Frequently, the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s always-hungry reporter has lunch at a local restaurant and tells you about the experience.

By ANON E. MUSS, Journal Services

A decade is a long time to be in business.

Especially if the business is a restaurant.

Flying Heart Brewing & Pub (700 Barksdale Blvd., Bossier City) will soon celebrate its 10-year anniversary. In those 10 years, I’ve eaten there probably 10 times. Not often, but often enough to go back because I enjoy the food, service, and atmosphere. So, on a recent Saturday, I invited a friend to join me for lunch, hoping I would have another good experience.

We arrived at 12:45 and found available street-side parking not far from the restaurant. There is a charge to park in some of the East Bank District lots, so I’m always happy when I can park for free. (Funny story: I remember years ago when the Shreveport Mudbugs started charging people to park at Hirsch Coliseum. A whole $3! Everyone pitched such a fit that the next season, the hockey club included parking in the ticket price.)

By 12:50, my friend and I were seated right where we wanted to be – on the patio, as it was a gorgeous day. Guess what? Lots of other people had the same idea of sitting outside. The patio was packed with families and couples young and old. Several children were playing cornhole just off the patio. It was really nice seeing so many people together, eating and enjoying the beautiful weather. The patio is covered, and although there were just a few corner fans, the temperature was pleasant. (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones was just one of the songs which played through the patio’s speakers.

By the way, if you’re looking to watch a ball game at Flying Heart, you will need to sit inside. That’s where the TV’s are – some big, and some not-so-big – scattered throughout the dining room, which is split in half by a 10-12 seat, L-shaped bar.

My stomach was growling, so I knew I wanted a starter. Flying Heart only has three choices, and if you don’t like pretzels, you’re down to one choice (Firehouse Cheese Bread). Fortunately, my friend and I like pretzels, so we ordered Pretzel Bites ($7.50).

Unfortunately, it took forever for those bites to be served. We saw people getting their starters, who were seated after us. In fact, it was taking so long, I told our server that if we weren’t going to get our starter until just before – or at the same time of – our meal, then we didn’t want them. There’s a reason they are called “Starters”.

Our server said she checked with the kitchen, and our order had been turned in 23 minutes prior. She said the kitchen was “working on a big party.” Well, okay, but when you focus your time and effort on serving a “big party”, you neglect others. Apparently, my friend and I were the “others” this day.

Finally, at 1:27 – 37 minutes after being seated, we received our starters. There were approximately 20 fairly-warm pretzel bites on a plate, along with two dipping sauces. The bites were favorable, and not

salty. If there’s one thing that ruins a pretzel, it’s too much sauce. As for the sauces, the menu stated we had a choice of Black Heart Beer Cheese, or HWY 80 infused mustard. We asked for one of each, and were charged $0.75 for “Extra Ale Mustard”. Seems like nickel and diming a customer, but whatever.

While both sauces were good, my friend and I definitely liked the infused mustard best. Next time, we will only order that sauce and save the $0.75. We enjoyed the starter, but wish it had been served sooner.

Of course, just five minutes later, our meals arrived. While Flying Heart serves wings, salads, and wraps, its signature food is pizza. You can either choose from 13 pizzas (plus a pizza of the month), or you can craft your own pizza, selecting your crust, sauce, veggies, cheese, and protein. That’s what my friend did, ordering a cauliflower crust pizza with olive oil, mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, onions, pepperoni, and bell peppers ($22).

Her pizza was loaded with toppings, which isn’t always the case when you get a pizza from either a local place, or a chain. The crust was thin, and we both agreed (she let me have a slice) it was cooked just right. However, I was disappointed that the pizza wasn’t hot. In fact, I would be borderline exaggerating if I said it was lukewarm. If you are a frequent reader of these reviews, you know I can’t stand it when food which is supposed to be hot, isn’t. My friend, Chuck E. Wagon, says restaurants don’t serve food too hot because they don’t want to get sued by someone whose mouth gets burned. That sounds so crazy, he just might be right.

Wanting to let you know how something tasted other than pizza, I ordered the Turkey & Cheese Wrap ($13). I hope you are appreciative, because I wish I would have had a pizza. The wrap wasn’t bad – although I thought it was small – there just wasn’t anything special about it. My choice of either a wheat or spinach wrap (I chose wheat), with turkey, romaine lettuce, Roma tomatoes, and ranch, and my choice of cheese (mozzarella). Aside from its size, the wrap wasn’t any better or any worse than other wraps I’ve had. What made it really good is that I dipped it into the infused mustard dipping sauce left over from the pretzel bites for which I paid $0.75. I was determined to get my money’s worth!

Now, our server told me the wrap came with a pickle slice, and my choice of potato chips, or I could have a salad. Having had Flying Heart’s salad’s before, I went with  the Mediterranean salad. However, my receipt indicated I subbed for a small garden salad and was charged $6. It is uncharacteristic of me to not catch something like this at the restaurant. I didn’t take notice until I was home. Our server apparently misspoke in saying I had a choice. Or, she should have informed me that there would be a $6 charge.

The cost of our meal before tax and tip was $49.25. That included a 3% fee for paying with a credit card instead of cash.

Based on past experiences, I went to Flying Heart Brewing & Pub expecting to write a Four Fork review. However, the long wait for our starter, and the extra charge for a salad which I was told I could get with my wrap instead of chips, took some of the shine off this visit. So, I am giving Flying Heart Three Forks. There will be a “next time,” and I promise I will order a pizza. Perhaps then, unlike the Stones, I will get satisfaction.

1 Fork: Would rather eat a box of dirt
2 Forks: Will return, but only if someone else is buying
3 Forks: Will return and look forward to it
4 Forks: Will return and go out of my way to do so

Is there a restaurant you would like the Journal to visit for lunch?

Email SBJRestaurantReview@gmail.com.

BPPJ Remembers Coach Billy Wayne Montgomery

During the April 16 Regular Agenda Meeting, the Police Jurors expressed their deepest sympathies on the passing of “Coach” Billy Wayne Montgomery, who passed away on Monday, April 14. Coach Montgomery was a pillar of our community, dedicating his life to education, sports, and public service.

Jury President Glenn Benton said Coach Montgomery was a great asset to this state and this parish. “When I moved to Haughton, he was my seventh-grade homeroom teacher. The most fearful man I’ve met in my life. But the longer you’re around him, the more you love him,” Mr. Benton said.

Patrick Jackson, Parish Attorney, said he witnessed a lot of the things Coach did behind the scenes to help transform our community. “He not only did the big things like BPCC parts of I-49, the riverboats, and Louisiana Downs, but also a lot of the other things that help stimulate our economy,” Jackson said. He said Coach Montgomery was a true example of what a public servant was, and he will certainly be missed, but not forgotten.

Coach Montgomery served as principal of Haughton High School, where he led the basketball team to back-to-back state championships in 1968 and 1969, leaving a legacy in Louisiana sports. His contributions were recognized with his induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Coach Montgomery represented Louisiana House District 9 for 20 years, from 1988 to 2008, advocating tirelessly for the LHSAA and the state’s horse racing industry. He played a pivotal role in securing funding for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum in Natchitoches, ensuring the preservation of our state’s rich sports history.

After his legislative career, he continued to serve the community as a legislative liaison for the Bossier Parish Police Jury until his retirement in 2021.

Coach Montgomery’s impact on Bossier Parish and the state of Louisiana will never be forgotten. His dedication, leadership, and passion for service have left an indelible mark on all who knew him.

Economic Impact of Veterans in Bossier Parish Highlighted

Charlton J. Meginley, Colonel (Retired) USAF and Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, addressed the Police Jury regarding the significant economic contributions of the veterans’ community to the local economy.

Bossier Parish is home to nearly 11,500 veterans, who collectively contribute approximately $300 million in VA Compensation and Pension. These federal funds are a substantial boost to the local economy, coming from a relatively small segment of the population. Additionally, another $230 million is injected into the community through VA medical funding.

“Bossier is a great parish to live in, once you have left the military. Right now, we have a program called the “Boot”, and we work with the Next Stop that is working with veterans who are walking out of Barksdale, doing everything we can to keep them here so that their training, education, and that time and resources the Department of Defense has put into those men and women, they stay here to strengthen the local community,” Meginley stated.

Meginley also emphasized the need for a new Veterans Affairs office in Bossier Parish. Jury President Glenn Benton mentioned that the Military Public Regulations Committee would collaborate to identify a suitable facility to meet these needs.

The high school baseball and softball playoff slates kick into gear this week with six local softball teams taking the field today or Tuesday.

Baseball action gets underway later in the week in best-of-three series.

SOFTBALL

Last week’s bi-district scores

Select Division I

Captain Shreve 10, Woodlawn-Baton Rouge 0

Non-Select Division I

Natchitoches Central 3, Haughton 0

Non-Select Division IV

Plain Dealing 17, South Plaquemine 13

Upcoming games

Select Division I

Evangel Christian (seeded 16th) at Pineville (1), today, 5:00

Captain Shreve (11) at Mt. Carmel (6), Tuesday, 5:00

Non-Select Division I

Destrehan (15) at Benton (2), Tuesday, 4:00

West Ouachita (11) at Airline (6), Tuesday, 6:00

Select Division III

Fisher (16) at Calvary (1), Tuesday, 3:00

Non-Select Division IV

Plain Dealing (17) at LaSalle (1), Tuesday, 4:30

BASEBALL

Weekend bi-district scores

Non-Select Division I

Dutchtown 7-0, 6-2 over Airline (Dutchtown advances.

Upcoming games (best of three series)

Select Division I

Ponchatoula (seeded 11^th) at Captain Shreve (6), Friday 6:00, Saturday noon/3 (if necessary)

Non-Select Division I

Slidell (19) at Northwood (3), Friday 6:00, Saturday noon/3 (if necessary)

Sulphur (20) at Haughton (4), Friday, 6:00, Saturday noon/3 (if necessary)

Ruston (12) at Benton (5), Friday, 7:00, Saturday 1/4 (if necessary)

Select Division II

Haynes Academy (14) at Loyola (3), TBA

Select Division III

Lafayette Christian (10) at Calvary (7), Thursday 6:00, Friday 4/6 (if necessary)

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – In No. 7 LSU’s last two SEC baseball series against the state of Alabama, at Auburn a week ago and home this past weekend in Alex Box Stadium vs. Alabama, things haven’t gone as planned.

Like starting Game 1 pitcher Kade Anderson’s 20-to-1 strikeouts-to-walk ratio against AU and the U of A going unnoticed because he gave up a combined 12 hits and 11 runs in 10 innings.

Like first baseman Jared Jones’s bat being chilled by Auburn and Alabama, going a combined 3 for 24 (.125) with 12 strikeouts

Like Luis Hernandez and Cade Arrambide, LSU’s top two catchers, who did a fine job defensively, combining for no hits in 17 at-bats over the last two weeks.

Yet after being swept 3-0 at Auburn, LSU head coach Jay Johnson’s Tigers (34-7 overall, 12-6 SEC) found a way to win the series 2-1 over the Crimson Tide despite batting .189 (7 for 37) with runners in scoring position and .133 (4 for 30) with two outs.

Because Johnson has a deeper bench this season, he can keep pushing buttons until he finds something that works.

“You can’t get through the schedule that we play without a few bumps in the road offensively because the pitching talent, including on our team, is too good,” Johnson said. “You want to match up (in various situations) as best you can. It’s nice to have that ability this year because last year we did not.”

In Friday night’s game, the Tigers trailed 5-1 after leaving six runners on base in the first five innings. But when Alabama changed relievers, inserting righthander Austin Morris after left-hander Matthew Heiberger issued a one-out walk to LSU right fielder Jake Brown in the bottom of the sixth, Johnson had been waiting to use pinch-hitters Josh Pearson and Ashton Larson for a situational matchup vs. a righthanded pitcher.

“I was trying to hold Josh and Ashton for that time, and at the back of the order,” Johnson said. “And it worked out.

Pearson stroked a single on the first pitch. In just his second at-bat in an SEC game this year, Larson lined Morris’ second pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run homer to cut Alabama’s lead to 5-4.

It opened the floodgates for the Tigers, who had 10 runs on eight hits, including three homers in their last 21 batters in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.

During the weekend, the lethal combination of 9-hole hitter center fielder Chris Stanfield (who hit .500, 5 of 10, three runs scored) followed by leadoff hitter left Derek Curiel (who hit .385, 5 for 13, three RBI, one run scored) compensated for Jones’ power outage and also a 1 for 13 batting weekend from shortstop Steven Milam (though his one hit was a three-run homer in Game 1 that gave LSU a 7-5 lead).

“It was no panic,” said Stanfield of he and his teammates’ mindset after being swept at Auburn. “Weekends like that happen unfortunately, but it’s about how we respond.”

The series against the 15th-ranked Crimson Tide opened the second half of LSU’s SEC schedule. It continues at home Friday with a showcase series vs. No. 2 and defending national champion Tennessee.

Here’s a recap of the Alabama series:

GAME 1: LSU 11, ALABAMA 6 — After LSU starting pitcher Kade Anderson struck out 10 batters and also gave up three home runs, putting the home team in a 5-1 deficit after 5 ½ innings, the Tigers exploded for 10 runs in the next 2½ innings.

Then, Tigers’ head coach Jay Johnson tapped an almost-forgotten power source to ignite LSU’s comeback in Thursday’s series opener.

Ashton Larson, a 2024 All-SEC Freshman honoree yet to crack the lineup this season, slammed a three-run pinch-hit homer in the bottom of the sixth to cut Alabama’s lead to one run.

“I use visualization and try to keep my body as warm as possible,” said Larson of his pinch-hitting role. “The coaches in the dugout make sure I’m ready for a situation.”

With an Alabama base runner at first base and no outs in the top of the seventh, Johnson called on freshman reliever Casen Evans and his 0.73 ERA.

Evans got two outs in the next three hitters. Then, he struck out Tide shortstop Justin Lebron on a 3-2 pitch for the third out that plate Brandon Cooper generously called a strikeout on the outside corner.

Lebron stared in disbelief, and Alabama assistant coach Mike Morrison loudly protested, earning an ejection by Cooper.

Evans understood Alabama’s argument.

“I didn’t think that was the best call by the umpire,” Evans said. “That was a makeup call from a pitch earlier on. They miss a call, and they’re like, `Okay, I gotta make up for it on a close one.’”

Dodging that bullet, LSU unloaded in the seventh and eighth innings. The four and three-run rallies included a three-run homer by shortstop Steven Milam and a solo homer by designated hitter Ethan Frey.

GAME 2: LSU 4, ALABAMA 3 — The game began for LSU starting pitcher Anthony Eyanson like a cross-eyed tight wire walker.

He threw 16 balls and 17 strikes in a 33-pitch first inning, finally staggering to safety trailing 1-0 after the Crimson Tide left the bases loaded.

Somehow, Eyanson lasted six innings and 115 pitches, long enough for the Tigers to scratch out enough offense to record a victory Friday night to give LSU its fourth SEC series win.

The Crimson Tide left eight runners on base vs. Eyanson, who struck out 12 and walked five. He tap-

danced out of two bases-loaded jams twice in the first and ended four of his innings with strikeouts.

“Obviously, I didn’t start the way I wanted to,” Eyanson said. “I think just in between innings, really just regrouping and mentally clearing my mind helped.”

LSU’s Johnson was confident Eyanson would work through his shaky start.

“He (Eyanson) just gets better as he goes,” Johnson said. “he’s got so much confidence and so much poise. He just does a great job of keeping things on the rails, and he can really bear down and make a pitch.”

Alabama starter Riley Quick didn’t pitch terribly in his 3.1 innings. He exited after LSU left fielder Derek Curiel’s two-run single gave the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

“We made him (Quick) pitch for sure, got his pitch count up and ultimately got him out of the game,” said LSU’s Chris Stanfield, who had four of the Tigers’ 12 hits and scored twice.

GAME 3: ALABAMA 7, LSU 4 — Alabama starting pitcher Zane Adams limited the Tigers to one run and four hits in the first five innings as the Crimson Tide jumped to a 5-1 lead in Saturday’s series finale.

LSU pinch-hitter Jake Brown’s two-run homer in the sixth inning cut Alabama’s advantage to 5-3. The Tigers managed just one hit and one run in the last three innings off Tide relievers Matthew Heiberger and Carson Ozmer, while Alabama scored two insurance runs in the ninth.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

LSU Shreveport opened Senior Weekend hitting milestones in a Friday doubleheader sweep of nationally-ranked University of Houston-Victoria at Pilot Field, capturing its fourth consecutive Red River Athletic Conference regular season championship and securing the longest win streak in NAIA baseball history.

Then things got tense Saturday in the series finale, but the No. 1-ranked Pilots (44-0, 26-0 RRAC) extended their winning streak to 44 games with a 2-0 triumph.

Friday’s first game allowed LSUA to top Point Park University’s previous NAIA win streak record of 41 and was the first of dominant 11-1 and 11-3 victories over the 15^th-ranked Jaguars (34-13, 19-8). The sweep secured the RRAC crown.

In the opener, Isaac Rohde (11-0) remained perfect on the mound, tossing 6.2 innings while scattering five hits and allowing just one run.

The LSUS offense exploded behind home runs from Austin Gomm and Jackson Syring. Gomm drove in five runs, Syring added three RBIs, and Ian Montz chipped in with two.  Josh Gibson doubled twice and added a stolen base.  

Game 2 saw more of the same from the Pilots, who used another offensive surge to seal the sweep.  Angel Rodriguez launched a home run and drove in four runs to lead the way. 

The story of Saturday was pitching. The only scoring came in the bottom of the third inning. Ryan Davenport drove in the Pilots’ first run with a line drive up the middle, then Vantrel Reed grounded one through the middle to drive in the second run.

Cobe Reeves earned the win, improving to 9-0 as he tossed nearly seven shutout innings giving up just three hits while striking out four and walking three. UHV’s Julian Garcia went eight innings, giving up two earned runs on four hits and racking up 10 strikeouts, walking one.  

The Pilots wrap up their regular season on the road next weekend at Jarvis Christian.

The Bossier Parish Sheriffs Office has announced the arrest of Corrections Officer Colton Davis on criminal charges related to his conduct while employed at a Bossier Parish Correctional Facility. Mr. Davis was hired by the Sheriff’s Office on October 23, 2023.

Sheriff Julian Whittington addressed the situation stating, “The actions of this individual are not representative of the men and women who serve in this office with honor and integrity. We hold our employees to a higher standard and will not tolerate unlawful activity. Mr. Davis has been terminated from the Bossier Sheriff’s Office.”

Davis was taken into custody by Bossier Sheriff’s Office Detectives and transported to the Bossier Max for processing.

Colton Davis was arrested on the following charges:

• 14:134 Malfeasance in Office (2 Counts)
• 14:402 Introducing Contraband into a Correctional Facility (2 Counts)

This case is still under investigation.

On the night of April 18, 1775, Paul Revere set out on a midnight ride that would become a turning point in American history. Galloping from Boston to Lexington, Revere warned colonial leaders that British troops were on the move — igniting the first sparks of the American Revolution.

Though popular legend simplifies his ride with the phrase “The British are coming,” Revere’s actual mission was far more nuanced — alerting local militias of British intent to seize weapons stored in Concord.

Historians note that Revere wasn’t alone. William Dawes and Samuel Prescott also rode that night, part of a broader network of patriots ready to resist British aggression.

“The midnight ride represents the birth of the American spirit of resistance,” says historian Thomas Yates. “It wasn’t just about one man. It was about the collective will of a people to stand up for their rights.”

Today, schools and museums across the country commemorate April 18 as a day of patriotism and remembrance, often reading Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s iconic poem, Paul Revere’s Ride, in classrooms.

While the details have been romanticized, the courage behind Revere’s mission remains an enduring symbol of vigilance, bravery, and American identity.

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

It’s a beautiful spring afternoon and only a couple of hours away from an extended weekend for high schoolers. Now, c’mon; what are the chances you’d find a senior golf star – only a few days away from graduation — anywhere other than a golf course?

Byrd’s James Holtsclaw certainly wouldn’t be the first soon-to-be-graduating senior to find his way to the front office to check out early. But instead of dissecting the fairway, Holtsclaw could be found dissecting pigs in Human Anatomy class

Rather than digging through his golf bag for a ProV1, he was digging through the organs of a pig. “It smells bad, but it really doesn’t bother me,” Holtsclaw says. “But some think it’s gross.”

His definition of the word “gross” has nothing to do with formaldehyde and more to do with large numbers — the kind that appear on a golf scorecard. Like triple bogeys. “That,” he says, “is true right there.”

Judging by the golf career Holtsclaw has had at Byrd, that hasn’t been much of a problem.

It only seems as though Holtsclaw has been at Byrd for about 10 years, but it is about to come to an end. And he has every intention of closing it in style.

Very special style.

Holtsclaw and the Jackets are trying to accomplish a feat that may never have happened in any sport in Byrd history: Win a fourth straight state championship. That’s what they will be shooting for in a few weeks at the state tournament in Lafayette.

And it’s not as if he has just been along for the ride in the previous three championship years. Last year he was second on the team and placed in the top 10 as the Jackets won by two strokes.

As a sophomore, he was part of a deep Jackets team that won the title by three strokes and as a freshman in 2022, Holtzclaw shot 67 on the opening day and finished third overall as the Jackets won by five.

The quest for four straight titles isn’t taken lightly by Holtsclaw and the Jackets.

“I try not to think about it,” he says. “Has any team won four state championship in a row (at Byrd)? I think that would be a really cool thing to do. I feel like that’s a really big reason to go out there and practice even harder than I have been.”

High school golf has changed quite a bit in the last few years. First of all, there isn’t the depth of teams that there once was and more schools are electing to have qualifying matches amongst themselves rather than playing other teams.

This year, Byrd’s 10 varsity golfers were divided into two teams with co-captains Shep Smith and Holtsclaw holding a draft to choose their own squads and play against each other. Holtsclaw is the first to admit that his draft skills might leave a little to be desired.

“I did not draft too well,” he says.

Not an issue, especially since he’s got plenty of other things going for him.

“I’d say my strengths are my ball striking and if I can get the putter hot, it’s hot,” he says in a self-assessment. “I haven’t been driving the ball as well as I’d like and I need to figure out some of those inconsistencies. And sometimes my mental side isn’t as good as it needs to be. I get mad because I care so much about it.”

The Jackets will play in the district tournament on Tuesday at Querbes with regionals and state to follow.

“My main improvement has been my mentality,” he says. “I’ve always seemed to play well at Byrd (in the school season) even if I haven’t been playing well up until then. Something just clicks in my mind and I want to be supportive of my teammates and play good golf because that’s what I’m hoping I can do for me and for them.”

Golf may be an individual sport, but Holtsclaw fully embraces the team concept of high school competition.

“Just spending time with my friends is really it,” he says. “I think the reason we have the most success is because of how much fun we have out there. When we have practice rounds, we will be goofing around and trying to hit shots around trees, just like anybody else would with their friends.”

Once the Byrd season is over, it will be on to the next step as he has a full summer season lined up before he heads to Louisiana-Lafayette to compete for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

But when you boil it all down, the things James Holtsclaw likes most about golf are pretty simple.

“Competing,” he says. “And winning.”

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

The LHSAA baseball and softball playoffs got going Thursday with five local teams in action, and four more take the field today or Saturday in bi-district games.

Evangel’s softball team was the only Shreveport-Bossier winner Thursday and the Eagles eliminated anther local team, Byrd.

Captain Shreve’s 11^th-seeded softball team is home today at 1 against No. 22 Woodlawn of Baton Rouge in a Select Division I contest, with the winner advancing to regional round play next week.

Airline’s baseball team makes its postseason debut on the road today in Baton Rouge. The No. 23-seeded Vikings take on 10^th-seeded Dutchtown in a best-of-three Non-Select Division I series beginning with a 6 p.m. game this evening, and continuing Saturday morning at 11 with a 1:30 “if necessary” third game.

Two local softball teams are on the road for their playoff openers, with single-game outcomes determining which team advances in the bracket.

In Non-Select Division I, No. 18 Haughton visits District 1-5A rival Natchitoches Central, the 15^th seed, at 5 p.m. in a rematch of a 5-0 Lady Chiefs’ victory on April 2.

A Select Division I matchup Saturday at 10 a.m. sends No. 23 Huntington to 10^th-seeded Dominican.

Three Thursday softball games involved four local teams.

Evangel topped Byrd 11-5 in a Select Division I matchup of the 16 and 17 seeds, and Evangel advanced to face No. 1 Pineville next week in Rapides Parish.

Caddo Magnet was eliminated in the Select Division I bracket with the 13^th-seeded Mustangs getting drubbed 21-5 by visiting St. Scholastica, ranked 20^th. In Select Division II, No. 17 Loyola was thrashed 15-0 at No. 15 Cabrini.

In a Thursday bi-district Select Division I baseball doubleheader, No. 18 Byrd was halted by 15^th-seeded St. Paul’s in Covington, 8-4 and 15-2.

All other local playoff teams earned opening-round byes and begin their postseasons next week.

This week Colorado let the football world know that the school was retiring the numbers of Travis Hunter (who won the Heisman Trophy about 15 minutes ago) and Shedeur Sanders (who didn’t).

Of course, the school is free to do what it wants just as much as people with common sense are free to say how ridiculous it is. Especially to retire the number of a quarterback who was 13-12 as a starting quarterback for the Buffalos.

Deion Sanders, Shedeur’s father who just so happens to be the head coach, said of the public outcry “If his last name wasn’t Sanders, we wouldn’t have this discussion.”

He is 100 percent correct. If his last name wasn’t Sanders, they also wouldn’t be retiring his number, so there would be no discussion.

A quick reminder: Tim Tebow won two national championships and a Heisman Trophy and two decades later, his number still isn’t retired by the University of Florida.

But all of this brings up a bigger issue that I have railed against every chance I get. And that is, why every school/organization feels the need to retire a jersey.

Or name a facility after someone.

Or build a statue.

All of these arguments about who is “statue worthy” is especially silly. How did that work out for Joe Paterno? It wasn’t long after his statue was erected that it received the Saddam Hussein treatment and got dragged down the street to the scrap heap.

LSU folks got in a big to-do about whether or not to name the basketball court – not the arena – after Dale Brown. Instead, they did something even sillier by naming it after Dale Brown and Sue Gunter, a decision that pleased about six people.

Speaking of LSU, the football facility is named Tiger Stadium. That’s how you do it. Michigan Stadium. Notre Dame Stadium. You think those schools haven’t had a couple of dudes who have a few noteworthy accomplishments?

Alabama has a stadium named after two people (Bear Bryant, who won a bunch of national championships, and school president George Denny, who didn’t win any) as well as a field named after another (Nick Saban). What’s next, the Gene Stallings End Zone?

And don’t get me started on retired jerseys. Two of most storied franchises in pro sports – the Boston Celtics and the New York Yankees — have made a mockery of this. The Celtics have retired 23 numbers, including Cedric Maxwell (31) who was a nice player but didn’t do much more than give Robert Parish the nickname “Chief.”

The Yankees retired Lou Gehrig’s number in 1939 and then just can’t seem to kick the habit. They are up to 21 now, which is why current Yankees have to wear awful baseball numbers like 95 (Oswaldo Cabrera) and 71 (Ian Hamilton). There is literally not a number available until you get to #11 (but don’t give them any ideas about honoring Brett Gardner or Fred Stanley).

But the biggest don’t-go-there for number retiring numbers is for high school athletes. That’s not just a slippery slope; it’s a sheet of ice.

Many years ago, I did a story on a legendary basketball player at a local high school which mentioned that his number has been retired more than 20 years earlier.

Except that it wasn’t.

Nobody had bothered to notice that number was being worn by the backup point guard.

There are too many things that can go wrong when you start retiring high school numbers. Accomplishments that seem great to some in the moment might not seem as great a few years down the road.

Stadiums, statues and retired numbers all seem like wonderful ideas at the time. But far too often, that time passes.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

 JOURNAL SPORTS

The unbeaten-all-season LSUS baseball team faces one of its tougher tests at home today and Saturday as the Pilots, 41-0 and ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Top 25, play host to 14^th-ranked Houston Victoria.

A doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. today followed by a 1 p.m. single game Saturday at Pilots Field on the LSUS campus.

UH-Victoria is 34-10.

The Pilots have broken the NAIA record for most wins to start a season, topping the former mark of 37, and have tied the NAIA record for consecutive victories at 41.

After a comeback win in the series opener Wednesday and a day off Thursday, the Bossier Parish Community College baseball team aims for more success today in a 1 p.m. homefield doubleheader against Northeast Texas CC.

The Cavaliers (28-14, 15-10 in Region XIV) rallied for a 10-8 victory Wednesday over the Eagles, getting two home runs from Parker Gwyn and clutch pitching down the stretch. BPCC overcame an early 4-0 deficit as Gwyn clubbed his homers.

Jacob Gillis also went deep and Dylan Biddick was 3-for-4. A two-run single by Brandon Levy proved to be the difference on the scoreboard.

Three BPCC relievers sparkled. Cam Williams threw 3.1 innings and limited NTCC’s offense, setting the stage for the rally. In the eighth inning, Jake Stelly stranded Eagles baserunners to preserve the Cavaliers’ led. Zander Bretza struck out two in the ninth inning to lock down the two-run win.