Benton’s Simmons, Shreve’s Wicklund head 1-5A baseball team 

1-5A POY: Captain Shreve first baseman Walker Wicklund was named the District 1-5A Player of the Year. (Photo by JOHN PENROD, Journal Sports) 

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.