Author: Megan Lowe

Benton’s Bryant, Peavy take top honors on SBJ All-Metro

/ Megan Lowe
BEST OF THE BEST:  Benton junior Kade Bryant was dynamic as a pitcher and at the plate while leading the Tigers to the state tournament. (Submitted photo)

JOURNAL STAFF

Benton coach Dane Peavy wasn’t sure what to expect from junior Kade Bryant when the 2024 baseball season started. But it’s fair to say he got more than he expected.

A lot more.

He ended up getting a two-way standout who delivered for the Tigers on the mound, at the plate and in field (playing left and right field).

“I was probably more surprised by the hitting,” Peavy said. “Pitching-wise, we knew he was going to be pretty good. I don’t we knew exactly how good. I think his hitting surprised some people because he really hadn’t shown that in freshmen or JV.”

When the season started, Peavy probably didn’t expect Bryant to be the Shreveport-Bossier Journal’s Outstanding Player of the All-Metro baseball team – but that’s exactly what he is.

And in a way, Bryant’s success is a part of the reason why Peavy is this year’s SBJ All-Metro Coach of the Year.

Peavy started the season with only five seniors and then had to deal with multiple arm injuries to his pitching staff. After finishing second in District 1-5A, the Tigers were the only Caddo-Bossier team to make it to the state tournament in Sulphur.

Bryant was certainly a big part of that.

“I really don’t know how to describe it other than to say he had one of the most immaculate seasons I’ve ever been around,” Peavy said. “When a guy carries you hitting and pitching and at this level – and that’s not to take away from any of our guys — that’s just hard to duplicate.”

Good luck trying.

Bryant was 9-1 with a 1.15 ERA, striking out 92 in 78 innings. Opponents batted only .171 against him. Significantly, he got the ball in the first game of every playoff level.

At the plate, he batted .364 with 43 hits and scored 25 runs.

Not only that, but if you took a vote on everybody’s favorite opposing player, he might win that too.

“He’s a great kid,” said one District 1-5A coach.

“That kid is just a competitor,” said another opposing coach, “and as solid of a kid as you will ever meet.”

Bryant is joined on the All-Metro pitching staff by District 1-5A champion Captain Shreve’s Rhyson Carroway (4-2, 59 strikeouts, 1.09 ERA) Calvary’s Landon Fontenot (6-4, 1.50 ERA, 83 strikeouts), and Northwood’s Jack Carlisle (2.60 ERA and 69 strikeouts).

It’s an all-senior infield with Parkway first baseman Sean Waits (.415 with three home runs in 11 district games), Benton second baseman Hudson Brignac (39 runs, 25 RBI, 24 stolen bases), Calvary shortstop Aubrey Hermes (.356, 27 stolen bases), and Captain Shreve third baseman Aron Gilliam (.400, scored 42 runs).

The catcher is Captain Shreve junior Carter Reynolds, who batted .321 with 22 RBI.

The outfield features Northwood’s Tucker McCabe (.447, 30 RBI, 22 stolen bases), Calvary’s Hutch Grace (co-district MVP; batted .441 with 23 extra base hits), and Parkway sophomore Cole Snell (.465, 10 RBI in district), who was the 1-5A Player of the Year.

As has been the case with previous SBJ All-Metro teams, the utility position is only for those who played multiple positions throughout the season. Calvary junior Judson Funderburk was 8-1 with a 1.10 ERA on the mound and batted .365 with 11 doubles as a third baseman (and he was district co-MVP). Shreve’s Andrew Sharp was the district’s Pitcher of the Year (7-1, 1.54 ERA) and batted .362 with 20 RBI and 25 RBI. Northwood’s Jaxon Bentzler played shortstop and batted .459 with eight home runs and 46 RBI and was 8-1 with 50 strikeouts on the mound.

There are four repeaters from last year’s team – Hermes, McCabe, Bentzler and Carlisle. It’s the third straight year for Hermes and Bentzler.

The 15-man team was limited to one player at each standard position, plus a pitching staff consisting of four starters. Two utility players were chosen, based on having split time as both a pitcher and a position player.

The “Best of the Rest” is for those who were given strong consideration for the first team. 

2024 ALL-METRO BASEBALL TEAM

Catcher – Carter Reynolds, Captain Shreve (Jr.)

First Base – Sean Waits, Parkway (Sr.)

Second Base – Hunter Brignac, Benton (Sr.) 

Shortstop – Aubrey Hermes, Calvary (Sr.)

Third Base – Aron Gilliam, Captain Shreve (Sr.)

Outfield – Tucker McCabe, Northwood (Sr.)

Outfield – Hutch Grace, Calvary (Sr.)

Outfield – Cole Snell, Parkway (Soph.)

Pitcher – Kade Bryant, Benton (Jr.)

Pitcher – Landon Fontenot, Calvary (Sr.)

Pitcher – Rhyson Carroway, Captain Shreve (Sr.)

Pitcher — Jack Carlisle, Northwood (Jr.)

Utility –Judson Funderburk, Calvary (Jr.)

Utility – Jaxon Bentzler, Northwood (Jr.)

Utility – Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve (Soph.)

Outstanding Player – Kade Bryant, Benton 

Coach of the Year – Dane Peavy, Benton

BEST OF THE REST 

Catcher – Nate Cervantes, Northwood 

Third Base – Evan Wilburn, Byrd 

Outfield – Christian Turner, Haughton 

Pitcher – Thomas Allen, Benton; Carter White, Airline 

Utility – Abel Thetford, Parkway; Garret Burns, Evangel; Christopher Peyton, Captain Shreve 

The Journal All-Metro team is limited to players in Caddo and Bossier Parishes and was chosen in consultation with seven local coaches. The team was limited to one player at each standard position, plus a pitching staff consisting of four starters. Three utility players were chosen, based on having split time as both a pitcher and a position player. All-District teams were taken into consideration.

1-4A baseball champ Northwood sweeps district honors

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS

Northwood swept through District 1-4A undefeated in seven games to take the district title and brought home all three top honors on the all-district team selected by 1-4A coaches.

Senior outfielder Tucker McCabe was named the Most Valuable Player and junior pitcher Jack Carlisle Pitcher of the Year. Austin Alexander was named the Coach of the Year after leading  the Falcons to a 29-8 overall record along with the perfect 7-0 district season.

Four other Northwood players were named to the team. Senior Hayden Phipps and junior Jaxon Bentzler were both selected at utility,  joining junior pitcher Christian Blackmon and freshman catcher Nathan Cervantes. 

Evangel finished in a three-way tie with North DeSoto and Minden for second with a 5-2 record and placed two on the team — sophomore pitcher Landon Martin and senior Garret Burns at utility.

North DeSoto had six selections and Minden three. Griffins named included infielders Reni Mason, Bryant Lacour and Blayne McFerrin, outfielder Luke Delafield, designated hitter Bryden Toothman and utility Tristan Hopper. The Tide placed pitcher Brody Bower and Bryson Ranger.

2024 All-District 1-4A team

First team

P – Jack Carlisle, Northwood, Jr. 

P – Brody Bower, Minden, Sr. 

P – Landon Martin, Evangel, So. 

P – Christian Blackmon, Northwood, Jr. 

C – Nathan Cervantes, Northwood, Fr. 

Inf – Reni Mason, North DeSoto, Jr. 

Inf – Bryson Ranger, Minden, Jr. 

Inf – Bryant Lacour, North DeSoto, Jr. 

Inf – Blayne McFerrin, North DeSoto, Sr. 

OF – Tucker McCabe, Northwood, Sr. 

OF – Luke Delafield, North DeSoto, So. 

OF – Jakobe Jackson, Minden, Sr. 

OF – Hayden Phipps, Northwood, Sr. 

Util – Jaxon Bentzler, Northwood, Jr. 

Util – Garret Burns, Evangel, Sr. 

Util – Tristan Hopper, North DeSoto, Sr. 

DH – Bryden Toothman, North DeSoto, Jr. 

Most Valuable Player – Tucker McCabe, Northwood 

Pitcher of the Year – Jack Carlisle, Northwood

Coach of the Year – Austin Alexander, Northwood

Second team

Pitchers – Caleb Roles, North DeSoto, Sr.; Zander Rowell, Minden, Sr.; Tristan Beaty, Evangel, Sr.; Kaleb Carter, North DeSoto, Sr.; Jaxon Smith, Minden, So. Infielders – Parker Fulghum, Evangel, Sr.; Peyton Fulghum, Evangel, Sr.; Landon Brewer, Minden, So.; Hutson Hearron, Northwood, Sr.; Brody Turnipseed, Evangel, So. Outfielders – Isaias Saucedo, Northwood, Jr.; Cole Cory, North DeSoto, Jr.; Landyn Huddleston, Minden, Jr. Utility – Hoss Little, Northwood, Jr.; Braden Jones, North DeSoto, Jr.

Final 2024 standings

DISTRICT   1-4A Dist. All
Northwood 7-0 29-8
North DeSoto 5-2 25-10
Minden 5-2 26-12
Evangel 5-2 16-19
Bossier 2-4 4-9
Huntington 2-4 3-7
Woodlawn 1-6 8-9
BTW 0-7 0-10

Centenary to face ETBU in Marshall D-III regional

/ Megan Lowe
STRIDING INTO NCAA PLAY:  Sophomore left fielder Carson Livesay and the Centenary Gents open play Friday in the NCAA Tournament at East Texas Baptist. (Photo courtesy Centenary Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS 

Centenary learned where it will line up in the NCAA Division III baseball playoffs Monday and the destination is East Texas Baptist in nearby Marshall, Texas. 

The Gents (23-18), winners of the SCAC Tournament championship, will face ETBU (36-8) Friday at 11 a.m. in the Marshall Texas Regional. Joining the Gents and Tigers are Claremont-M-S (30-13) and Concordia (27-16) in the regional at Tiger Ballpark at Woods Field. Claremont and Concordia will follow at 2:30 p.m. Friday. 

This is the second consecutive year Marshall will host a regional. ETBU is making its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament after last year’s run to the National Championship Tournament where the Tigers ended last season as one of the top three teams in the nation. 

The NCAA Championship berth is the Gents’ third all-time after initially appearing in the 2017 event in Tyler, Texas. They were 1-2 that season. In the 2022 tournament, they went 0-3 against LaGrange College in LaGrange, Georgia. 

The NCAA Tournament starts with 16 regionals at school sites with each winner playing in a super-regional best-of-of-three series to determine the eight teams who will advance to the D-III World Series to be played at Classic Auto Group Park, Eastlake, Ohio. 

Marshall Texas Regional schedule 

Friday, May 17 

Game 1 – #1 ETBU vs. #4 Centenary, 11 a.m. 

Game 2 – #2 Claremont-MS vs. #3 Concordia, 2:30 p.m. 
Saturday, May 18 

Game 3 – Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m. 

Game 4 – Winner Game 1 vs Winner Game 2, 2:30 p.m. 

Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 6 p.m. 
Sunday, May 19 

Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs Winner Game 5, 11 a.m.

Game 7 – if necessary, 2:30 p.m.

Rains wash NAIA’s Shreveport regional to Bossier City

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS

The NAIA Tournament baseball action slated to begin Monday at LSUS will continue today across the Red River at Bossier Parish Community College.

Inclement weather halted the first of three games scheduled for Monday. Talladega (Ala.) held a 12-7 lead over Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.) in the bottom of the seventh when play was suspended and could not be resumed.

That left two more first-round games unplayed:  the Top 25 matchup between No. 18 Concordia (Neb.) and 20th-ranked Kansas Wesleyan, and the No. 4 host team against the winner of the first contest.

Blue Mountain Christian’s social media reported the first game would resume at 11 a.m. today at BPCC, where it said the remainder of the Shreveport Bracket would be contested. There was no confirmation of that on the LSUS website or its Tournament Central link, or the NAIA website, or the LSUS baseball X-account, which last posted about 5 p.m. Monday that the Pilots’ opening game was targeted for 9 o’clock Monday night.

Both LSUS and BPCC have artificial turf infield surfaces, but Pilots Field is in the lowlands not far from the Red River and drainage in the outfield and other areas was apparently problematic.

The regional is a double-elimination competition and is slated to wrap up Thursday.

One-run losses at ‘Bama, late-inning disasters damage Tigers’ NCAA hopes

/ Megan Lowe
HOLDING HIS OWN:  LSU’s Luke Holman has been the ace of the Tigers’ staff this spring and shined Saturday against his former team, Alabama, in the only win of the weekend for the defending national champions. (Photo courtesy LSU Athletics)

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Two weeks from today when defending national champion LSU likely misses getting an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2011 – barring a miracle comeback in its last regular season SEC series and in the conference tourney – the Tigers have no room for argument.

Now 33-20 overall and 10-17 in league play, LSU third-year head coach Jay Johnson will wistfully look back and pinpoint three SEC losses it choked away in the late innings including two with the Tigers needing one out to secure the victory.

Alabama’s 4-3 victory over LSU here Sunday won the series for the Crimson Tide (32-19, 12-15). The Tigers were dominated by a Bama Game 3 starting pitcher who entered the day with the fourth-worst earned run average on the Tide’s staff.

But knowing a Game 3 SEC series loss was likely for LSU – the Tigers are now 1-8 in such games this season because it has no reliable series finale starting pitcher– Johnson’s crew got behind the 8-ball in this series and a chance at an NCAA invite when it lost 8-7 in Friday’s opener.

The Tigers blew a 7-3 lead entering the bottom of the eighth inning. Alabama scored just 15 runs in the series, but 5 came in the last two innings of Game 1.

The Tide scored 3 runs on 3 hits – all on 2-strike pitches – in the eighth inning. The first two hits, including a 2-run homer by Alabama’s TJ McCants on a 0-2 pitch, came off LSU reliever Christian Little.

Griffin Herring, LSU’s best reliever in SEC play, entered the game and struck out two straight batters before giving up an RBI single that cut LSU’s lead to 7-6.

Herring settled, retiring the next three batters including the first two in the ninth on strikeouts. Then, the wheels came off against the Tide’s 4-5 and 6-hole hitters.

Herring walked Kade Snell on a 3-2 pitch, McCants walked on four straight balls and then hit Mac Guscette with his first pitch.

With available closers in the bullpen such as Gavin Guidry, Johnson stuck with Herring as Alabama’s William Hamiter stepped into the batter’s box.

Hamiter hit a 2-2 pitch nubber in front of the plate. LSU catcher Alex Milazzo, barehanded the ball and fired a throw that pulled Tigers’ first baseman Jared Jones into the path of Hamiter as he crossed first base.

Jones dropped the ball and Cade and McCants scored for the walk-off win.

Johnson asked for a replay review citing runner interference. But it was obvious Hamiter was clearly in the base path and Milazzo’s throw pulled Jones into Hamiter’s right of way.

“I don’t even know if they looked at it with how quick the review was,” Johnson said. “Pretty important play to have less than a 15-second review on.”

LSU got its best pitching of the series in its 6-3 Game 2 win.

Tigers’ starter and former Alabama staff ace Luke Holman held the Crimson Tide to 2 runs on 4 hits in 5.2 innings with 4 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Relievers Nate Ackenhausen and Gavin Guidry combined to allow 1 run on 2 hits with 2 walks and two strikeouts in the final 3.1 innings, allowing. Guidry got the save after working 2 scoreless innings with no hits, 1 walk and 1 strikeout.

“Luke is a superstar,” Johnson said. “There’s not a more put-together pitcher and person in college baseball than him,” Johnson said of Holman. “A lot of that has to do with his poise and his mindset.”

Knowing its Game 3 pitching lineup would feature stringing together several bottom-ring relievers, LSU needed to get off to a good start.

It didn’t happen. Alabama took a 4-0 lead after three innings, scoring 3 runs off LSU starter Sam Dutton in the second inning and another run in the third off Aiden Moffett.

LSU’s last four relievers – Justin Loer, Fidel Uklloa, DJ Primeaux and Little – shut out Alabama on 2 hits in the final 4 innings.

But the Tigers’ bats were chilled by Alabama junior starter Ben Hess, who entered the day with a 6.89 ERA. Hess tied a career-high 10 strikeouts, holding LSU to a run and three hits in a career-best 6.2 innings.

LSU scored 2 runs in the eighth but failed to score the tying run after having Tommy White on third base with just one out. True freshman Ashton Larson struck out and fellow true freshman Steven Milam lined out to shortstop to kill the rally.

The Tigers, who haven’t swept any opponent this season, now need a sweep of Ole Miss (27-24, 11-16) in the final regular season SEC series starting Thursday in Alex Box Stadium.

Since 1999, 10 of 26 (38 percent) of SEC teams that finished league play with 13 wins earned an NCAA tourney at-large bid. Just 3 of 17 teams (18 percent) that finished with 12 conference wins got NCAA postseason invites.

The Rebels are coming off a home series victory over No. 3 Texas A&M, winning Games 1 and 2 by scores of 4-3 and 10-2 respectively.

Ole Miss has improved its RPI from No. 28 to No. 25 while LSU didn’t move off No. 35 after losing to Alabama, which edged from No. 12 to 11 in RPI.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Rain challenges slate for NAIA Opening Round baseball at LSUS

/ Megan Lowe
 (Photo courtesy LSUS Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The artificial turf at Pilot Field is a vital asset as five teams – three in the Top 25 — hope to begin play today in the Shreveport Bracket of the NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round.

Sunday’s heavy rain and the chance for more early today and lesser amounts during the afternoon figure to stall the start of play in the double-elimination competition targeted to wrap up Thursday. The playing surface provides some hope for a quicker bounce-back from the precipitation.

LSUS (42-9), ranked fourth nationally, is scheduled for its first action at 6 this evening against the winner of the day’s opening game between the regional’s fourth and fifth seeds. Talladega (Ala.), with a 37-15 record, is No. 4 and slated to play at 11 a.m. against No. 5 Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.), owning a 31-21 mark.

Second-seeded Concordia (Neb.) brings a 41-13 record against No. 3 Kansas Wesleyan (45-10) in a 2:30 matchup. Concordia was ranked 18th and Kansas Wesleyan 20th in the final regular-season NAIA Top 25 poll.

Tournament updates should be available at https://www.lsusathletics.com/opening_round_pages/2024_bsb_opening_round online, along with a free video stream when play is underway.

Centenary baseball gets NCAA D3 travel plans this morning

/ Megan Lowe
SCAC DOGPILE: A week ago today, the Centenary baseball team celebrated a remarkable comeback through the elimination bracket to capture the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament and earn an NCAA Tournament berth. (Photo by PRESTON LUDWICK, Centenary Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament champion Centenary baseball team will learn its immediate future this morning when the NCAA Division III Selection Show on NCAA.com reveals regional pairings to begin Friday.

The Gents are gathering at Walk On’s on Youree Drive for the 11 a.m. show. 

The tournament starts with 16 regionals at school sites with each winner playing a super-regional best of three series to determine the eight teams who will advance to the D-III World Series in a suburb of Cleveland.

The playoff field consists of 60 teams. Regionals will be staged Friday-Sunday at 14 sites with four teams (double elimination),  along with two regionals with two teams in short series.

Super regionals are May 24-25 with the 16 teams colliding in eight best-of-three series.

Centenary (23-18) was the second seed in the SCAC Tournament and charged through the field, finishing with a 9-5 victory in the championship game over Texas Lutheran. The Gents won three straight elimination round games to force a winner-take-all contest last Monday.

It’s the second NCAA Regional appearance in three seasons for Centenary, which won the SCAC Tournament in 2022. The Gents also took that title in 2017 to advance to NCAA postseason play for the first time under successful veteran coach Mike Diaz, in his 14th season in charge and 20th overall season on Kings Highway.

Shreve’s Sharp, Parkway’s Snell top 1-5A baseball team

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS

Parkway sophomore outfielder Cole Snell was named the Player of the Year and Captain Shreve sophomore pitcher Andrew Sharp was selected as the Pitcher of the Year on the All-District 1-5A team selected by district coaches.

Snell had a .465 average in district games for the Panthers, who finished tied for second in the district with a 10-4 mark and were 23-10 overall. He was joined on the team by teammates senior pitcher Colton Smith, senior first baseman Sean Waits and junior utility Abel Thetford.

Sharp was 5-0 in district with a 1.72 ERA for the district champion Gators (12-2, 27-10). Junior catcher Carter Reynolds, senior third baseman Aron Gillum, senior designated hitter Christopher Peyton and senior utility Rhyson Carroway were the other selections for Shreve. The Gators’ Todd Sharp was named the Coach of the Year.

State semifinalist Benton placed five on the team: junior pitchers Kade Bryant and Thomas Allen, senior second baseman Hudson Brignac and senior utility Bryson Pierce. Bryant was the only player listed as a pitcher and at another position, also earning all-district honors in the outfield. The Tigers tied Parkway for second in the district at 10-4 and were the only area school with more than 30 wins at 31-11.

Natchitoches Central finished in fourth place with a 9-5 district mark and 23-9 and placed three on the team. Junior pitcher Ross Lindsey, junior shortstop Brock Laird and junior outfielder Dillon Braxton were all selected.

Haughton had a pair selected in Arkansas commit senior outfielder Christian Turner and senior utility Brayden Stovall.

2024 All-District 1-5A team selected by district coaches:

P – Kade Bryant, Benton, Jr.

P – Thomas Allen, Benton, Jr. 

P – Ross Lindsey, Natchitoches Central, Jr. 

P – Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve, So.

P – Colton Smith, Parkway, Sr. 

C – Carter Reynolds, Captain Shreve, Jr. 

1B – Sean Waits, Parkway, Sr.

2B – Hudson Brignac, Benton, Sr.

3B – Aron Gillum, Captain Shreve, Sr. 

SS – Brock Laird, Natchitoches Central, Jr. 

OF – Kade Bryant, Benton, Jr. 

OF – Dillon Braxton, Natchitoches Central, Jr. 

OF – Cole Snell, Parkway, So. 

OF – Christian Turner, Haughton, Sr.

DH – Christopher Peyton, Captain Shreve, Sr.

Util – Bryson Pierce, Benton, Sr.

Util – Abel Thetford, Parkway, Jr.

Util – Rhyson Carroway, Captain Shreve, Sr.

Util – Brayden Stovall, Haughton, Sr.

Player of the Year – Cole Snell, Parkway

Pitcher of the Year – Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve 

Coach of the Year – Todd Sharp, Captain Shreve

Final standings

DISTRICT 1-5A Dist. All
Captain Shreve 12-2 27-10
Benton 10-4 31-11
Parkway 10-4 23-10
Natchitoches Central 9-5 23-9
Haughton 6-8 22-13
Airline 5-9 13-17
Byrd 4-10 11-23
Southwood 0-14 2-23

Benton comes up just short in semifinal loss to Barbe

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS

SULPHUR – Benton’s magical run in the LHSAA baseball playoffs came to an end Thursday as the Tigers fell in the Non-Select Division I semifinals to top seed and reigning state champion Barbe 4-1 at McMurry Park.

An inch here or there for the Tigers and they might have come up with another upset win, on the heels of wins over the fourth and fifth seeds in the last two playoff rounds.

“I know people thought we’d get blown out but I never thought that would ever happen,” said Benton coach Dane Peavy.

Benton starter Kade Bryant shut down the Bucs on three hits through the first four innings when Barbe was able to put three runs on the board in the fifth inning.

“In the end I thought it came down to probably two pitches. We had two outs and they were down to their last strike there and the guy (Myles LeDoux) just got a good piece of a 1-2 off speed pitch and just put it up the middle and they scored that one run. Then we got 1-1 on (Owen) Galt and the ball was probably an inch or two off the plate and he put a good swing on it and got all of it.”

LeDoux’s single handed Barbe its first run and Galt’s two-run home run gave the Bucs a 3-0 lead. But Benton wasn’t done.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, when disaster struck. Sophomore designated hitter Caleb Frey hit a sinking liner to centerfield that was caught just above the grass and turned into a double play by the Bucs.

“I thought we did a really good job of coming back in the top of the sixth loading the bases and giving ourselves a good chance,” said Peavy. “That guy in centerfield, he must’ve made a really good play. It looked like it got down to me, but obviously the umpire saw it different and called him out and we got doubled up.

“At the end of the day, if that ball drops (Frey’s liner) we score two, it’s 3-2 there in the sixth and we are back in business with runners at first and second with one out.”

Barbe added an insurance run in the sixth to lead 4-0 going into the seventh.

Benton’s only run came in the seventh. Junior catcher Griffin Sibley started the inning with a double and two outs later scored when freshman Hayden Millen singled.

Bryant worked five innings on the mound, giving up seven hits, four earned runs, while he struck out four and walked one. It was his only loss in the playoffs after three wins. The Tigers finished with an area-best 31-11 record.

Barbe (34-6) will play No. 2 seed West Monroe, a 7-1 winner over Sam Houston in the other semifinal, at 5:30 on Saturday for the state title.

“That’s just kind of the way baseball goes, sometimes they fall, sometimes they don’t,” said Peavy. “Today we didn’t get the ones that fell and they did, really. I didn’t feel they were overly better than us, of course, but I don’t feel like anybody is overly better than we are. I feel like we can compete with anybody.”

In postgame anguish, Benton’s Peavy focuses on the legacy, not the moment

/ Megan Lowe

It is a scene repeated over and over and over again after certain high school baseball games. After the third out is recorded and one team begins celebrating, only to remember that there is the ritual of the handshake line. Once that is completed, they continue the celebration.

And the other team doesn’t.

That team will slowly make its way down the foul line nearest its dugout and stop somewhere in the shallow part of the outfield grass. Significantly, in a place where privacy is needed.

This is the last moment that this team will be this team.

The Benton Tigers made that long, slow walk from the first base dugout at Field 41 at McMurry Park in Sulphur Thursday night after a 4-1 loss to Barbe.

The further you advance in the playoffs, the tougher that walk gets. And this was the Division I (Non-Select) semifinals, so that didn’t help.

Benton’s Dane Peavy had to make the speech that no coach wants to make but all do, except for the one that wins it all. But the last thing Peavy wanted to do was reflect on the actual game. There was too much to say about the journey to get there, but not enough words to say them.

“It’s a tough conversation to have,” Peavy said later.

The toughest thing for a coach in that situation is letting go. You know that when they walk away, it’s over. Not the game, but a little chunk of your athletic life goes away.

There are tears and hugs and “just one more picture!” before the realization sets in: The ride is over.

Or is it?

“I told our seniors that they really transcended this program,” Peavy said. “I told them to hold their heads high because what they did was set pace for history. There will come a time when we celebrate being a state champion and we’ll look back and remember these guys were the pillars of success of that path for future Benton players.”

Peavy had said earlier in the week when the season started, he thought the Tigers were probably a year away. And then they lost their top two pitchers.

From just about any angle you want to look it, this game was a mismatch. Benton was seeking its first state championship in Class 5A (the Tigers won it 2018 as a 4A school) while Barbe has run out of collective fingers for its 12 championship rings.

Barbe was the defending champion; Benton didn’t even get a home playoff series last year.

Barbe was the No. 1 seed; Benton was a double-digit seed (13), and those rarely make it to the state semifinals.

Barbe has more than a half dozen players who are committed to colleges that currently ranked in the Top 20, including a freshman who is committed to LSU. Benton has freshmen who do a great job getting the batting cage in place for BP and making sure there is water in the visiting dugout.

The Tigers might look back and point to being one strike away from being out of the pivotal fifth inning, when Barbe broke open a 0-0 game with three runs. Or the Tigers might think about having the bases loaded a couple of times and leaving runners stranded.

Or they might not.

The Tigers didn’t go through a tough regular season – and three even-tougher playoff series — just to be happy with a bus ride to Sulphur and miss a couple of days of school.

The Benton Tigers went toe-to-toe with a nationally-recognized program and didn’t blink. No one should be surprised.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

Tigers take on ‘nameless and faceless’ foe – RPI – in late push for NCAA bid

/ Megan Lowe
BRINGING HEAT:  Vanderbilt transfer Christian Little has stepped forward as one of the stoppers in LSU’s bullpen as the Tigers try to mount a late surge into the NCAA Tournament. (Photo by SIERRA BEAULIEU, LSU Athletics)

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

TUSCALOOSA. Ala. – Ask LSU’s baseball players where the Tigers rank in RPI (rating percentage index) or how RPI works in the NCAA tournament at-large invitation process.

None of them can likely tell you.

That’s how it is and has been for LSU, which has lost its first five league series and now has won its last three including last weekend vs. No. 1 Texas A&M.

For the record, the defending national champion Tigers’ (32-18 9-15 SEC) RPI is No. 35, heading into the start of tonight’s series here vs. Alabama (30-18, 10-14 SEC), which has an RPI of 12.

With six remaining regular SEC games including next week’s final regular season series at home vs. Ole Miss, all LSU head coach Jay Johnson’s squad knows is “just win baby.”

“We’re in a spot where let’s just play hard no matter what the score is,” LSU catcher Brady Neal said. “We’re just playing ball against nameless and faceless teams, just going out there with nothing to lose, competing our butts off and making guys have to beat us.”

It’s the only approach the Tigers could have taken after a top-heavy conference schedule loaded with ranked teams just about sank their season.

At one point, LSU was equally deficient in every phase. It couldn’t hang its hat on its hitting, starting and relief pitching and fielding.

Yet when LSU’s pitching from Game 1 and Game 2 weekend series starters Gage Jump and Luke Holman finally steadied starting in the second half of league play and new effective relievers bloomed like Griffin Herring and Christian Little, the Tigers stopped the bleeding.

In LSU’s consecutive series wins over Missouri, Auburn and Texas A&M, Jump had a combined 1.86 ERA with 4 runs allowed in 19.1 innings and a 24 to 3 strikeouts-to-walks ratio.

On the backend as a reliever, Little has an ERA of 1.23 in his last three SEC appearances, striking out 12 and walking 1.

“I just think they’re seeing the difference in us at our best versus where we were and that should develop a lot of confidence,” Johnson said of his team that has won 9 of its last 12 games. “We have two of the best starting pitchers that can match up against anybody and some emerging bullpen pieces.

“And we have a lineup that shows a little more aptitude to get guys on base and score against good pitching.”

The consensus is LSU needs to win 4 of its last 6 SEC games (and likely at least one win in the conference tournament) to have a chance of getting an NCAA at-large tourney invite.

Usually, SEC teams need 13 league wins and a top 30 RPI or 14 conference wins with a top 40 to make the NCAA tourney field.

LSU (32-18 9-15 SEC) at Alabama (30-18, 10-14 SEC)

SCHEDULE/PITCHING MATCHUP

Game 1: Tonight, 6 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)

LSU –So. LH Gage Jump (4-1, 3.76 ERA, 55 IP, 16 BB, 67 SO)

UA –Sr. LH Greg Farone (4-2, 4.07 ERA, 55.1 IP, 18 BB, 57 SO)

Game 2: Saturday, 4 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)

LSU –Jr. RH Luke Holman (6-3, 2.84 ERA, 66.2 IP, 26 BB, 98 SO)

UA –Fr. LH Zane Adams (4-3, 4.71 ERA, 49.2 IP, 18 BB, 35 SO)

Game 3: Sunday, 1 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)

LSU – TBA

UA – Jr. RH Ben Hess (3-04, 6.89 ERA, 48.1 IP, 29 BB, 79 SO)

LSU-ALABAMA SERIES: Alabama leads the all-time series with LSU, 200-180-3, and the first meeting between the squads occurred in 1906. . .LSU has won 14 of the 16 SEC regular-season series versus the Tide since 2007, including a three-game series sweep last season in Baton Rouge.

A LOOK AT LSU: LSU catcher Brady Neal is batting .455 (5-for-11) in his last three games with a double, 3 homers, 7 RBI and 5 runs scored. . .First baseman Jared Jones has 2 doubles, 2 homers, 4 RBI and 4 runs in his last five games. . .Left fielder Josh Pearson has 3 doubles, 4 RBI and 5 runs scored in his last five games. . .Third baseman Tommy White has 1 double, 2 homers, 8 RBI and 6 runs in his last five games.

A LOOK AT ALABAMA: The Crimson Tide are No. 3 in the SEC in team batting average hitting .308. . .The Alabama pitching staff is No. 10 in the league with a 5.58 ERA. . .Infielder Gage Miller is hitting .383 this season with 10 doubles, 2 triples, 18 homers and 48 RBI.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Gents leap across the threshold by officially opening football facilities

/ Megan Lowe
MILESTONE MOMENTS:  Centenary supporters and community leaders gathered Thursday evening at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the college’s new football-centric athletic facilities. (Journal photo by DOUG IRELAND)

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Centenary football coach Byron Dawson is a big man, with a big smile. It was especially big Thursday evening, beaming as he stood in front of a crowd eagerly awaiting the moment the college’s president, Dr. Christopher Holoman, would cut the ribbon to officially dedicate the Gents’ new football-centric athletic facilities.

Two years ago, Dawson was a man entrusted with a dream, the idea being the rebirth of a long dormant football program at a college with an enrollment well under 1,000 students. Thursday, the Gents’ new fieldhouse – featuring locker rooms for football, softball and women’s soccer and coaches offices, overlooking the completed artificial turf practice field adjacent to the soccer/football field – was opened for supporters to see.

A football program that adopted the mantra “now we go” to signal the early stages of developing the program passed a milestone with Thursday’s ceremony.

Said Dawson: “We’re transitioning from ‘now we go’ to ‘now we grow.’ Now we grow our roster. Now we grow as a team. Now we grow new facilities and a new stadium. Now we grow our student enrollment. Great things are happening here.”

The timing of the ribbon-cutting was coincidental, Holoman told the crowd, but appropriate.

“It is two and a half years ago to (Friday), that we stood here and announced the return of football to Centenary College. There were some skeptics, I think it’s fair to say. But here we are. An amazing coaching hire, 70-plus student-athletes, $2 million raised, an 8-1 record in a preliminary season – I believe we’re proving the skeptics wrong,” said the president.

With an audience that included Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux and several other public officials and community leaders, it was clear by bringing back football, even at the NCAA Division III level, Centenary has strengthened its local connections.

The Gents showed off a 4,700-square foot fieldhouse that looks out at a 76,500-square foot practice field. After playing a nine-game exhibition season last fall, Centenary will officially kick off football with a 10-game slate including six home contests, opening on Sept. 7 just behind the Gold Dome against Hendrix (Ark.).

“This is just a testament of the hard work and commitment, what’s already been put in the ground. Progress is a process,” said Dawson. “We’ve got good seed in the ground and we’re able to see some harvest. Coming from our season, we only lost one game. Building off that, having a great recruiting class of guys coming in this fall, and now to have these facilities complete.

“That kind of progression gives you momentum, and we just want to ride that wave and use it to take us to new heights.”

Dawson, who played at LSU and was an assistant coach at Tulane along with winning a state title as head coach at Evangel Christian Academy, where he was an All-America defensive lineman, has seen some of the finest facilities in college football. What stands out about his new digs?

“Whenever you can have two turf fields right beside each other, even some Division I programs don’t have that. To have a coach’s office overlooking those fields, to be in close proximity where you don’t have to walk across campus to get to the athletic facilities – and to be centered right in the middle of Shreveport, it’s a great location,” he said. “Being Louisiana’s oldest and first college (founded 1825), we take pride in that.”

The timing was ideal for the ceremony, as Holoman pointed out, and Dawson amplified in his remarks to the crowd.

“We theme our days in our football program, and this is ‘Thankful Thursday.’ Thinking of all the people who made this day possible, we’re so grateful,” he said.

“Shreveport-Bossier, we have college football. We can’t wait to play.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

LSUS gets to stay home for NAIA Opening Round beginning Monday

/ Megan Lowe
FIRED UP:  LSUS sophomore all-conference pitcher Draven Zeigler was pumped off coming off the mound during a recent Pilots’ game. (Photo courtesy LSUS Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

The LSUS Pilots had another strong spring on the diamond, and will again be hosting an NAIA Opening Round regional pod beginning Monday as a result.

The fourth-ranked Pilots, 42-9, welcome four visiting teams to Shreveport beginning Monday in the double-elimination bracket wrapping up Thursday. It’s the third straight season LSUS is hosting and the program’s 20th consecutive NAIA Tournament berth.

Other teams in the Shreveport bracket are No. 2 Concordia (Neb.), third-seeded Kansas Wesleyan, Talladega (Ala.) at No. 4 and fifth-seeded Blue Mountain Christian (Miss.).

The NAIA released its national tournament bracket with 16 regional pods Thursday afternoon.

LSUS will open Monday at 6 p.m. at Pilot Field against the winner of the 4-5 game between Talladega and Blue Mountain Christian. If the Pilots prevail, they’ll play a second-round game Tuesday at 2:30.

The Pilots won their third straight Red River Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 28-2 league mark, but faltered last weekend in the conference tournament at Sterlington, dropping a pair of games to Louisiana Christian, which went on to win the event. It was the first time in 15 years LSUS lost to the Wildcats.

LSUS is hoping for its third NAIA World Series trip in the last four years. The Pilots fell just short last year after back-to-back trips to Lewiston, Idaho, in 2021 and 2022.

Eleven Shreveport-Bossier athletes named to 1-4A softball team

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS

Eleven Shreveport-Bossier softball players were named to the 2024 All-District 1-4A softball team selected by district coaches. 

Evangel placed five players, Northwood three, Caddo Magnet two and Huntington one to the first-team list of 24. State runner-up and district champion North DeSoto had 10 selections that included Most Valuable Player Laney Johnson, a Louisiana Tech signee. Lady Griffin coach Tim Whitman was Coach of the Year after leading North DeSoto to a 30-5 record. 

Evangel had one senior, Haven Brooks, make the all-district infield, while also on the 1-4A list were sophomore pitcher Olivia Pandiella, junior catcher Holly Hanks and two eighth-graders in Victoria Launer (designated player) and Kaydence Chreene (utility). 

Among the three from Northwood were freshman pitcher Devan Ashby, senior catcher Selena Nunnery and sophomore Mackenzie Jagers at designated player.

Caddo Magnet was represented by sophomore pitcher Grace Chaisson and junior Mary McLamb at utility. Huntington’s selection was senior utility player Makayla Perkins.

2024 All-District 1-4A team selected by coaches

First team 

Pitchers – Avery McCloskey, North DeSoto, Jr.; Devan Ashby, Northwood, Fr.; Olivia Pandiella, Evangel, So.; Grace Chaisson, Caddo Magnet. So. 

Catchers – Payton Miller, North DeSoto, Jr.; Selena Nunnery, Northwood, Sr.; Holly Hanks, Evangel, Jr.; Jacey Adams, Minden, Sr.

Infielders – Mia Norwood, North DeSoto, Sr.; Raegan Henderson, North DeSoto, Jr.; Ciara Orgeron, North DeSoto, Sr.; Maddy Stringer, North DeSoto, Jr.; Lindsay Ryan, Minden, So.; Haven Brooks, Evangel, Sr. 

Outfielders – Leigha Gilbert, Minden, Jr.; Regan Davlin, North DeSoto, Sr.; Carsyn Curtis, North DeSoto, So.; Sasha Falls, North DeSoto, Jr.

Designated players – Mackenzie Jagers, Northwood, So.; Victoria Launer, Evangel, 8th 

Utility – Kylie Ryan, Minden, Sr.; Makayla Perkins, Huntington, Sr.; Kaydence Chreene, Evangel, 8th; Mary McLamb, Caddo Magnet, Jr.

Most Valuable Player – Laney Johnson, North DeSoto

Coach of the Year – Tim Whitman, North DeSoto

2024 final standings

District 1-4A Dist. All
North DeSoto 3-0 30-5
Woodlawn 3-1 5-14
Minden 2-1 18-12
Northwood 1-1 9-16
Evangel 1-1 9-24
Caddo Magnet 0-1 13-12
Huntington 0-1 5-5
BTW 0-1 8-11
Bossier 0-3 0-15

Facing No. 1 Barbe, Benton aims for its biggest upset yet in today’s semifinals

/ Megan Lowe

By LEE HILLER, Journal Sports

Benton has built quite a reputation the last number of years of being a playoff team that wins the games it should and even some it shouldn’t, with this year’s team upping the ante by knocking off higher seeded teams on its way to the LHSAA Non-Select Division I baseball semifinals.

The 13th-seeded Tigers have upset the No. 4 (Dutchtown) and No. 5 (St. Amant) teams in the upper part of the bracket in improving their record to 31-10. They have their work cut out for themselves when they face top-seed Barbe (33-6) today at McMurry Park in Sulphur at 5:30 p.m.

Pitching and defense have been a big reason for Benton’s success with eight shutouts since the start of April. The biggest one came in the decisive Game 3 in the quarterfinal 1-0 win over St. Amant to get the Tigers where they are. It was their third shutout in the playoffs and second 1-0 win in the postseason.

This is Benton’s first semifinal since moving up to Class 5A. The program last played in the semifinals in 2019 when it lost 2-0 to top-seed Tioga in Class 4A. The Tigers  won their only state championship the year before,  defeating top-seeded DeRidder 13-2. The five previous years, Benton reached the quarterfinals.

A trio of junior pitchers, Thomas Allen, Tanner Webb and Kade Bryant, have been the staff that has held playoff opponents to 26 hits in 48 innings and a 0.73 earned run average. They have recorded 47 strikeouts and walked 20.

The Tigers would like to add to their good fortune with a semifinal win and chance at a second state title.

You can listen to the game on the Benton Tiger Sports Network at network1sports.com/station/btsn with Travis Shurling doing the play-by-play and Reed Thomas is the color analyst. The pregame show will start at 5:15 with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m.

Benton’s last 10 years and how they fared in the playoffs:

2024 (13) – def. Denham Springs 2-0; def. Dutchtown 2-0; def. St. Amant 2-0; vs Barbe (semifinals)

2023 (20) – def. Natchitoches Central 2-0; lost series to Sam Houston 2-0

2022 (19) – lost to Ponchatoula, 2-1

2021 (7) – def. Chalmette, 9-4; lost series to Dutchtown 2-0

2019 (4) – def. Plaquemine 4-2; def. Northwood2-0; def. West Ouachita 2-1; lost to Tioga in semis, 2-0 (single game)

2018 (9) – def. Peal River 3-2; def. Belle Chasse 2-0; def. Breaux Bridge 2-1; def. West Ouachita 6-5; def. #1 DeRidder 13-2 for state title

2017 (1) – def. Leesville, 10-0; def. Belle Chasse won series 2-1; lost series to Neville 2-1 (quarterfinals)

2016 (6) – def. Franklin Parish, 6-1; def. Crowley won series 2-0; lost series to West Ouachita 2-0 (quarterfinals)

2015 (4) – def. Rayne, 10-0; def. Lakeshore won series 2-0; lost series to Teurlings 2-0 (quarterfinals)

2014 (4) – def. South Terrebonne 11-1; def. Northwood 12-0; lost to St. Michael 11-0 (quarterfinals)

Pilots expect to host Opening Round after NAIA Tournament draw is set today

/ Megan Lowe
ROUND TRIPPER:  LSUS senior outfielder Jose Aquino was a second-team all-conference choice after belting a team-best 9 home runs and collecting 35 RBI. (Photo courtesy LSUS Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

An uncharacteristic exit from the Red River Athletic Conference baseball tournament last weekend didn’t create any doubt LSUS had postseason legs.

That was reinforced Wednesday when in the last regular-season NAIA Top 25 poll, the Pilots (42-9) did not slip at all, retaining their No. 4 national ranking.

Today at 4, the NAIA will unveil its baseball championship bracket and the Pilots anticipate being a No. 1 seed and hosting an Opening Round event next week, beginning Monday.

If that plays out, LSUS will begin its pursuit of another NAIA World Series berth with a 6 p.m. game Monday evening in a double-elimination bracket of a four-team regional pod to wrap up next Thursday.

The Pilots, who rolled to the RRAC championship with a 28-2 league mark, dropped a pair of contests in the conference tournament to eventual champion Louisiana Christian. The Wildcats entered as the league’s No. 5 seed but knocked off the Pilots 5-2 in a second-round game Friday, and then eliminated them Saturday with a 12-inning 7-6 upset.

LSUS won three times, including an opening 17-1 romp over Jarvis Christian and a 21-4 blowout of Our Lady of the Lake.

The program filled 13 slots on the All-RRAC Team announced last week, including seven first-team selections.  For a third straight season, LSUS swept the Player of the Year (junior second baseman Vantrel Reed) and Pitcher of the Year (junior Isaac Rohde) honors.

After rolling to their third consecutive regular-season RRAC crown, the Pilots added junior third baseman Josh Gibson, junior shortstop Jose Sallorin, senior outfielder Trevor Burkhard, and  sophomore pitchers Draven Zeigler and David Hankins to the all-conference first team with Reed and Rohde.

Gibson leads the Pilots with a .421 batting average. Reed is hitting .393 with 8 home runs and 58 RBI, both team highs.

Rohde owns a 1.34 ERA and a 10-2 record with 115 strikeouts in 93 innings.

Earning second-team honors were junior first baseman Angel Rodriguez, junior catcher Diego Aragon, senior outfielder Jose Aquino, junior outfielder Ryan Davenport, junior pitcher Chase Guitreau and senior pitcher A.J. Fritz.

Gold Glove winners were Aragon, Davenport and Sallorin. Earning a spot on the league’s “Champions of Character Team” was senior relief pitcher Josh Fortenberry.

Centenary invites public to visit new football-related facilities today

/ Megan Lowe
(Graphic courtesy Centenary Athletics)

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Sports Information Director

A new era for intercollegiate athletics at Centenary gets ushered in this afternoon as the Gents show off their recently-completed facilities enabling the relaunch of a long-dormant football program.

Centenary Athletics will hold a ribbon-cutting event to celebrate the completion of its new fieldhouse and football practice field today from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

The celebration includes a reception and student-athlete-led tours of the new facilities. The event is free and open to the public.

Centenary president Dr. Christopher L. Holoman, athletic director David Orr, and head football coach Byron Dawson will speak during a brief ceremony.

The new 4,700-square foot fieldhouse houses locker rooms for Centenary’s football team along with its women’s soccer and softball teams. The facility, which also includes coaches’ offices, looks out over the new 76,500-square foot turf practice field.

Adjacent to the Gold Dome and to Mayo Field, home of Centenary’s football, lacrosse, and soccer teams, the field house and practice field are the latest addition to Centenary’s revitalized athletic complex located on Kings Highway.

The ribbon-cutting event will also serve as the official re-launch of Centenary’s “C Club,” Centenary’s athletic booster club. C Club supporters can choose to allocate funds to specific athletic teams or to the athletic department as a whole, and can choose from a variety of individual and corporate affiliation levels. For more information, check the GoCentenary.com website.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

Willis Knighton completes free physicals for local high school athletes

/ Megan Lowe
TAKE A DEEP BREATH: Dr. John Mays was one of several Willis-Knighton Health System physicians who recently gave physical exams to almost 900 high school student-athletes. (Photo courtesy Willis-Knighton Health System)

JOURNAL SPORTS

There was unusual early-morning activity locally last Saturday. Nearly 900 high schoolers were up and out the door, not a typical Saturday morning in a teen’s life.

They took part in Willis Knighton Sports Medicine’s annual physicals for high school athletes.

Physicals were given to 894 student athletes last Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at WK Eye Institute in preparation for the 2024-2025 school year.

An annual physical is required by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association for student-athletes to participate in sports, said Brian Rocket, head athletic trainer for Willis Knighton Sports Medicine.

“We provide this service annually as an example of our commitment to our athletes, their families and coaches,” said Rocket.

For more than 22 years, Willis Knighton Sports medicine has offered the physicals to its client schools and other high schools in the community that do not have a sports medicine provider.

As the exclusive provider of sports medicine services for all the high schools in Caddo Parish and several of the high schools in Bossier Parish, the medical staff in the Willis Knighton Sports Medicine program is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the student-athletes.

Forty-seven healthcare providers including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, physical therapist assistants and athletic trainers conducted the screenings.

The annual physical includes a review of the student-athletes’ personal and family medical history, a musculoskeletal screening examination, and a cardiopulmonary screening examination to identify signs and symptoms suggestive of medical conditions and disorders that would preclude participation in sports and warrant further medical evaluation and/or management.

Pre-participation screening examinations are a vital component of the practice of sports medicine and enable Willis Knighton providers to promote the health and safety of local student-athletes.

Protecting your camp during the offseason

/ Megan Lowe

“It was finally the weekend. Spring turkey season had arrived and all Neal Windley of Norfolk, Va., wanted to do was get to his farm, change into his camouflage and get into the woods. What he found when he arrived not only put a halt to his weekend of hunting, it also cost him thousands of dollars in repair and prevention.

“Windley’s hunting camp was demolished. Windows were broken, a television and other items were missing and the once clean and comfortable house had been turned into a disaster area. Sadly, that was not the first time this had happened. Vandals had trashed his camp two other times. Sweeping up glass and filling out police reports were not what he had in mind when he and a good friend originally bought the land in the early 1990s.”

The above report was part of a news release I received from the National Wild Turkey Federation. The report from the NWTF gives sobering evidence that all too often, hunters head for camp after a long hiatus to find just what Neal Windley found.

The first thing I did after reading the NWTF press release was call a fellow club member to see if he’s checked on our camp lately. He no doubt heard my sigh of relief when he reported he was there this past weekend, and everything was as we had left it.

The second thing I did was call the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s office to talk with Steve Rogers who was investigator at the time to see if there have been incidences of hunting camp vandalism and/or theft recently.

“It happens here from time to time. It seems that things will be quiet and then we’ll get three or four reports in a week. It’s like a rash; it spreads when it breaks out,” said Rogers.

There are several things hunting camp owners can do during the off-season to keep criminals from trashing or stealing from your hunting camp, according to Rogers.

“First, if your camp has a locked gate, be sure to keep the gate locked. This won’t necessarily prevent theft but it makes it harder for thieves to cart off large items.

“Another important thing is don’t leave valuable items, such as 4-wheelers, guns, cookers, lanterns, etc. at the camp. Take them home for the off-season.

“I’d also suggest that you or somebody in your hunting club check on your camp regularly. Also, you might get a neighbor who lives near the camp and who you trust to keep an eye out for what may be going on when you’re not there. One of the problems we have,” Rogers noted, “is that we’ll get a report in the fall when hunters arrive at the camp and it may have been broken into in late spring. 

“Make an inventory of everything of value in your camp, just like you should be doing in your home. Write down serial numbers, description of each item, and where practical, put some identifying mark on the item in a concealed area so thieves won’t be as likely to find and remove it. I’d also suggest taking photos of valuable items to aid in identifying them should they be stolen,” said Rogers.

Some other suggestions offered by the NWTF is to make the local authorities aware that the camp will be unoccupied for a designated period of time. Another suggestion is to leave keys to your property’s gates with someone in authority to help them watch your place while you are away.    Make sure you have insurance and make sure it includes boats, ATVs or any item that may not be covered under a standard homeowner’s or renter’s policy.

Put identifying marks or recognizable numbers on tree stands and blinds. This can help law enforcement agents identify these items in the field if they are stolen. 

Follow these suggestions and you stand a better chance of finding your hunting camp this fall just as you left it — except of course for dirt-dobber nests and a mouse or two.

Contact Glynn at glynnharris37@gmail.com

Oh brother! Everything’s coming up roses

/ Megan Lowe

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was atop Mystic Dan at Churchill Downs, moving in the pack of thoroughbreds, aggressively watching, and with a plan.

The pair was on the inside on the second turn, just sitting there, going with the flow of things, waiting for a spot to open.

It did.

And Mystik Dan shot through it. 

He’s not overly anything for a thoroughbred except athletic and smart. And he’s plenty of those. 

Suddenly the crease was there and Hernandez and Mystik Dan poured themselves through it, and when they did, things went up a notch at the Shreveport home of Wayne and Kim Smith. 

That was only a few days ago — the first Saturday in May, a pretty big day in the horse racing world — and the feeling hasn’t left since the moment Kim and Wayne and two other couples, all close friends, saw with their own eyes and hearts that Mystik Dan, a sort of relative to them all, was going to make a legit run for the roses at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville. 

Which he did. A photo finish champion. Winner’s Circle. Garland of roses. 

Winner winner chicken dinner.

“We’re still on cloud nine at the Smith house,” Wayne said. 

“The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” — and counting. Because Saturday, everything came up roses for Smith’s sister Sharilyn and her husband Brent, co-owners with a tiny group of partners of Mystik Dan, the Man and the Dan of the hour.

“Such a neat story,” said big brother Wayne. “(Sharilyn and Brent) own the mom; they bred her four years ago and now here we are, four years later, and they’ve got the winner of the 150th Kentucky Derby. Incredible.

“When I think about Brent and Sharilyn, just how humble they are and how genuine they are … they’re givers and for this to happen for them, it just makes me so proud of them and happy for them. At the end of the day, it couldn’t have happened to a better group (of owners).”

Sharilyn is a Captain Shreve High and Louisiana Tech business graduate (1989), a former Tech College of Business Distinguished Alumna of the Year and a valued member of the Dean’s Advisory Board. Wayne graduated just a few years earlier, and if his name sounds familiar, it’s because he was the Tech Basketball program’s leader in assists for more than 30 years, a four-year starter at point guard on teams that went to a pair of NCAA Tournaments and an NIT.

Those old competitive juices were flowing Saturday when Mystik Dan headed down the stretch, stride for stride with Sierra Leone and Forever Young. It doesn’t matter that the next time Wayne Smith gets on a horse will be the first time: competition is competition.

“Lot of excitement,” he said. “I thought about when we won at Lamar (in 1984) to end their (homecourt) win streak (at 80 straight) and win the (Southland Conference) tournament, and then Reunion Arena (a loss in the Regional Semi-Finals in 1985). I guess for Mystik Dan, it’s like winning the national championship.

“You can only dream of something like this happening, and when it does, you’re grateful knowing it couldn’t have happened to a better team,” he said. “The Smith Family didn’t have a lot when we were growing up; I was born June 29, 1964, and Sharilyn was born June 28, 1968. She was my birthday present back then.”

And now, little sis has given him another present. One that he can’t open, but one that can’t ever be closed, either.

Contact Teddy at teddy@latech.edu

Benton ‘perseveres’ into Division I baseball semifinals

/ Megan Lowe
DAY AT THE BLEACH: Benton’s Hudson Brignac (left) and Bryson Pierce display their postseason hair styles. (Journal photo by JOHN JAMES MARSHALL)

By JOHN JAMES MARSHALL, Journal Sports

This was it.

This was the moment Hudson Brignac and Bryson Pierce and the rest of the Benton baseball team had been waiting for. After all of those close games they had played – especially in the playoffs – it seemed only fitting that this was what it all came down to.

One more inning. Three more outs. Zero margin of error.

The Tigers led St. Amant 1-0, but it was the bottom of the seventh inning and Benton had to take the field to keep the dream of a semifinal berth alive.

Nerves? Yeah, a little. “I was about to throw up,” Pierce said.

“But we knew all the preparation was going to pay off,” Brignac said. “Our team was ready.”

But both Brignac and Pierce say they wanted the ball hit to them. “We knew we were going to have to make a play,” Pierce said. “And we were ready to make a play.”

That’s exactly what happened. Ground ball to Pierce, the Benton first baseman.

One out.

Ground ball to Brignac, the shortstop. Two out.

Ground ball to sophomore third baseman Case Jorden. Ball game.

The gloves went into the air, everyone raced to the middle of the infield for the dogpile and the next thing that came to mind was simple.

“Sulphur,” Brignac said. “The next step.”

That next step will be 12-time (and defending) state champion Barbe in the Division I (non-select) semifinals Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at McMurry Park in Sulphur. Barbe is the top seed; Benton is a No. 13 seed.

It’ll be a challenge, to be sure, but that’s what this whole season has been for Benton. The Tigers have only five seniors, a low number for a Class 5A school. Pitching has always been a strength for Benton, but that depth has been challenged by the loss of two of their top pitchers to injury.

“If you had to write the story of Benton baseball in 2024, it would probably be perseverance,” said head coach Dane Peavy. “Early on, we really didn’t anticipate we would be as talented as we have been in the past. We really didn’t know what this was going to look like.”

If you’d asked Peavy three months ago if he expected to be in this position in early May, “I would have told you we were a year away,” he said. “You don’t come in (Class) 5A with a young team and just think you are going to bully teams around.”

Benton was last in the state semifinals in 2019 as a Class 4A school. This is the Tigers’ first trip as a Class 5A school.

But one thing has remained the same – the postseason hair-bleaching.

“I’m not going to lie to you, it was kind of a team decision,” Brignac said. “We had a few guys highlight and not bleach. We had a team dinner and nobody had bleached, so we got together and got it done.”

With a little help from some team moms and a few bleaching kits, follicle team unity has been achieved. With much better results that previous years.

“I bleached my hair when we were freshmen,” Pierce said, “but it turned out orange.”

Don’t expect Brignac to be at the salon as soon as the season is over. “I’m going to ride it out,” he said.

The Tigers have ridden out the gauntlet of Baton Rouge-area schools in the first three rounds, winning best-of-three-series against Denham Springs, Dutchtown and St. Amant. In those seven games, only once has Benton scored more than four runs. The Tigers have played 17 games that were decided by two runs or less.

As proven in the final inning against St. Amant, don’t expect the moment to be too big for the Benton Tigers.

“It’s like Coach Peavy tells us; if we leave it all out there on the field, we are going to be satisfied,” Pierce said.

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

Mulkey took Parkway’s Williams to LSU, and will bring her back home

/ Megan Lowe
(Graphic courtesy LSU Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

LSU women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey made several visits to Bossier City in her successful recruitment of Parkway star Mikaylah Williams. She’ll bring Williams home next season.

Williams, the 2023-24 SEC Freshman of the Year in her debut season with the Tigers, will be a focal figure when LSU tips off against Grambling on Sunday, Dec. 8 at Brookshire Grocery Arena in Bossier City. Tickets will go on sale this summer, according to a joint announcement Tuesday by the schools and the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.

“We could not be more excited to bring LSU to Mikaylah’s hometown of Bossier City in December to play Grambling State,” Mulkey said.

Williams put together one of the best freshman seasons in LSU history last year, averaging 14.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game, becoming just the fifth LSU player to rank inside the top-10 in points and assists as a freshman in program history. She scored 20 or more points in seven games, including a 42-point performance against Kent State, the most ever recorded by an LSU freshman dating back to 1982.

At Parkway, Williams was a two-time Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year and Louisiana Sports Writers’ Association “Miss Basketball” who led Parkway to the 2022 state finals and the 2023 state championship as a McDonald’s All-American. She also represented her country on the world stage and is a two-time defending Team USA 3×3 Player of the Year with multiple gold medals.

“She has a lot of fans in north Louisiana that have been following her for a long time and will want to come and see her along with the rest of our team,” said Mulkey. “Furthermore, it is always great to be able to bring LSU to different parts of the state because there are people that bleed purple and gold all across Louisiana.”

Mulkey, who has claimed four national championships as a head coach including the 2023 title at LSU, will be in her fourth season in Baton Rouge. She took Williams and the Tigers to the Elite Eight last season.

Mulkey is one of Louisiana Tech’s greatest sports figures, immortalized with a statue last September outside the north end zone of Aillet Stadium at the Sarah and A.L. Williams Champions Plaza. She was enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in its 2020 class while at Baylor, where she won NCAA championships in 2005, 2012 and 2019.

The Tickfaw native and four-time All-Stater and state champion at Hammond High played point guard at Tech, helping the Lady Techsters to two national championships (1981 AIAW, 1982 NCAA). She began her coaching career under Leon Barmore at Tech and helped the program reach four Final Fours, winning the 1988 NCAA title over Auburn.

Mulkey is the only person in NCAA basketball history to win national championships as a player, assistant coach and head coach. She played on the gold-medal winning 1984 USA Olympic team coached by Pat Summit. She was the youngest-ever (29) inductee in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, enshrined in 1990.

Mulkey’s counterpart at Grambling, Courtney Simmons, quickly made her mark as a head coach last season, leading GSU to 23-10 overall record and a 15-3 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. It marked the first time GSU eclipsed 20 wins in a season since 2002-03. The fast-paced Tigers reached the SWAC Tournament semifinals and earned a berth in the WNIT, defeating Oral Roberts in the opening round. Last season, Grambling also beat Arizona State 70-67, GSU’s first win over a Power Five opponent since 2017.

GSU’s leading scorer, Kahia Warmsley, is a Shreveport native and a graduate of Mansfield High. She averaged 10.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.3 steals las season. While at Mansfield High, she led the Wolverines to back-to-back state title appearances capturing the state title as a junior. She was also named the Most Outstanding Player on the Class 4A All-State team and was a four-time all-district selection and a two-time all-state selection.

Russ Potts Productions Inc. partnered with the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission and its sports director, Sara Nelms, to broker the deal bringing LSU and Grambling together in Bossier City.

LSU and Grambling last played over a decade ago, a 90-59 win by the Tigers in Baton Rouge during the 2012-13 season. LSU owns a 4-0 all-time record in the series.

Jones’ eighth-inning dinger rescues Tigers, spoils Demons’ upset bid

/ Megan Lowe
STRETCHING IT OUT: Northwestern State left fielder Balin Valentine lays out for a catch in the sixth inning of Tuesday night’s game, as the Demons nursed a 5-3 lead over LSU.  (Photo by JAMES STANFIELD, NSU Athletics)

JOURNAL SPORTS

BATON ROUGE –  Jared Jones’ two-out, two-run home run in the eighth inning made the difference for LSU in its last non-conference game of the season, lifting the Tigers to a 6-5 triumph Tuesday night over visiting Northwestern State.

It was the Demons’ inability to break through early that ultimately proved the toughest hurdle for NSU to overcome at Alex Box Stadium.

“We had some chances earlier in the ballgame with runners in scoring position, and we gave away some at-bats where I feel like we could have had more than five runs,” first-year Northwestern head coach Chris Bertrand said. “The runs at the end were a double and a home run, which is baseball, but within the first four runs, there were some mistakes in which we felt were some self-inflicted wounds and some gift wraps. You have to be excited – and we are – with the way our guys fought and competed and played.”

The Tigers (32-19) scored the game’s last three runs to rally, getting the decisive swing on Jones’ 21st homer of the year in the bottom of the eighth. As LSU chases an at-large NCAA Tournament berth, dropping Tuesday night’s contest was not feasible, he said.

“The message tonight was this is a must-win game,” said Jones, who credited his coaches with helping set up his game-winner. “The scouting report said in his (NSU reliever Caleb Bunch) last outing he threw 51 pitches and only 3 fastballs. I was lucky enough to get a slider I could handle, and do some damage with it.”

After falling behind 2-0 on Brady Neal’s two-run home run in the second inning, the Demons (19-29) responded and took the lead with a three-run fourth inning that featured RBI hits from Hayden Knotts and Reese Lipoma and a tie-breaking sacrifice fly from Samuel Stephenson.

Northwestern maintained that momentum after Tyler Nichol wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam by getting Tommy White to line out to second base in the fourth.

The Demons kept that edge and extended their lead in the following inning by taking advantage of a Fidell Ulloa wild pitch with a Colin Rains two-run single. Rains’ hit was part of the Haughton freshman’s second straight three-hit game.

Since driving in the go-ahead run in Saturday’s 2-0 win at Lamar, Rains is 7-for-9 with three RBIs.

“As we continue to talk about the growth of this team, what we talk about is gaining valuable experience,” Bertrand said. “What you’re seeing now is the fruits of Colin’s labor in how he is one of the hardest-working guys we have. That’s the thing – hitters hit and workers work. You’re seeing the fruits of labor mixed with a level of experience gained. That’s why he’s having success. The game of baseball is rewarding him for going about his business the right way.”

The NSU bullpen and its defense had its moments to keep the Demons on top for much of Tuesday night’s game.

Both Conner Bivins in the fifth and Alejandro Marquez in the seventh stranded inherited runners to keep the Demons on top as LSU began to chip away at its three-run deficit.

Bivins also worked a scoreless sixth inning that was highlighted by Balin Valentine’s diving catch that robbed Jared Jones of a potential RBI double to left field.

“The guy made a great play,” said Jones. “You just tip your cap. I did everything I could to put a good swing on a good pitch.”

While LSU (32-18) chipped away at the lead, right-hander Gavin Guidry (2-0) worked four shutout innings of relief to keep the Tigers in striking distance. He gave up only one hit after the visitors rapped nine in the first five innings.

“I’m so thankful for Gavin Guidry going four innings,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I’m so proud of our team. We’ve been playing playoff baseball for a month, and they’ve just stayed with it. This was a game we couldn’t win a month ago … just the poise. Sometimes you need competitors. I called them up at the end of the fourth inning and said, ‘We have to win.’ And I never do that.

“That’s a good team. We’ve played a lot of teams in that league, and they’re right in the middle of the pack,” he said. “They do a great job coaching. They’re getting the most out of what they have … they played great tonight, made us have to stay with it to win. We played like a winning team, and deserved to win in a really good baseball game.”

There was postgame pride in the Demon dugout, too.

“The message we delivered to the team was how proud we were of the fight and the great things we did do against an unbelievable baseball team,” Bertrand said. “We got 10 hits. For the most part, we were able to suppress their offense from big swings. There are a couple of things we need to clean up.”

The Demons return to action Friday when they host New Orleans in the opener of NSU’s final Southland Conference series of the season. The Tigers open an SEC series at Alabama Friday.

State softball champion Calvary dominates top district awards

/ Megan Lowe

JOURNAL SPORTS 

State champion Calvary swept the top awards on the All-District 1-2A team like it swept through all of its opponents during the season en route to a 35-2 mark. 

Seniors D.J. Lynch and Ramsey Walker were named the Co-Outstanding Players award and sophomore pitcher Kynzee Anderson the Most Valuable Player.  Coach Tiffany Wood was named the Coach of the Year after leading the Lady Cavaliers to another undefeated district championship. 

Lynch, a Northwestern State signee, led the Cavs that hit over .400 with a .594 average, 38 extra base hits, scored 66 runs and drove in 55. Walker, an Arkansas signee, was second on the team with a .575 average, led the area with 23 home runs, drove in 68 runs and scored 62. 

Anderson was dominant in the circle with a 25-2 record, struck out 274 batters in 212 innings and finished with a 1.95 ERA.   

2024 All-District 1-2A team as selected by district coaches. 

First team 

P – Larkin Creig, Loyola 

P – Hallie Sutton, Lakeside 

P – Addison Willis, Calvary 

P – Aubrey Zachry, D’Arbonne Woods 

C – Emily Jones, Lakeside 

C – Mallory Carver, Calvary 

C – Allie Chandler, D’Arbonne Woods 

Inf – Joley Bennett, D’Arbonne Woods 

Inf – Lylah Jones, D’Arbonne Woods 

Inf – Mackenzie McCoy, Lakeside 

Inf – Raleah Harris, Lakeside 

Inf – Rainie Hughes, Lakeside 

Inf – Baylee Blackburn, Calvary 

Inf – Loren Sivils, Calvary 

Inf – Ramsey Waker, Calvary 

OF – Chloe Edwards, D’Arbonne Woods 

OF – Presley Walker, Loyola 

OF – Carlie Guile, Calvary 

OF – Elana Franks, Calvary 

OF – Abby Sims, Calvary 

Util – Martha Vancherie, Loyola 

DP – Baylor Bockhaus, Calvary 

Most Valuable Player – Kynzee Anderson, Calvary 

Co-Outstanding Players – D.J. Lynch, Ramsey Walker, Calvary 

Coach of the Year – Tiffany Wood, Calvary 

Second team 

Pitchers – Nataleigh Ball, North Caddo; Klaire Futch, D’Arbonne Woods. Catcher: Amilea Bain, Calvary. Infielders – Savannah Mekelburg, Loyola; Anna Morris, Loyola; Brandy West, Green Oaks; Deshayla Harrison, Green Oaks; Charley Alford, D’Arbonne Woods; Brett Towns, D’Arbonne Woods; Laiklyn Squyres, Lakeside. Outfielders – Makenley Leggett, D’Arbonne Woods; Caydence Wallace, D’Arbonne Woods; Izzy Vise, Lakeside; Lexi Wood, Lakeside; Paiton Levesque, Lakeside; Brynn Robinson, Calvary; Jillian Drouillard, Loyola. Utility: Makenzee Canterberry, D’Arbonne Woods. Designated player – Teal Austin, Lakeside.

Final district standings

District 1-2A Dist. All
Calvary 2-0 35-2
Loyola 1-1 9-8
D’Arbonne Woods 1-1 15-14
Lakeside 1-1 16-17
North Caddo 0-1 2-14
Green Oaks 0-1 0-13