laws forcing its hand.

Money grab? Too early to tell, but it is always prudent to follow the money on “partnerships.”

Who educated the LHSAA executive committee and Bonine? Eccker Sports?

Was nothing learned from watching the NCAA struggle to keep up with NIL, and the lack of regulation, during football season? Did they miss the news about the University of Texas’ “Pancake Factory,” which starting this fall will give every full scholarship offensive lineman at the University of Texas $50,000 per year for their NIL?

This foundation – and the “Pancake Factory” – has little to do with being able to use the names, image, and likenesses of the offensive linemen, and everything to do with attracting the best offensive linemen in the nation into burnt orange to help the UT fat cats’ beloved Longhorns to win championships.

Think there might be deep-pocketed boosters at high schools across the state who are pooling their resources to attract athletes to form the best high school team money can buy?

You can take it to the bank, and that’s ironic, because that’s exactly where some Louisiana middle school athletes are headed.

The LHSAA leadership obviously missed Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin warning with NIL and the transfer portal, the NCAA has created “free agency” in college football. Many other high-profile coaches, even with more resources than Kiffin, have voiced concerns.

Despite the NCAA’s inevitable NIL growing pains, at least universities have compliance departments tasked with assuring all NCAA rules and regulations are followed.

Who will be the “compliance department” at the high school level? Invariably, this will fall to athletic directors, who are already under the gun to certify the tiniest details on every document from physicals to waivers, and everything between, for each student-athlete on campus.

The same athletic directors must verify an athlete lives where they say they live when a new arrival shows up at the school wanting to participate in sports.

More questions.

Why would the LHSAA come out with this statement at this time, without taking it before the principals during their annual meeting in January?

I think I know the answer.

It seems the LHSAA is quite proud of getting out “ahead” of NIL.

“There is a lot to NIL and it’s a moving target that we need to stay on top of,” Bonine was quoted in the release.

Over half of all state associations (26) in the United States got “on top” of NIL by prohibiting student-athletes in their state from accepting benefits. I guess those associations saw what they needed from the disruptive impact NIL has had on the NCAA landscape.

Like the nickname of the LHSAA’s first commissioner – T.H. “Muddy” Waters – there are more questions than answers with the association’s one-week old statement on NIL.

One thing is clear: the divide between the LHSAA leadership and those who coach the student-athletes in Louisiana has never been wider.

 

SPOTLIGHT: LHSAA addresses NIL, stresses education on issue

 

Navigating the cloudy, new NIL world in college sports

 

Triple play:  Young sisters capture more regional crowns

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FAMILY FIRSTS: Triplet Bella Young (center) won the girls’ singles while her sisters Morgan (left) and Sydney (right) captured the girls’ doubles title for Byrd High at the regional tennis tournament this week.

By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports

Bella, Morgan, and Sydney Young were the defending champions when they traveled to Ruston earlier this week to compete in the Division I regional tennis tournament. In 2021, Sydney captured the singles title while Bella and Morgan won the doubles title.

So, of course, the Byrd High School juniors were the favorites going into the 2022 championships. The triplets lived up to their billing by capturing the regional titles again this year, but not exactly in the same way.

This time, Bella won the regional singles title while Morgan and Sydney captured the doubles title. “Bella is more of a singles player,” says Morgan, “and she wanted to play singles this year.”

When they asked Stevie Schmidt about making the switch, the Byrd coach said, “Whatever y’all want.”

Well, the plan worked. Bella breezed through the competition en route to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Chloe Batterton of West Monroe in the championship match while Morgan and Sydney defeated Alexandria Senior High’s Julia Harrington and Amelia Marlowe 6-2, 6-1 to take the doubles title.

It could get even more interesting next year, as younger sister Avery will be joining the triplets on the Yellow Jackets’ tennis team. Chances are there will be two Young singles players and a Young doubles team. Four singles players? Two doubles teams? We’ll see.

While the Youngs were successful again this year, the Yellow Jackets (11 points) were edged out of the overall regional girls’ title by West Monroe (11.5). Taking third place was ASH (10.5), followed by Captain Shreve (6), Ruston (4), Pineville (3), and Natchitoches Central (2).

Other state qualifiers in girls’ singles were Shreve’s Faith Quarles (who fell in the semifinals to the eventual runner-up) and Byrd’s Elizabeth Hubble (who lost in the quarterfinals to Batterton). Katherine Ferrier and Baylor Thornton made it to the quarterfinals of girls’ doubles and will also represent Shreve at state.

Airline freshman Drew Kolniak edged Ahsan Mansoor of ASH 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to capture the boys’ singles title and will be joined at state by teammate Madden Sawrie, who fell in the quarterfinals to No. 2 seed Max Turpin of West Monroe. Shreve’s Hayden McFarlain also advanced to state in singles.

West Monroe finished with a total of 13.5 points to take the overall boys’ title, followed by Airline (8.5), Ruston and ASH (6.5), Captain Shreve (5), and Natchitoches Central (5).

Ronit Ahluwalia and Carter Priestley of Airline qualified for state in boys’ doubles along with James Auer and Mark Quarles of Captain Shreve.

The Division I and Division II state championships will be held in Monroe April 28-29.

Local players punch tickets to Division II state tourney

While Neville dominated the boys’ and girls’ competition at the Division II regionals in its hometown this week, there were some local players who advanced to the state tournament that will be held in Monroe April 28-29.

Caddo Magnet’s Natalie Sin made it to the championship in girls’ singles but fell to Neville’s Lauren Graham. Also qualifying in singles were Caddo Magnet’s Thuy Chau (semifinalist), Haughton’s Addison Yarbrough and Benton’s Raelee Craft (quarterfinalists).

Qualifying for state in girls’ doubles were Tuyen Chau and Neelie Lim of Caddo Magnet (semifinalists) and Mallory Benton and Shelby Haley of Haughton (quarterfinalists). Ella Ruth Klug and Alexandra Reynolds captured the girls’ doubles title for Neville.

Neville also captured both the boys’ singles and doubles titles. Haughton’s Zach Haley advanced to state after making it to the championship match, where he fell to Neville’s Mitchell Spence. Alex Gonzalez of Benton also advanced to state by making it to the quarterfinals.

Making it to the quarterfinals and advancing to state in boys’ doubles were two teams from Caddo Magnet – Thaeh Chau and Marshall O’Callaghan along with Ethan Hood and Daniel Wright.

Parkway sweeps Airline series, joins Benton in first place

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UNHITTABLE: Parkway pitcher Sean Waits did not allow a hit in five innings in a win over Airline on Tuesday.

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Parkway got another stellar pitching effort in defeating Airline 5-1 Tuesday to sweep the two-game District 1-5A series at Airline.

With the win, Parkway joins Benton at the top of the 1-5A standings at 8-2. Airline slips out of the three-way tie and is now in third at 7-3 and Haughton is fourth at 6-4.

Sean Waits got the start on the mound for Parkway and didn’t allow a hit in five innings. He walked two and struck out five to get the win. Cade Josting came on in relief to finish the final two innings and allowed the Vikings only hit and run, walking two and striking out a pair. 

Trent Lape, Tanner Kirkland, Zach Schoenborn and Shawn Driggers all had doubles. Lape, Kirkland and Driggers also had singles to add to the extra-base hits.

HAUGHTON 17, SOUTHWOOD 2: At Southwood, the Bucs got nine runs in the first inning and cruised to the five-inning District 1-5A win Tuesday. Colin Rains had two hits and two RBI. Nick Hensley, Caleb Brown and Parker Lowrie all went 2-for-3 with Lowrie scoring a game-high four runs for Haughton (19-6, 6-4).

BYRD 5, NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL 3: At Byrd, the Yellow Jackets matched the Chiefs’ three-run second inning with a three-run fourth and notched single runs in the first and sixth innings for the 1-5A win Tuesday. Lake Lambert was 3-for-3, Patrick Snead singled and homered in two at bats and Christian Weddleton was 2-for-3 with a double for Byrd (13-12, 4-6). Snead was the winning pitcher going six innings, allowing 10 hits, three runs, walking one and fanning seven. NCHS falls to 15-13, 3-7.

NORTHWOOD 11, HUNTINGTON 0: At Northwood, the Falcons got a two-hit shutout from Ryan Gardner and Jacob Murray in the five-inning District 1-4A win Tuesday. Tucker McCabe doubled and tripled and drove in four runs, Hutson Hearron doubled in two runs and Hayden Phipps tripled in two. Gardner allowed one hit in four innings with one walk and seven strikeouts. Murray struck out two of the four batters he faced to close out the win for Northwood (23-6, 4-0). Ashton Riley was 2-for-2 for Huntington (2-13, 1-3).

LOYOLA 22, BOSSIER 5: The Flyers needed just four innings to score the District 1-3A win at Bossier Tuesday. Nobody had multiple hits but Loyola had the same number of hit batsmen (eight) as they did base hits. Three players were hit twice, Konnor O’Neal (raising his season total to 22), Mason Worley and Murphy Tamplin. Flyers with extra-base hits included William Soignier, Gray Deason, Chandler Carnahan with doubles and O’Neal lined a triple. Carnahan had a team-high three RBI and Jesse Bynog got his first decision of the season, pitching 1 1/3 inning, when he allowed no hits, walked two and struck out three. Loyola is now 18-10 overall and 6-0 in 1-3A.

Photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL

SPOTLIGHT: Could NCAA’s APR be DOA?

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ON THE MOVE: Senior-to-be point guard Brian White is reportedly not returning to Northwestern State’s basketball team.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Grambling’s just-hired volleyball coach, Chelsey Lucas, reportedly cut her entire team to look for better players.

New basketball coaches at Louisiana Tech, LSU and Northwestern State have varying degrees of roster management issues.

At Tech, the focal situation centers on the big man, Kenneth Lofton Jr., the Bulldogs’ sensational sophomore. Before Eric Konkol took the head coaching post at Tulsa, Lofton understandably stated his intention to explore entering the NBA Draft. Last week, Lofton also entered the NCAA’s transfer portal, increasing chances that he will be movin’ on up one way, or another, despite being recruited to Ruston by new Tech coach Talvin Hester, an assistant at the time of Lofton’s signing.

After the firing of Will Wade, the LSU basketball roster emptied. All scholarship players entered the transfer portal, or declared for the NBA Draft. Several Murray State Racers have followed their head coach, Matt McMahon, to Baton Rouge, along with NSU’s freshman star center, Captain Shreve product Kendal Coleman.

The new Demons’ head coach, Corey Gipson, has seen other key figures from last year’s NSU squad exit Prather Coliseum. Coleman was gone before Gipson arrived, but as of today, five of Northwestern’s top six scorers last year (two were seniors) reportedly won’t be back, notably underclassmen Carvell Teasett (12.9 points per game) and senior-to-be Brian White (5.9 points), the starting guards.

These are some, not all, of local cases-in-point illustrating the transfer portal is college sports’ version of the DFW Airport, with constant incoming and outgoing traffic.

Fluid rosters in coaching transitions are nothing new, but widespread exits had been curtailed significantly after the NCAA instituted academic reform with the arrival of the Academic Progress Rate in 2004. APR is a gauge of how schools do advancing student-athletes toward graduation. There have been penalties, including bans from postseason play and limits on scholarships and practices, for programs that fall below Division I-wide standards by not retaining their players.

Due to pandemic impact, the NCAA quietly suspended APR penalties a couple years ago. A restart was expected next year but has been delayed for at least another year, if not forever, as the transformative impact of the portal, and other problematic issues, soaks in.

The transfer portal has radically altered the landscape. No matter what the sport, Division I coaches have to constantly monitor their own roster, understanding the status of each player, and must be alert to players looking for a new home who might be good additions. The conventional recruiting paradigm has been blown up. With that, it’s possible, even perhaps likely, that the APR, the NCAA’s anchor for academic emphasis, could join fax machines and Walkmans in the obsolete file.

“You’re getting to the point where it’s unknown if penalties will be reassessed,” said Dustin Eubanks, associate athletic director at Northwestern State, who has handled NCAA compliance for 22 years. “We have to look at it as if they will be, but can I tell you they will? It’s like so much with the NCAA now; the word that is used is uncertainty.”

Does that mean the NCAA’s heavily-marketed focus on academics is in the way of its newfound commitment to free enterprise by student-athletes?

“There are too many issues like the portal that are problematic at this stage,” said Eubanks. “How does the NCAA reconsider its enforcement of academics? I don’t think they know right now.”

If these academic standards do resume, will they matter? A growing number of ambitious coaches on the outside of dream jobs, but looking up, are putting in all their chips toward rapid success to quickly climb toward multi-million dollar contracts. What’s left behind when they jump? Not their problem.

“There are some that don’t focus on APR as much as the way it used to be,” said Eubanks. “Coaches will tell you, we’re paid to win. If we don’t win, we’re out. Talking to colleagues at other places, I think discounting or altogether disregarding APR is more prevalent than you’d want, if you believe the end goal for college athletes is graduation.”

Do academics really matter in college sports? Rumors of the elite power programs considering a super division, something that could replicate minor league sports with a modicum of academics, are on the radar.

With so many unknowns, the notion that graduation is considered as big a win as championship trophies is very much in doubt.

Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State

Tuesday’s Sports Scoreboard

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College Baseball

BPCC 16-9, Panola 3-8 (2nd game 11 innings)
Northwestern St. at Louisiana Tech, ppd.
ULM 8, Jackson St. 3
Lamar at LSU, ppd.

High School Baseball

Byrd 5, Natchitoches Central 3
Evangel 7, Lakeside 4
Haughton 17, Southwood 2
Loyola 22, Bossier 5
Northwood 11, Huntington 0
Parkway 5, Airline 1

High School Softball

Beekman Charter 12, Captain Shreve 2
Byrd 17, North Caddo 10
Many 11, Airline 6
Stanley 13, Parkway 2
Quitman 16 Evangel 1

Green briar: love ‘em or hate ‘em

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A couple of years ago, Kay wanted a flower bed in a certain section of the front yard. The spot was perfect. It would get just the right amount of sunlight and shade for the lantana she had planned for the bed to grow lush and beautiful.

There was only one problem; the area she chose was already occupied. It was wrapped up in saw briars. I was assigned the task of removing them to make room for the lantana.

Have you ever tried to get rid of saw briars? You can cut them down to the ground and before long, they take off again. The solution is to dig up the root. Frankly I was shocked when I unearthed the root from the first briar I tackled. It was the size of a volleyball, big and white and almost scary looking.

Eventually, I was able to dig up all the roots and now the little bed is saw briar-free but it took quite an effort to make that happen.

Just exactly what is this plant? It has at least three names. I always called it saw briar while more professional plant gurus refer to it as green briar or if they really want to get fancy, smilax.

If you live anywhere in the country, I’ll bet you have it growing around the margin of your yard. It practically forms a border of my yard and if you happen to walk through a vine, you come out with blood dripping because two of the three names indicate what it is. Briar.

As obnoxious as the plant is to homeowners, it’s a super source of protein for wildlife, especially deer.

One night I happened to look out the bedroom window and saw movement beneath the security light in our yard. There stood a doe munching on a strand of saw briar growing there. After she moved on, a second deer came along to clean up the greenery the first had left.

I ran across an article recently that was singing the praises of this plant that provides up to 30 percent protein in spring and 10 percent in the fall. Many wildlife biologists consider green briar to be one of the most important native plants used by deer. Hunters sometimes manage thickets of the plant growing on their hunting lands, since deer relish it as a favorite browse species.

In addition to retaining leaves all year long, the plant produces fruit-like berries consumed by not only deer but a variety of birds and wild turkeys.

Since I have your interest in utilizing green briar as wildlife food, is it possible to transplant it to areas where you hunt? You can’t find a commercial source for the seeds or roots (which technically are called rhizomes) but you can dig up the roots and plant them where you prefer. Most who have tried this method of transplanting find that the relocated plants take off with good results but you need to protect the new growth from over-browsing by deer and rabbits.

Late in deer season after a few freezes have killed most native forage plants, making them unpalatable for wildlife, green briar just keeps on keeping on.

One biologist suggested that well-fertilized green briar thickets make good food plots and should be included in a wildlife management plan.

You need some root stock? My wife is eyeing another spot in the yard where she wants a flower bed, a spot wrapped up in briars. You want ‘em? You can have ‘em, just come dig ‘em so I won’t have to.

Techsters, Lady Demons collide in tennis showdown

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BEST IN THE BOOT: Rozalie Dohnalova and Northwestern State finish the regular season today, hosting Louisiana Tech in a matchup of the state’s most successful women’s tennis teams.

JOURNAL STAFF

NATCHITOCHES – The last time Northwestern State women’s tennis team stepped on the court, a championship atmosphere was in the air and the Lady Demons routed Nicholls, claiming the Southland Conference regular season title.

There won’t be any trophies or titles on the line today, just bragging rights, as the Lady Demons (13-4) close out their regular season at home against Louisiana Tech.

Championship-caliber tennis can be expected. The Techsters (17-4) come in with the most wins in the state this season. NSU ranks second among Division I teams in that category.

“That’s what we wanted, a great in-state rivalry between two teams that are playing really good tennis,” said NSU coach Jonas Brobeck. “Louisiana Tech has won a lot of matches, and it’s a great to get a super quality opponent down here so we can get a great match heading into the Southland Conference Tournament.”

The match, originally scheduled for Tuesday but moved because of storms, will begin at 11 a.m. at the Jack Fisher Tennis Complex.

The Techsters topped Northwestern 5-2 last spring, but haven’t won at NSU since 2015.

The Lady Demons have not lost a match since Feb. 28, dropping only seven points since while winning four matches by a score of 6-1 and recording two shutouts. They are 8-1 at home this season with the lone loss coming to Southern Miss.

Photo by CHRIS REICH, Northwestern State

Parks reps Mavericks in All-Star Game Saturday

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SHREVEPORT’S STAR: After an impressive first half in The Basketball League’s Central Division, Mavericks guard Paul Parks has been named an All-Star and will play Saturday in Syracuse.

JOURNAL SPORTS

Paul Parks, who tops the league-leading Shreveport Mavericks the team in scoring and steals, will represent his team and The Basketball League in a pro minor league All-Star Game Saturday in Syracuse, N.Y.

Parks will join 13 other players in Syracuse to compete against standouts from the National Basketball League of Canada. The game tips at 4 CDT Saturday, following competition in 3-point shooting and dunking at 5 CDT on Friday.

Parks is scoring 24.5 points per game and swipes 2.7 steals per game. He leads the league in 3-pointers made (46), is second in steals per game and eighth in scoring.

Saying he is “just thankful for the opportunity to be considered,” Parks is grateful to Mavs coach Steve Tucker for the nomination and thanked his teammates for pushing him daily to be a better person and player, according to a team press release.

Also in the all-star weekend, a celebrity game will be staged at 1 CDT Saturday afternoon. Fans can watch all activities on league websites https://nblc.tv/AllStar2022 or https://tbltv.tv.

The Mavericks will not play over the weekend, resuming their schedule next Friday. There are 13 games left in the season over eight weekends.

TBL Central Standings

1. Shreveport Mavericks 9-2
2. Enid Outlaws 9-3
3. Potawatomi Fire 9-3
4. Dallas Skyline 8-3
5. Sugarland Imperials 6-4
6. Beaumont Panthers 4-4
7. Rockwall 7ers 3-8
8. Waco Royals 1-11
9. Little Rock Lighting 0-11

In their last action, the Mavericks dismantled the Little Rock Lighting 131-91 last Sunday afternoon at Jack Stephens Center on the UALR campus. Ty Jordan led Shreveport with 34 points in 28 minutes. Tavin Cummings was 5 for 5 in the field, scoring 15 in 15 minutes.

The Mavericks are on a six-game winning streak going into the All-Star break.