JOURNAL SPORTS
Benton pitcher Sawyer Simmons was named the Pitcher of the Year and Captain Shreve first baseman Walker Wicklund the Player of the Year on the 2023 1-5A All-District baseball team selected by district coaches.
Simmons, an LSU-Eunice signee, was 4-0 with a 2.33 ERA in district games. Wicklund posted a .467 batting average in district and will follow in his father’s footsteps and play for Centenary College.
Dane Peavy was named the Coach of the Year after leading Benton to a 11-3 district mark and the 1-5A title, and a second-round playoff appearance.
Here is the complete list of the 2023 All-District 1-5A team:
First team
P — Kevin Robinson, Byrd, Sr.
P — Carter White, Airline, Jr.
P — Sawyer Simmons, Benton, Sr.
P — Austin Anderson, Haughton, Sr.
P — Jackson Bleich, Captain Shreve, Sr.
C — Zach Schoenborn, Parkway, Sr.
1B — Walker Wicklund, Captain Shreve, Sr.
2B — Brock Laird, Natchitoches Central, So.
3B — Clayton Brandon, Airline, Sr.
SS — Alex Dupuy, Natchitoches Central, Sr.
OF — Colin Rains, Haughton, Sr.
OF — Barrett Newman, Parkway, Sr.
OF — Collin Wiggins, Airline, Sr.
OF — Walker Fox, Byrd, Sr.
OF — Trenton Lape, Parkway, Sr.
DH — Cole Weir, Benton, Sr.
UTIL — Bryson Pierce, Benton, Jr.
UTIL — Kenner Lauterbach, Benton, Sr.
UTIL — Hudson Brignac, Benton, Jr.
UTIL — Cale Latimer, Benton, Sr.
UTIL — Dillon Braxton, Natchitoches Central, So.
Player of the Year — Walker Wicklund, Captain Shreve
Pitcher of the Year — Sawyer Simmons, Benton
Coach of the Year — Dane Peavy, Benton
Second team
Pitchers — Bryson Pierce, Benton, Jr.; Sean Waits, Parkway, Jr.; Colton Smith, Parkway, Jr.; Evan Wendrock, Airline, Jr.; Hunter Goodman, Natchitoches Central, Jr.
Catcher — Lake Lambert, Byrd, Sr.; 1B — Cale Latimer, Benton, Sr.; 2B — Abel Thetford, Parkway, So.; 3B — Shawn Driggers, Parkway, Jr.; SS — Caleb Brown, Haughton, Jr.
Outfielders — Christian Turner, Haughton, So.; Brady Blaylock, Benton, Sr.; Brooks Brossette, Byrd, Sr.; Hunter Willis, Captain Shreve, Sr.
Designated Hitter — Hayden Hoffpauir, Byrd, Sr.
Utility — Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve, Fr.; Jordan Green, Captain Shreve, Sr.; Brandon Levy, Parkway, Sr.; Gavin Jacobs, Benton, Sr.; Jayden Booker, Southwood, Sr.
