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
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
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
Frederick Carroll September 22, 1942 ~ April 2, 2022 Visitation: Wednesday April 13, 2022 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM Heavenly Gates, 1339 Jewell St. Shreveport Services: Thursday April 14, 2022 11:00 AM New Bethel MBC, 3300 Greenwood Rd Shreveport
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
Portia Benson December 24, 1937 ~ April 4, 2022 Visitation: 11 to 6 p.m. Monday at Heavenly Gates Services: 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Fairview Methodist Church
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
CHAMPIONSHIP CALIBER: Shreveporter Meredith Duncan had a sensational playing career in golf, and has become championship-winning coach for her alma mater, Byrd High School.
By HARRIET PROTHRO PENROD, Journal Sports
Just because someone is a successful athlete does not mean that person would be a successful coach. In fact, the odds are against it, according to Sian Beilock Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of Chicago.
For sure, there have been great players who made great coaches. But the rule of thumb, according to Beilock, is that many of the top athletes are rarely able to communicate how they are so talented.
Put Meredith Duncan in the “rare” category – the category of successful athletes who transition to successful coaches because they have the ability to communicate with their players. Even with her success, however, coaching wasn’t always on her radar. She kind of happened, or “backed,” into it.
Following her career at LSU – where she was one of the most successful golfers in school history (more on that later) – Duncan played on the LPGA Tour from 2003-2012. It was in 2012 that she had to make a decision.
“My back was getting bad,” says Duncan. “Once I had played a long time, my body and the money started running out. It’s hard to keep going when that happens.”
She didn’t give up easily, however. After spending three months at the Illinois Back Institute, she knew it was time for something else. “I had to get things sorted out,” she says of that time. “I told myself that after a while, I’ve got to make money. I’ve got to figure something out. There’s a lot more to life than chasing a little white ball.”
It was about this time that Duncan started substitute teaching and helping out with the girls’ basketball team at her alma mater, Byrd High School, where she played both basketball and golf. It was there that she helped lead the Lady Jackets to runner-up finishes in state championships in both basketball and golf in 1997 and 1998.
Byrd girls’ basketball coach Toni Martinez encouraged Duncan to “come hang out with the girls.”
That’s all it took. “After being around the basketball program again, I said, ‘I miss this,’” recalls Duncan. It wasn’t long after getting her teaching certificate that Duncan became not only an assistant coach on the girls’ basketball team and pep squad sponsor but also, of course, the head coach of both the boys’ and girls’ golf teams.
If mere success as an athlete was all that was required to be a good coach, Duncan would qualify – easily. Just a few of her accomplishments include:
U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion (2001)
Western Women’s Amateur Champion three times (2000-2002)
Women’s North-South Amateur Champion (2001)
First-Team All-SEC (2000-2002)
First-Team All-American (2002)
SEC Academic Honor Roll (2000-2002)
Three collegiate wins (2001-2002)
Winner of the Nancy Lopez Award as the nation’s top junior
Winner of the Diana Shore Award from the LPGA as the nation’s top collegiate golfer
Member of the U.S. Curtis Cup Team (2002)
Duncan ended her college career with the best single-season and career stroke average in LSU women’s golf history. In 2019, she became the second women’s golfer at LSU to be inducted into the LSU Athletics Hall of Fame. There was even a proclamation of “Meredith Duncan Day” by Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster on August 25, 2001.
When asked to name her top memories from her college years, winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur is at the top of the list, along with the relationships she shared – and continues to share – with her LSU teammates.
Top on the list from junior golf? That one is easy. “Any tournament that I got to go with my granddad,” Duncan says of Oree Marsalis, her grandfather, a well-known local golfer who passed away in 2001.
In addition to her grandfather, Duncan credits LSU coach Karen Bahnsen with helping her hone her skills on the golf course. Oh yeah, and her mom, Debbie Duncan, who is a three-time state amateur golf champion.
As hard as it is to relay success as a competitor to success as a coach, Meredith Duncan seems to have defied the odds. While she will always remember the feeling she got after winning the U.S. Women’s Amateur, nothing is quite like watching her high school golfers hoist the state championship trophy. Both her boys’ and girls’ teams came from behind to win state championships in 2019.
“It was a gutsy performance from both teams,” says Duncan, who just turned 42. “Team wins definitely outweigh the individual stuff. When you can get a bunch of teenagers to work together with and for each other to accomplish the same goal, it’s just amazing to see.
“Knowing that something I said or something I might have taught them or the fact that they listened — when I thought maybe they weren’t — and used it to succeed makes me proud.”
For more than a decade, Tiger Woods seemed invincible. For a couple of decades, the presence of Woods on a leaderboard made most of his fellow competitors wilt. This week, they were in awe at the fact he could simply tee it up at Augusta National Golf Club.
My, how things have changed.
There was a time when a broken leg and a torn ACL didn’t stop Woods — not just from playing, but winning.
In 2008, Woods limped his way to an incredible victory at the U.S. Open. After a spectacular birdie on the 72nd hole at Torrey Pines, Woods was forced to play another 18 holes on two stress fractures and a torn ACL, but he still managed to top Rocco Mediate.
The 2022 Masters was a different story.
Thursday, Woods made his first start since a serious car accident nearly 14 months ago. With a first-round 71, he found a spot in the top 10 and set the stage for what would have been the greatest sports story in many of our lifetimes.
But, Woods isn’t invincible anymore. The effects of the litany of injuries in his right leg were just too much to overcome.
Rust began to surface during Friday’s 74. On Saturday, it was obvious his leg wasn’t ready for 72 holes around the extremely undulating Augusta National Golf Club. Sunday was sad and hard to watch. Not Woods’ second straight 78, but how he barely managed to walk up the 18th hole.
The way he shifted his hips to collect enough momentum to get up the final fairway, the gimp … it all made what he accomplished over the first 54 holes even more amazing.
However, one thing remains clear: it doesn’t matter if it’s bulletproof Tiger or vulnerable Tiger, he still moves the needle more than any other current athlete.
Just ask Bubba Watson. Following his final round Sunday, the two-time winner of the Green Jacket was asked about his favorite memory of the event – 10 years removed from his last victory there.
“Truthfully, it’s the inspiration of Tiger. Tiger — forget score. I don’t care,” Watson said. “He might not say that to the media, but forget score, right? It’s pretty inspirational.”
Amazingly, Woods did tell the media, something impossible during his prime.
Woods’ career has been defined by victories. Real victories, as in sitting at the top of the leaderboard. For a champion of 93 PGA Tour events, moral victories didn’t exist. A 47th-place effort at Augusta wouldn’t solicit any emotion but anger.
However, perhaps as shocking as his opening-round performance was an answer he gave in the subsequent news conference.
“Was this the equivalent of a victory to you, just showing up and being able to compete like you did?” Woods was asked.
His simple response: “Yes.”
I loved merciless Tiger, but this softer side ain’t bad, either.
In a career that’s unfortunately featured many long layoffs, Woods’ answer proves this comeback has been the most challenging.
A year-plus of PGA Tour inactivity and his often-battered 46-year-old body may have as much to do with Woods’ fragility at The Masters than the injuries sustained in the car accident. And that’s not a bad thing. It means there’s hope we can see Tiger parlay the vulnerability and the ferociousness again someday – something even greater than the 2019 Masters.
World No. 2 Jon Rahm was paired with Woods on Sunday, but Rahm considered himself just another member of the huge gallery following the 15-time major champion.
“If he can walk and get strength up and stamina in that sense, he will be able to be competitive again,” Rahm said. “This is the hardest walk all year. He will be able to go somewhere where it’s a little easier to walk. It won’t be as long, and I believe he’ll be able to contend.”
I’ll take it. It’s clear I’m not the only one who is just not ready for Tiger to ride off into the sunset.
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Parkway junior guard Mikaylah Williams (12) was named the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 5A Girls Basketball All-State Team.
JOURNAL STAFF
Parkway’s Mikaylah Williams has been named the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 5A Girls Basketball All-State team selected by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.
Williams, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, was the floor leader for a Parkway squad that finished 33-3 and state runners-up in the Class 5A tournament. She helped lead the team to the school’s first state basketball championship game by averaging 22.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3. assists and 2.2 steals.
This award comes on the heels of already being named this year’s Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year.
She is ranked as the No. 1 prospect of the 2023 recruiting class by HoopGurlz and ProspectsNation.com and is a finalist of the Naismith Award as the nation’s top high school player.
Named to the second team from Shreveport-Bossier was Southwood’s Jermesha Frierson. The 5-foot-6 junior averaged 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds in helping the Lady Cowboys to a 24-11 record and the 5A state quarterfinals.
Parkway’s Chloe Larry was an honorable mention selection.
Krystal Flowers of McKinley was named the Girls’ Coach of the Year.
Zachary’s Jalen Bolden was named the Boys’ Most Outstanding Player. Josh Carlin of Northshore was selected the Boys’ Coach of the Year.
No local players made the 10-member 5A boys All-State list, but Kyron Reed of Captain Shreve, Mar’Quarius Johnson of Southwood, Greg Manning from Benton, and two Haughton standouts – KJ Allen and Laythan Delaney, did receive honorable mention recognition.
The Shreveport Mudbugs still have two games left in the 2021-22 season, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the playoffs – especially when the future opponent is the Lone Star Brahmas.
The Mudbugs’ split this weekend against Corpus Christi locked them into the fourth position in the North American Hockey League’s South Division. Saturday, the Brahmas clinched the South title and set up a first-round matchup with Shreveport (Lone Star will host Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-5 series on April 22-23. Tickets are on sale through the Brahmas).
Friday, the Mudbugs scored two first-period goals and then held off a couple of rallies by the Rays to win 6-3 at The George. Saturday, Shreveport’s Austin Brimmer struck first, but Corpus Christi rattled off four straight goals to earn a split.
Shreveport coach Jason Campbell gave some starters a break against Corpus Christi and will continue to mix it up as the Mudbugs close the regular season with a pair of home games against El Paso.
“We’re going to try to find a real healthy mix of preparing for the playoff all while giving guys a night off if needed,” Campbell told The Journal. “Nobody is getting two games off or anything like that, because we need to prepare for some intense competition the following weekend.”
El Paso will enter The George with just one win in its previous 25 games.
“We have to be prepared,” Campbell said. “We’re not overlooking El Paso because if you don’t bring a competitive edge that’s when things can go bad – you can get hurt. (El Paso) will compete hard, so we have to do the same thing. At the same time, we can practice preparing for Lone Star. There will be a lot of cross-training.”
Bobak gets weekend off
One of the hottest goaltenders in the North American Hockey League, Devon Bobak, got some much-deserved rest against Corpus Christi. Simon Bucheler started both games between the pipes and earned the victory on Friday with a 26-save effort.
Game-winner watch
Timofei Khokhlachev has enjoyed a wonderful career with the Mudbugs. If not for being stuck in Russia during the COVID season (2020-21), he would likely have the record for most games played by an NAHL Mudbug. Nevertheless, “Koko” leads the franchise record for game-winning goals (nine). However, teammate Connor Gatto is on his heels with eight. Gatto is in a three-way tie for the team lead (four) this season.
Journal’s 3 Stars
1. Hayden Nichol, after 44 games without a goal this season, the Brentwood, Tennessee product scored twice in Friday’s victory. Nichol is the son of Scott Nichol, who played 662 games in the NHL
2. Austin Brimmer, collected three assists Friday and scored early in Saturday’s affair
3. Burke Simpson, three points (G, 2A) Friday
NAHL South Division standings
x-Lone Star (36-12-10), 82 points *New Mexico (36-17-5), 77 *Wichita Falls (34-16-8), 76 *Shreveport (33-20-5), 71 Odessa (29-24-5), 63 Amarillo (26-28-4), 56 Corpus Christi (25-30-3), 53 El Paso (14-40-4), 32
Parkway’s seven first-inning runs were more than enough to defeat Airline Saturday in the Panthers’ 13-0 win at home Saturday in a District 1-5A baseball game.
The Panthers’ win along with Benton’s 15-2 win at Captain Shreve puts the Panthers, Tigers and Vikings in a 3-way tie for first at 7-2.
Cade Josting pitched the five-inning shutout, allowing three hits. He walked two and struck out one for Parkway (15-11).
Zach Schoenborn and Barrett Newman were both 3-for-3, with a double, and each scored three runs. Tanner Kirkland went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Ashton Martin 2-for-3 with 3 RBI. Trenton Lape also had a double and along with Cameron Fink and Shawn Driggers had two RBI for the Panthers.
Carson Carey was 2-for-2 and Harrison Waxley had a double to account for the Vikings’ three hits.
BENTON 15, CAPTAIN SHREVE 2: At Captain Shreve, the Tigers had 13 hits and took advantage of eight walks. Hudson Brignac, Josh Sanchez, Cole Weir, Brady Blaylock and Cade Stewart all had multiple hits with Brignac leading the pack with three. Ty Knippers and Blaylock had the only extra-base hits for Benton (15-9) with doubles. Preston Hill picked up the win going five innings, allowing five hits, two unearned runs, walked none and he struck out two. Blake Fant was the lone Gator with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
HAUGHTON 10, SOUTHWOOD 0: Caleb Brown tossed a five-inning no-hitter as the Bucs improved to 18-6, 5-4 in 1-5A with the win at home. Parker Lowrie led an 11-hit Haughton attack with a 3-for-3 day. Colin Rains, Roman Tolbert (double), Nick Hensley all had two hits.
BYRD 8, NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL 5: At Natchitoches, the Yellow Jackets got a solid outing on the mound from Dawson Meeks and a six-run first inning to hold off the Chiefs. Meeks worked five innings, allowing three runs, six hits, walking three as he struck out six. Brooks Brossette and Connor Pierce were both 2-for-3, and Pierce had a double and three RBI for Byrd (12-12).
LOYOLA 13, LAKESIDE 8: The Flyers scored six runs in the sixth inning and held on for the win to move to 17-10 on the season. Reagan Coyle drove in five runs with a 3-for-4 day at the plate. Konnor O’Neal and Peyton Thomas both singled and doubled with O’Neal driving in two runs. O’Neal got the win on the mound, his first decision on the season. William Soignier and Chandler Carnahan also had doubles for Loyola.
CALVARY 1-10, PARKVIEW BAPTIST 0-16: The Cavaliers got a first-game shutout from Blaine Rogers but couldn’t keep up in the second game in a split of the doubleheader at Calvary. Rogers allowed just three hits in seven innings, as he walked one and struck out eight. Aubrey Hermes hit a seventh-inning home run for the only run of the game. Caden Flowers was 3-for-4 in the second game as the Cavs pounded out 12 hits. Hutch Grace had a double and home run, Logan Fontenot had two doubles and three RBI and Cody VanNoppen two hits with a double. The split of the two games gives Calvary and Parkview identical records at 15-12.
FRIDAY
NORTH DESOT0 8, EVANGEL 4: At Stonewall, the host Griffins scored six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to hand the Eagles their first District 1-4A loss on the season in four games. Northwood leads the district at 4-0, North DeSoto is 2-1 in district, 22-4 overall after the win. Caleb Lenard was 2-for-3 with a double and Isaac Erickson had a double for Evangel (13-11).
Benton’s Lady Tigers finished the weekend with a pair of softball tournament wins defeating Evangel 19-3 and Logansport 12-0.
Ava Defee pitched a six-inning one-hit shutout in Saturday’s defeat of Logansport. She walked two and struck out 10.
Meaux Carroll doubled and tripled, while Sophia Livers was 2-for-3 with a triple and scored three runs. Christina Gegg added a double and three RBI for Benton (19-8).
Megan Risher led the blowout of Evangel on Friday with two hits that included a home run and collected five RBI. Livers had two doubles and two RBI, Carroll a single and double, an RBI and she scored four runs.
Southwood also went 2-0 winning a pair of games Saturday defeating Grace Christian 11-5 and Kilbourne 17-0. Brooke Fielder had a big day in the two games going 6-for-7, with two doubles and seven RBI. Anicia Taylor was 4-for-4 in the two games with a double and home run and five RBI. Kristah Banano was 3-for-3 with five RBI in win over Kilbourne.
Captain Shreve picked up a win in three games defeating Saline 19-4 on Friday before dropping games to West Monroe 13-0 and 6-5 to Ebarb on Saturday.
Brianna Jones was 2-for-3 with a grand slam and five RBI in Friday’s win. Aubry Townsend had two hits with a triple and three RBI and Marina Elkins added two hits.
The Lady Gators took a 5-4 lead into the seventh inning before losing to Ebarb. Mikle-Ann Ricardo was 3-for-3 and Nora Falcon 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Ricardo went the distance in the circle giving up nine hits, six runs and she struck out 15.
Northwood lost two games on Saturday to D’Arbonne Woods 9-4 and Oak Hill 11-1 after dropping one Friday to Buckeye 6-4.
The Lady Falcons outhit Buckeye 10-5 but committed four errors and allowed five unearned runs in the loss. Hailey McKnight was 2-for4, Hannah Ward 2-for-3 and Lilly Cooper 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Addyson Hemphill had two of the Lady Falcons’ four hits in the loss to Oak Hill.
McKnight had another 2-for-4 game with a double and Ward homered and drove in three of the four runs in the loss to D’Arbonne.
Airline dropped a pair of high-scoring games, losing to Grant 16-14 on Friday and 9-5 to Notre Dame on Saturday.
The Lady Vikes had 14 hits, six for extra bases Friday. Jina Baffuto and Paris Endris both had three hits with Endris hitting two home runs and Baffuto a home run and double. Paige Marshall tripled and singled and Elena Heng doubled and single. Baffuto, Heng and Endris all drove in three runs.
In the Vikings’ loss to Notre Dame, Natalie Sutton singled and homered, Endris had a double and two RBI and Emily Rachal was 2-for-3.
CAUGHT QUICKLY: Sophomore Dylan Fluellen (purple) is taken down after one of his three catches in Northwestern State’s 31st Joe Delaney Bowl spring game Saturday.
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES — It was apparent from the stands, where families and fans couldn’t help but notice.
It was obvious to the Demon Brothers, the former players gathered under tents behind the south end zone.
It was palpable on the field at Turpin Stadium throughout the nearly two-hour 31st Annual Joe Delaney Bowl spring football game – especially during a brief, benches-clearing skirmish early in the action.
With new coordinators among six new assistant coaches, there’s a significant uptick in the energy and intensity around the Northwestern State football team, which wrapped up spring drills Saturday afternoon with something for everyone.
The offense scored 37 points.
The defense came up with four turnovers.
There were only six penalties in 110 snaps from scrimmage.
And there was that intrasquad scrap …
“I hated that happened in front of everybody,” said fifth-year head coach Brad Laird, who really didn’t. It was the spring game, after all. And it quickly disintegrated with no harm (and no penalties or ejections; save those for the fall).
“These coaches, these players, they want to win. I wouldn’t want ‘em any other way,” he said, chuckling at a description of the “chippy” nature of the game. “I don’t mind holding them back, pulling them back. With this coaching staff, they understand what this team has to do to be successful, and that’s play hard and be exceptionally competitive.
“We didn’t cross the line out there, well, except that one time,” said Laird.
“We’re very passionate about this. We believe in everything that’s changed, both sides of the ball,” said senior safety P.J. Herrington. “It fits us a lot better, considering how fast we are. The offense is getting very explosive. We’ve got a lot of weapons added.
“So it’s going to be intense. We’re going to get after each other. Sometimes we might get carried away, but once we’re back in the locker room, it’s all family, and we’re going to laugh and talk about it.”
There was plenty to talk about between the whistles.
Junior Javon Antonio provided a highlight reel, to no surprise, as the 2020 All-Southland pick had 102 receiving yards on five catches, including a 19-yard score from returning starting quarterback Zachary Clement (20-37-2, 270 yards, 2 TDs), a sophomore. Senior QB Kaleb Fletcher (17-30, 137 yards) was precise with his game-ending eight-yard TD to junior college transfer Andy Pierre-Antione.
Senior linebacker Race Moser led everybody with five tackles and added a fumble recovery. Defensive end JaBralen Yarber, a junior, posted two sacks. Herrington broke up three passes, as did another veteran DB, senior William Hooper. Sophomore punter Scotty Roblow, a Byrd High product and All-Southland performer, pinned the offense repeatedly with booming spirals.
Shreveporter Patrick Netherton has been calling NSU games on the Demon Sports Network since 2003, and every spring and preseason, he’s spent plenty of time on the field alongside the coaches watching scrimmages. His biggest takeaway from this Delaney Bowl?
“The energy level was a lot higher in the spring. Coaches were bringing a lot, players were bringing a lot, players were encouraging each other … there was more of that than I’ve seen in quite a while,” said Netherton. “I saw a lot I liked, both sides of the ball, but overall the high energy was the element that stood out.”
COOKING RICE: Louisiana Tech pitcher Ryan Jennings struck out 14 Rice hitters Saturday to highlight the Bulldogs’ three-game Conference USA sweep of the Owls in Ruston.
JOURNAL STAFF
RUSTON – Former Byrd High products Jonathan Fincher and Steele Netterville led Louisiana Tech to a 3-1 win Sunday against Rice as the Bulldogs completed the series sweep.
Fincher (6-1) tossed six scoreless innings with seven hits and four strikeouts in his third straight dominant start as the Bulldogs (23-10, 9-3 C-USA) remained in second place in Conference USA.
Netterville homered for the second straight game as his third-inning solo shot padded Tech’s lead to 3-0.
“It’s a sweep, but we left way too many runners out there,” said Tech head coach Lane Burroughs. “We had three great starts this weekend.
“Fincher was really good. We needed a great start out of him, and he gave it to us. Steele was able to get on one and hit a home run. I’m proud of our defense we didn’t make any errors and we didn’t all weekend.”
The Bulldogs jumped out quickly in this one as they scored the first two runs of the game with two outs in the first. Cole McConnell delivered an RBI double and Walker Burchfield followed up with a single to bring the second run home.
Right-hander Jarret Whorff came out of the bullpen in the seventh throwing two perfect innings in relief of Fincher. Whorff struck out three of the six batters he faced.
Kyle Crigger came on to pitch the ninth inning. Crigger allowed the first two men to reach base, giving up one earned run. The Bulldog closer earned his sixth save as he struck out two after the run came across.
On Saturday, Netterville’s two-run home run was part of a four-run fifth inning as Tech answered three early runs from Rice to race to a 9-3 win. Pitcher Ryan Jennings struck out 14 in the win.
The Bulldogs opened quickly Friday with a three-run home run from Walker Burchfield to crank up a 5-3 win in the opener.
Tech completed its fourth conference sweep of the season. The Bulldogs entertain Northwestern State in a midweek tussle in Ruston on Tuesday before hitting the road to Marshall for a C-USA series starting Friday.
LSU: The Tigers didn’t have any problems finding their broom as LSU (23-9, 7-5) completed the sweep of Mississippi State on Sunday with a 13-3 win.
Josh Pearson homered twice and collected five RBIs to finish off the Bulldogs (18-15, 4-8), who also dropped decisions of 5-2 and 4-3.
GRAMBLING: After the Tigers unleashed their bats with 34 combined runs in the first two wins against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Lions returned the favor Sunday.
UAPB took the finale 17-7 on 18 hits to avoid the sweep. The Lions broke away from a 6-6 tie with an eight-run sixth inning.
GSU (13-9, 8-4 SWAC) started the series with wins of 14-3 and 20-10 to capture its third series win of the season.
NORTHWESTERN STATE: The visiting Demons couldn’t quiet the Incarnate Word offense as the Cardinals completed a three-game sweep Sunday with an 11-4 win.
UIW scored 25 runs in the three wins (8-2 and 6-2 in the first two games) as NSU (15-16, 5-4 SLC) dropped its first league series of the season.
ULM: Troy continued its offensive onslaught Sunday in a 13-10 win as the Trojans swept the Warhawks in Monroe.
The Trojans plated 32 runs on the weekend as ULM (10-19-1, 4-7-1 Sun Belt) has dropped six of its last seven conference games.
The Warhawks lost 7-2 and 12-7 to open the series.
STARTING THE SWEEP: Friday, Lauren Menzina tossed a complete game to lead Louisiana Tech to an 8-3 win over Nicholls State.
JOURNAL SPORTS
RUSTON – Louisiana Tech’s out-of-conference sweep of Nicholls State over the weekend gives the Lady Techsters a six-game winning streak going into this week’s road conference series against North Texas.
Tech (27-15) opened with an 8-3 victory Friday and took the series after edging Nicholls 6-5 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. In the series finale, Emma Hutchinson threw a two-hit shutout en route to Tech’s 8-0 run-rule victory.
NORTHWESTERN STATE: In Corpus Christi, Texas, the Lady Demons closed out their Southland Conference series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with a 5-1 loss on Saturday after splitting Friday’s doubleheader with the Islanders.
NSU (24-15, 6-3 C-USA) went up 1-0 in the third on Keely Dubois’ sacrifice fly, but the lead was short-lived as the Islanders (14-22, 2-4) came back with a five-run third inning.
In Friday’s series opener, freshman Sage Hoover set a new NSU single-game strikeout record with 18 strikeouts in a 12-inning, 2-1 victory over the Islanders. The Lady Demons fell 4-3 in game two on Friday.
CENTENARY: In Georgetown, Texas, the Ladies fell to Southwestern University 3-1 in Sunday’s rubber game of the three-game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series.
Centenary (10-15, 4-11 SCAC) fell to the Pirates (10-22, 5-10 SCAC) 1-0 in game one Saturday but came back with a 3-2 victory in game two.
On Sunday, each team scored a run in the first inning but the Pirates scored a pair in the fifth to take the lead.
ULM: After taking the first two games to win the Sun Belt Conference series at home against Texas State, ULM dropped Sunday’s series closer 4-1.
Victoria Abrams (6-4) took the loss for ULM, giving up three earned runs and five hits while striking out five in 3.1 innings.
ULM (20-16, 6-9 Sun Belt) scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie and held off a Texas State rally to take a 5-4 victory in game one on Friday, marking the program’s 1,000th win. In game two on Saturday, ULM topped the Bobcats (21-17, 7-8) with a 10-2 run-rule victory in six innings.
LSU: In College Station, Texas, the Lady Tigers captured the first two games of their Southeastern Conference series against Texas A&M before falling 5-4 in Sunday’s finale.
A pair of home runs that drove in four total runs was the difference in game three as the Lady Aggies (24-14, 3-9 SEC) avoided being swept. No. 21 LSU (24-16, 5-7 SEC) took game one 2-1 on Friday and followed with an 11-8 victory in game two on Saturday.
GRAMBLING: In Houston, Grambling dropped its Southwestern Athletic Conference series to Texas Southern. GSU (18-17, 5-10 SWAC) fell in Friday’s opener 12-2 and followed with an 8-1 loss to TSU (15-17, 12-3 SWAC) in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
The Lady Tigers came back to notch a 2-1 victory. In game one on Friday, Texas Southern exploded with 10 runs in the fifth inning. Faith McQueary and India Wells had RBI singles to score the Lady Tigers’ only runs.
BOSSIER PARISH COMMUNITY COLLEGE: After extending their win streak to 14 games with 13-1 and 6-4 victories at Baton Rouge Community College in two games on Friday, BPCC saw the streak end on Saturday.
The Lady Cavaliers (27-9 overall) fell at LSU-Eunice 8-7 and 10-3 in a non-conference doubleheader. BPCC is 13-1 in NJCAA Region XIV play.
A second-half turnaround helped the Shreveport Mavericks vanquish the Dallas Skyline 118-105 on Friday night at Centenary’s Gold Dome in The Basketball League action.
After trailing by 10 points, 56-46, at halftime, the Mavericks went on furious comeback that was a 23-point turnout.
Ty Jordan, Larry Robinson, Jamal Brantley and Paul Harrison all had six points in the pivotal third quarter when the Mavs outscored the Skyline 32-16 to lead 78-72 entering the fourth quarter.
A Jordan 3-pointer with a little more than five minutes left in the third quarter put Shreveport ahead for good 67-64. A Robinson floater in the lane and another 3 from Jordan gave the Mavericks a 72-64 advantage.
Paul Parks scored 15 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter. DeAndre McIntyre contributed 11 of his 13 points in the fourth quarter, both Parks and McIntyre had all three of their 3s in the fourth period.
The Skyline’s top players in the game were DK Richardson with 20 points and Elton Dyer with 19 points.
The next Mavericks home game will be on March 22 when they play the Beaumont Panthers at the Gold Dome.
Airline at Ouachita Christian Byrd at D’Arbonne Woods Zwolle at Captain Shreve Haughton at Florien Parkway at Converse Carroll at Southwood North Caddo at Evangel Ebarb at Northwood Woodlawn vs. Wossman Loyola at River Oaks
Tuesday
College Baseball
Northwestern St. at Louisiana Tech, 6 p.m. ULM at Jackson St., 6 p.m. Lamar at LSU, 6:30 p.m.
College Softball
Northwestern St. at Grambling St., 3 p.m.
High School Baseball
Parkway at Airline Captain Shreve at Benton Haughton at Southwood Natchitoches Central at Byrd Huntington at Northwood Woodlawn at North DeSoto Loyola at Bossier
High School Softball
Calvary at Benton Byrd at North Caddo Stanley at Parkway Southwood at River Oaks Caddo Magnet at Green Oaks, DH Evangel at Quitman Huntington at Wossman Zwolle at Northwood
Note: The above schedule is subject to cancellations or reschedule
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
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
Portia Benson December 24, 1937 ~ April 4, 2022 Visitation: 11 to 6 p.m. Monday at Heavenly Gates Services: 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2022 at Fairview Methodist Church
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
NOT PICTURE PERFECT: Sam Burns’ tee shot on the iconic 16th hole at Augusta National found a sand trap Thursday and led to his final bogey in the Shreveport native’s first competitive round at the Masters.
By ROY LANG III, Journal Sports
More than any other tournament in professional golf, outside of a few examples, experience is a prerequisite for success at The Masters. That’s just the way it usually is.
A look at the names on the leaderboard following Thursday’s first round at Augusta National Golf Club prove this once again.
Leader Sungae Im (5 under) finished tied for second in 2020 with Cameron Smith, who sits one stroke behind Im after Thursday. A trio of former champions (Danny Willett and Dustin Johnson, third; Tiger Woods, 10th) reside in the Top 10 after 18 holes.
Shreveport native Sam Burns, one of the hottest players on the planet in the past 10 months, entered Thursday without a competitive round in The Masters. His struggle shouldn’t come as a surprise.
The former Calvary Baptist Academy and LSU star was 1-under through three holes in his competitive debut at Augusta National, but a bogey on No. 4 and a double bogey on No. 5 derailed his afternoon en route to a 3-over 75.
Burns’ home course, Squire Creek Country Club, in Choudrant has similar characteristics as Augusta — wide fairways, significant elevation changes, sidehill lies all over, and extremely undulating greens, but there’s just no substitute for the real thing.
Hey, Woods’ first trips around the historic venue didn’t exactly paint a picture of what was to come. Woods didn’t break par in any round during his 1995 debut. He missed the cut in 1996 and shot 40 on his opening nine holes in 1997. Of course, he then torched Augusta to the tune of 24-under over his final 63 holes in a mind-boggling rout.
As a teenager, Burns saw Augusta during a practice round, but didn’t get to play until a trip with his father, Todd, a month ago.
“It was really special for us,” Burns, who has won three times on the PGA Tour in the past year, said. “We were both blown away by just the property in general. It was definitely a moment for me that I’ll never forget, getting to walk around with my dad for the first time and getting to play.”
Whether it was Tiger’s chip-in on No. 16 in 2005 or Bubba Watson’s 2012 miracle from the trees on No. 10, Burns’ spent his first trips around Augusta reliving those moments and seeing exactly where they were created.
“I was like, ‘Wow, that was really impressive.’ When you see it up close and personal, it kind of changes your perspective on things,” Burns said Tuesday.
Thursday offered him the first opportunity to create such a moment. He birdied three of the par-5s (Nos. 2, 8 and 13), but will look again for a game-changing moment in today’s second round.
“This week it’s about trying to learn the golf course as much as I can,” Burns said. “There’s a lot of nuances to this place, and for me it’s trying to gain information from guys who have been here a bunch, or guys that have played well in the past here — so just trying to take all of that in and kind of process it.”
Today, Burns will get his second shot at the beloved venue as his grouping with Abraham Ancer and Tyrrell Hatton tees off at 9:01 a.m. (CDT).
Sports writers look back on their careers and like to brag that they were “there at Game 7” or covered “one of the great championships of all time.”
No one says much about the clunkers. The duds. The I-would-have-been-better-off-staying-home events.
Welcome to my Masters experience.
I share a theoretical office space at the Shreveport-Bossier Journal with my boys Roy Lang III and Teddy Allen, who have been to the Masters so many times that they have voting privileges in Augusta. They could go on the banquet circuit and regale everyone with their memories of great Masters moments they have seen.
Meanwhile, I’m stuck with the memory of covering the worst Masters ever.
Fred Couples having a ball miraculously not roll back into Rae’s Creek on No. 12? I was one year late. Ben Crenshaw’s emotional second green jacket or Greg Norman’s choke job on the back nine? Just missed them, too.
The signature moment from the Masters I covered? Chip Beck laying up on the 15th hole because he wanted to make sure he came in second. Don’t you remember that riveting walk up the 18th fairway by eventual winner Bernhard Langer? I don’t, and I was there.
At least I think I was. I might have been asleep by then.
About a month earlier, Kent Heitholt, the late sports editor of the Shreveport Times, asked me which event I’d like to cover – the Final Four in New Orleans or the Masters. It wasn’t a hard choice for me since I had already covered two Final Fours. Kent loved going to Augusta, so for him to throw me that bone was pretty awesome.
So Kent went to the Final Four and was courtside when Michigan’s Chris Webber famously called a time out the Wolverines didn’t have. It’s certainly one of the Top 10 moments in Final Four history.
A week later, I’m writing about how some Australian named Brett Ogle couldn’t find a bathroom on the entire course and so he had to relieve himself behind the bushes on the 13th tee. But I did follow that up with a Pulitzer-worthy story about how Jay Don Blake — you remember him, right? — had a Playboy sponsorship on his bag.
Langer went on to win the 1993 Masters by four strokes, meaning that I got to see the most one-sided win in 10 years. Beck held on for second, which apparently is all he wanted to do anyway.
By the way, I was also there one of the years that the azaleas didn’t bloom. The one time in my life I cared about flora and I got a no-show.
But I don’t want to leave the impression that it was a miserable experience. Far from it. I remember eating Easter lunch on the second story balcony of the clubhouse. Not a lot of people can check that box.
They used to have elevated towers as a vantage point for the press, so I walked down to the one by the 11th green and 12th hole and just posted up in that perch for hours and took it all in.
I came up with a great story idea and failed to act upon it. Gene Sarazen, who was 91 years old at the time, was one of the honorary starters on Thursday morning that year, but all he did was hit a tee shot, take a right turn and head for the locker room. So why did he have a caddy? I wanted to interview that guy under the category of World’s Easiest Job.
As it turned out, within the next month that caddy had one more job than I did. The newspaper and I had a bit of a disagreement and guess who won? They were Bernhard Langer.
NOT ALL ABOARD: The likenesses of LHSAA players on business-sponsored billboards is a sign of the NIL times — though not all agree a good one.
By JERRY BYRD JR., Journal Sports
Got Gordon?
Parkway’s star basketball player Mikaylah Williams appears to be on board – at least, she’s shown on a billboard. The marketing team of Baton Rouge-based attorney Gordon McKernan put Williams on a billboard on Sligo Road in Bossier City.
It reads, “Congratulations MK on a great season!,” and features a posed photo of both the Lady Panthers star and the McKernan firm’s brand. It has been up for a couple of weeks.
Sources with the LHSAA said that McKernan’s staff told the organization that they did not pay Williams to be on the billboard, but LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine told The Baton Rouge Advocate that he did receive calls about it. The LHSAA also said it received calls asking if healthcare organizations could pay LHSAA student-athletes for doing public service announcements on vaccinations. Bonine told the medical professionals yes, it is permissible.
That led toward the LHSAA releasing a position statement Thursday, which allows for LHSAA student athletes to profit off of their name, image, or likeness (NIL).
Here is the LHSAA’s position statement on NIL:
“LHSAA bylaws do not prohibit student athletes from engaging in certain commercial activities in their individual capacities. These activities, generally referred to as Name, Image and likeness (NIL), will not jeopardize a student athlete’s amateur status if the student athlete complies with LHSAA Bylaw 1.25 on “Maintaining Amateur Status” as well as all LHSAA Bylaws, policies, and regulations. Compliance with LHSAA Bylaws regarding NIL does not ensure maintenance of eligibility under the eligibility standards of other governing athletic organizations (e.g. NCAA, NAIA, NJCAA, national sport governing bodies, etc.). Student athletes desiring information on the amateur rules of other governing organizations should consult with those organizations.”
“As an education-based association, I think it is imperative that everyone associated with high school athletics in Louisiana is properly educated and informed on Name, Image, and Likeness,” said Bonine.
NIL expert Randy Eccker, the CEO and Founder of Eccker Sports, presented to the LHSAA’s executive committee on Wednesday ahead of the LHSAA’s Thursday press release. The presentation to the committee outlined an educational program, which includes modules for LHSAA athletic directors and principals for educational purposes.
“Our goal is to guide, inform and protect high school students and their families to help them thrive on their NIL journey,” Eccker said. “By taking a proactive, impartial, and non-exploitive approach, we believe coaches, administrators, student-athletes, and their parents will be in a much better position to avoid trouble and succeed in this rapidly changing arena. We are proud to partner with the LHSAA and are eager to bring these important resources to the entire state of Louisiana.”
Across the nation, there have been inconsistencies concerning how state athletic associations have addressed NIL. According to the LHSAA press release, eight states have laws permitting athletes to profit off their NIL, while 16 states are moving toward adoption of new laws, and 26 states have prohibited student-athletes from profiting from NIL.
Loyola College Prep principal Johnny LeBlanc, who serves on the LHSAA’s Executive Committee, sees it as a way for student-athletes to use their social media following for their personal benefit, but he is concerned that it could turn high school athletics into a case of the “haves versus the have nots.”
At least one local athletic director and coach was flatly disappointed.
“I think it’s a terrible move by the LHSAA,” Northwood head football coach and athletic director Austin Brown said. “There was a line, it was somewhat a little blurred. I think that line is gone. I think we have dived into the water now, and there is no coming back. If this goes all the way through, you cannot say it’s for the love of the game anymore – at any level. It’s very disheartening for the future of high school athletics.”
Brown said the LHSAA announcement came out of nowhere and has caught him and his peers in the coaching profession off guard.
“Usually in the coaching ranks, you hear whispers,” Brown said. “You hear this or that, or people are trying to round up votes or support, and I didn’t hear a whisper. This came out of nowhere and we have dived in the water. We didn’t dip our toe in the water. Now, we’ve got to try to survive and not drown in the pool we’re in right now.”
STILL IN PURPLE: After 16 seasons coaching alongside Mike McConathy at Northwestern State, former Demons’ associate head coach Jeff Moore (kneeling, center) is LSU’s new basketball recruiting coordinator.
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
It’s been quite a while since anyone recruiting boys basketball players for LSU didn’t have to ask for directions to gyms around Louisiana.
With the hiring of 16-year Northwestern State assistant coach Jeff Moore as recruiting coordinator, the Tigers are getting somebody who’s personally been there, in the bleachers or standing along the baselines.
New LSU coach Matt McMahon announced Moore and the rest of his staff Thursday. The former Murray State coach wants to develop strong relationships with Louisiana high schools, a hallmark of the Demons’ program in 23 seasons under Mike McConathy, who departed NSU on March 14.
“Coach McMahon is a really good guy like coach Mike, and an excellent basketball coach. It’s a pretty easy transition,” said Moore. “And it’s a great opportunity, a perfect fit for me and I think, for LSU.
“He really wants to connect with the high school coaches and do our best job recruiting in Louisiana. He has built a great staff and has a vision to bring championship basketball to LSU on a continuing basis.”
At three of Moore’s five previous coaching stops, including at Northwestern, he recruited and signed the schools’ all-time leading scorers – each of them from Louisiana. During his years with McConathy, Moore recruited the Demons’ career leaders in scoring (Zeek Woodley of Pelican in DeSoto Parish), assists (Bossier High’s Jalan West) and blocked shots (William Mosley from Huntington).
He has recruited extensively throughout Louisiana and Texas, and also widened the Demons’ scope nationally and internationally. He played and coached in the Midwest and has a vast network of coaching contacts around the nation.
“When I was a junior college coach, first as an assistant and then as a head coach, I recruited high level players who went on from our programs to Power Five teams, brand name schools. Having been a JUCO coach gives me great appreciation for that level, and it also taught me how to successfully recruit talented young men from high schools around the country,” he said.
Moore has been quickly reunited with one of LSU’s new signees, former Demon standout Kendal Coleman, a first-team All-Southland player this season. The second-year freshman center prepped at Captain Shreve.
“We’re excited about Kendal. He lives in the gym. He soaks stuff up. The progression he has made each of the past three years has been so impressive, and a result of his work ethic and ability to be coached,” said Moore. “I have no doubt that he will continue to improve and he will thrive at LSU.”
Moore was one of four finalists interviewed to replace McConathy. He and the rest of the fulltime NSU staff were not retained by new Demons’ coach Corey Gipson.
“I’ve worked for the best man in college basketball, Mike McConathy, for 16 years,” said Moore. “I’m blessed to be able to stay in Louisiana and work for another high-caliber person and extremely accomplished coach at our state’s flagship institution.”
DISTRICT CHAMPS: Loyola clinched the District 1-3A championship Friday with a doubleheader sweep of North Webster in Springhill.
By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports
Jayce Gill delivered a walk-off bunt single for Evangel in the ninth inning as the Eagles defeated North DeSoto 3-2 in a District 1-4A baseball game at Evangel.
The win gives Evangel a 3-0 district record, the same as Northwood atop the district standings.
The Eagles manufactured a run in the seventh to tie the game 2-2 and force extra innings. Brock Reedy led off with an infield single, advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a sacrifice bunt. He then scored the tying run on a Caleb Lenard suicide squeeze bunt.
Lenard came on in relief to get the win working 1 1/3 innings, allowing one hit, no runs or walks and he struck out two.
Evangel is 13-10 overall while North DeSoto slips to 20-4, 1-1.
NORTHWOOD 7, MINDEN 1: Christian Blackmon tossed a complete game four-hitter and Cayne Little doubled and tripled as the Falcons stayed undefeated in District 1-4A and tied with Evangel at 3-0 for first place. Little finished 3-for-4 with two RBI and Tucker McCabe added a double. Northwood is 20-6 overall while Minden drops to 12-8, 2-2.
LOYOLA 14-13, NORTH WEBSTER 10-3: At Springhill, the Flyers won the District 1-3A title with the sweep of the Knights. Reagan Coyle was 5-for-8 in the two games with five RBI for Loyola (16-10, 5-0). Chandler Carnahan was 4-for-9 with a double and Konnor O’Neal 3-for-5 with a double. Noble Means (2-1) got the win in the first game and William Soignier (6-3) pitched all five innings of game two and recorded 10 strikeouts for the win.
AIRLINE 9, NATCHITOCHES CENTRAL 3: At Natchitoches, the Vikings used a five-run third inning and three-run sixth to roll past the Chiefs and remain in first place in District 1-5A at 7-1. Three NCHS errors led to three Viking runs in the third inning and Matthew Scripture singled in the last run of the inning. Harrison Waxley came on in relief and pitched the final five innings, allowing one run and three hits. He walked three and struck out four for Airline (14-8).
Carson Carey was 2-for-4 and had a two-run double in the sixth inning when the Vikes added three insurance runs. Carey led Airline with three RBI, Scripture had two hits and two RBI and Cayden Long a double.
Natchitoches Central drops to 14-11, 3-5 with the loss.
BENTON 5, BYRD 2: Bryson Pierce pitched a complete game two-hitter and struck out 12 as the Tigers improved to 14-9 overall and 6-2 in 1-5A. Benton scored four runs in the second inning as Pierce and Kenner Lauterbach had run-scoring singles. Yellow Jacket errors helped the other two runs to score. Byrd got its only two runs in the third inning on a ground out and error to close to within 5-2 but that would be all the scoring in the game. Byrd (11-12, 2-6) third baseman David Favrot had a double for one of the Jackets’ two hits.
PARKWAY 8, SOUTHWOOD 4: The Panthers had 12 hits and five pitchers combined to limit the Cowboys to four hits to improve to 6-2 District 1-5A and 13-11 overall. Zach Schoenborn and Cameron Fink both had two hits that included a double, while Ashton Martin and Tanner Kirkland both had two singles. Barrett Newman doubled and Cade Josting tripled to add to the extra-base hit list for Parkway. Schoenborn had two RBI and eight different Panthers scored runs. Southwood drops to 5-20, 0-8.
CAPTAIN SHREVE 6, HAUGHTON 1: The Gators took advantage of five Buc errors to score four unearned runs and sweep the two-game series. Hunter Willis went the distance for Captain Shreve (11-14, 4-4) scattering six hits. He allowed one run, two walks and struck out three. Haughton (17-6, 4-4) pitcher Austin Anderson had the only extra-base hit in the game with a double and was 3-for-4. On the mound Anderson lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowed five hits, two earned runs of five allowed as he walked two.
GLENBROOK 6, CALVARY 5: At Glenbrook, the Apaches scored a run in the eighth inning to hand the Cavaliers their first District 1-1A loss of the season. Cody VanNoppen was 2-for-3 with a double and Caden Flowers 2-for-4 for Calvary (14-11, 3-1). Glenbrook improves to 12-11, 3-1.
Defending 2A state champion Many scored four runs in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie and defeat Calvary 7-4 in a non-district battle of top-ranked softball teams Thursday at Calvary.
Georgia French hit a two-run home run to highlight the seventh inning for Many (21-5) who is the No. 1 ranked team in the Class 2A power ratings according to Geauxpreps. Calvary is the No. 1 ranked team in Division IV.
Tavia Leadon had two home runs and three RBI for Calvary (18-12). Ramsey Walker was 2-for-3 and Carlie Guile homered.
NORTH DESOTO 13, BENTON 7: The Lady Griffins overcame a 4-1 deficit with six-run fourth and fifth innings to win the non-district game in Stonewall. Five of the Lady Tigers’ six hits in the game went for extra bases and three of them were two-run home runs. Piper Stephens, Kennedy LaPierre and Meaux Carroll all had long balls. Tayler Gonzalez and Sophia Livers had doubles with Livers the only Benton player with multiple hits with the only single. Benton slips to 17-8. North DeSoto goes to 26-5.
CAPTAIN SHREVE 16, LAKESIDE 0: The Lady Gators scored 12 runs in the first inning of the three-inning rout in Sibley. Freshman Aubry Townsend had two doubles in going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Mikel-Ann Ricardo had a single and double and drove in five runs. She also got the win allowing one hit and striking out five of the 10 batters she faced. Maggie Guy, Kayla Currie and Brianna Jones all had two RBI for Shreve (15-10).
HAUGHTON 10, CLAIBORNE CHRISTIAN 4: Brooklynn Bockhaus doubled and homered and Ella Vickers tripled and homered to lead the Lady Bucs to the non-district win at home. Kylie Small was 3-for-3 with a triple and Laney Dobrow had a double for Haughton (15-12).
SOUTHWOOD 12, SUMMERFIELD 2: The Lady Cowboys had 11 hits led by Riley Myers’ three hits and two RBI in the five-inning game at Southwood. McKynzie Smith was 2-for-3, Jayda Martin hit a 3-run home run, Anicia Taylor tripled and Kayla Beckett and Kristah Bananno doubled for Southwood (15-8).
NORTHWOOD 15, CASTOR 7: At Northwood, the Lady Falcons got three hits from Isabelle Wright that included a double and two hits and three RBI from Selena Nunnery and Lilly Cooper. Hailey McKnight was 2-for-3 with four runs scored as Northwood improved to 14-7.
As a 17-year-old, Davis Goukler played just eight games in two stints with the Shreveport Mudbugs during the 2018-19 season.
Three seasons later, Goukler is on the brink of becoming the franchise’s iron man during its North American Hockey League era.
When the Cumming, Ga., product takes the ice tonight against Corpus Christi on George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum, Goulker will set the franchise record for regular-season games played in a Mudbugs’ NAHL sweater.
“Davis is exactly what we look for in our young men during their time here and what they become once it’s time for them to move on,” Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell told The Journal. “As a player, he steadily improved physically and within his game. Davis figured out early the type of defenseman he was and continues to perfect it.”
His 160th appearance will break the mark previously held by Gueorgui Feduolov (2016-19).
“It’s a super cool achievement,” said Goukler, who played those original eight games with Feduolov. “I couldn’t do it without my brothers and teammates along the way. I’m grateful Shreveport’s given me the opportunity to complete that achievement.”
Goukler turns 21 in two weeks (April 22) and has committed to play at the University of Alaska-Anchorage. His plus-8 rating during the 2021 postseason was second to teammate Austin Brimmer (plus-9) during the Mudbugs’ run to a Robertson Cup championship.
“It’s hard to find a better quality person,” Campbell said of Goukler. “(Playing the) most games in Mudbugs history is a great accomplishment and he’s earned every bit of it. However, he’s also given so much of himself to the Shreveport-Bossier community. We ask a lot from our players in this department and he has gone above and beyond every year. He is a perfect example of how we want our players to represent themselves, their families and the Mudbugs.
“Davis will really be missed but are very thankful we had him in a Mudbugs jersey as long as we did.”
For the Mudbugs, this weekend will provide the opportunity to celebrate Goukler’s mark without the pressure of playoff uncertainty.
In last place in the South Division nearly halfway through the season, Shreveport has since won 27 of 36 games to secure its fifth consecutive postseason berth.
“We play here to be champions, not just a couple of games in the regular season,” Goukler said.
Currently in the fourth-and-final playoff spot in the South entering the penultimate series of the season, Shreveport is looking at a first-round matchup with Lone Star. The Mudbugs are three points out of third place, which would likely offer a showdown with New Mexico in the opening round.
Professional Iron Men
Dan Wildfong, now the head coach of rival Lone Star, owns the overall franchise record for regular-season games played (488). Legend Trevor Buchanan is second (466) and current Mudbugs head coach Jason Campbell is third with 431 appearances. Jim Sprott (429) is fourth. Forbes MacPherson and Chris Brassard are tied for fifth (413).
Mudbugs vs. Corpus Christi Friday, Saturday (7:11 p.m) George’s Pond at Hirsch Coliseum Shreveport leads season series 5-1
FINAL EXAM: Saturday morning’s Joe Delaney Bowl spring football game is the last chance until August for head coach Brad Laird to evaluate his team, with new offensive and defensive coordinators and six new full-time assistant coaches.
By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports
NATCHITOCHES – When the Northwestern State football team kicks off the annual Joe Delaney Bowl spring game Saturday morning at 11 in Turpin Stadium, head coach Brad Laird isn’t using a special scoring system.
He’s focusing on “good on good competition” and expecting his troops to compete for four 12-minute quarters in the game.
“We want it to be as game-like as possible, with the exception of some of the kicking game,” he said. “We’re going to have ones vs. ones, twos vs. twos, looking for good on good competition that makes us better.”
In the 15th and final practice session, Laird is eager to have fans and former Demons, in town for the second annual Demon Brothers reunion, get a look at new schemes on both sides of the ball. Six of the eight fulltime assistant coaches are new, headed by offensive coordinator Cody Crill (from last year’s FCS playoff entry Incarnate Word) and defensive coordinator Weston Glaser.
What will be different?
“The ability to change the tempo offensively is a major asset,” said Laird. “We’re going to go really fast at times. Coach Crill does a great job of mixing the screens, the quick throws, the RPOs, the deep shots, the sprintouts, moving the quarterback, things that keep the defense guessing, back on their heels.
“You’ll the ball in the air more than normal,” said Laird, noting that isn’t an indication that the running game won’t be used in the 2022 season. “A lot of that has to do with what we’re doing defensively.”
Glaser’s approach is not a sweeping change, but NSU has shifted from a three-man front to four big guys on the line of scrimmage.
“Going to a four-man front will be the biggest difference defensively. One thing that will be similar will be the pressure and playing man-to-man,” said Laird. “We did that the last two seasons with some success and we expect to be better at it this fall.”
The fifth-year head coach is happy with the buy-in from the Demons.
“When schematically, things are so different on both sides, you get a little extra focus from the players. They’ve done great absorbing it all, not only on the field but in meetings. You can see their attention to detail is ramped up,” he said.
“There’s a lot to build on as we go into the fall,” said Laird. “We’re a better football team than we were in practice one, and that’s vital to having success this season.”
There are 19 newcomers in their first Delaney Bowl. Among the veterans is receiver Javon Antonio, an All-Southland receiver two years ago who sat out the 2021 season for academic reasons. That redoubled his commitment and it’s made him the breakout star of spring ball, said Laird.
“With what he showed on the scout team when he was ineligible, and what he’s done this spring, he’s by far the one that stands out the most.”
LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs’ spring game is April 23 but today at 4, new coach Sonny Crumbie will stage a public scrimmage as the eighth of 15 spring workouts. Today’s scrimmage will wrap up the third week of workouts under Crumbie.
