Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

May 5

Damon Leach, 44, Alexandria — aggravated assault with firearm, $10,000 bail.

As a friend and I approached Alex Box Stadium on the LSU campus, an attractive young woman at the gate greeted us with a smile and “How are y’all doing?” and a few of the others with her smiled and said “hello.”

Nothing like immediately feeling the love from this impressive ballpark that was built in 2009 to take the place of the original Alex Box Stadium that was the home of LSU baseball from 1938-2008.

And this was on a Sunday when the main message of the gospel read at Catholic churches across the globe was Jesus’ commandment to “love one another.” We arrived to that lovin’ feeling under a mostly sunny sky that we didn’t expect an hour or so earlier. That was when we were driving south through stormy rain, hoping the trip would not be in vain because of a rainout.

Nine years since retiring as a sportswriter, I invited my friend to join me on a bachelors’ day out, so to speak, while our wives and two other gals were on a powdery Florida beach not far from the Flora-Bama Lounge.

We trekked to Baton Rouge to check out the red-hot Tigers, who the night before had clinched their third straight Southeastern Conference series, beating top-ranked Texas A&M by two runs for the second straight time. Suddenly, a chance for the Tigers to qualify for the NCAA playoffs, which not long ago seemed virtually doomed, is now a possibility if LSU wins its final two SEC series against Alabama (away) and Ole Miss (home). There is hope that the defending national champions might rise from the ashes, if not quite like a phoenix, at least like a repentant sinner.

The press box in Alex Box isn’t like the one in massive Tiger Stadium across Nicholson Drive. It’s smaller, as you might guess, and there’s no grand buffet of food. There were hot dogs and nachos and popcorn, with water or soft drinks to wash it down. All self-serve. Which is fine, and, by the way, the dogs we had were good.

Incidentally, Alex Box, which is where LSU hosts Northwestern State for a non-conference game tonight, got its name from Simeon Alex Box, a football player and petroleum engineering major at LSU who died as a WWII hero in North Africa. A Quitman, Miss., native, he was laying minefields and preparing road blocks after Field Marshall Rommel’s all-out attack against American forces at Kasserine. On February 19, 1943, he was killed instantly with four other soldiers when a mine accidentally discharged.

Later that year, the LSU Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to name the school’s baseball stadium for Box. It was the first time in the school’s history that a structure was named in honor of someone highly esteemed for military service.

Along the same lines, a highlight of Sunday’s game, which deteriorated with a 9-run fifth inning by the Aggies, was the “Soldier Salute” before the top of the seventh inning. LSU led 3-0 though four innings, including a two-run homer by sophomore catcher Brady Neal, but the wheels came off in the fifth, and A&M went on to save face with a 14-4 thrashing of the Tigers.

Wouldn’t you know, to inject some love for the downcast home crowd came Leonard J. Drude. The public address announcer introduced to the crowd the white-haired 89-year-old retired Navy captain, who played baseball on this campus many moons ago. Standing by the home dugout, he waved and smiled and doffed his cap to the applause and cheers. A 1958 grad who majored in geology, Stroud served on the USS Intrepid during the Vietnam War. In 2019 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for LSU Distinguished Military Alumni – an honor that also recognized his being instrumental in modernizing training of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet & Allied Forces.

Protests and hate have shrouded several college campuses around the country in recent weeks, but on this campus? Love reared its head from the 5th-inning ashes. A team that, as its coach would say afterwards, “ran out of bullets,” didn’t run out of class.

Every coach and every student on the 40-man LSU baseball roster walked in single file to shake Drude’s hand and thank him for his service to our country. And several thousand fans who remained from the paid attendance of 10,747 thanked him for his service with their cheers.

And more than one attendant, as we walked to the parking lot to leave, thanked us for coming with smiles and urged us to drive carefully.

It seems that message about loving one another, when lived out, has a way of making things right.

By BRIAN BAUBLITZ, LCU Sports Information Director

STERLINGTON — The Louisiana Christian University baseball program is heading to the NAIA Regionals, taking down regular-season league runner-up Texas A&M-Texarkana for the second straight time, 9-7  Monday in front of a pro-Wildcats crowd.

The triumph gave coach Mike Byrnes’ fifth-seeded club the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament crown. Impressively, LCU single-handedly eliminated the RRAC regular-season champion LSU Shreveport Pilots, ranked fourth nationally, with a pair of wins over the weekend in the tournament.

The title is the first for the Wildcats’ baseball program since 1987 when LC won the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference crown under coach Billy Allgood. LCU (32-19) will now make its first postseason appearance beyond the conference tournament since the 2003 NCCAA World Series.

Monday’s victory did not come easily.

LCU withstood a pair of gut punches after taking leads in the sixth and seventh innings only to watch the Eagles come soaring back in the bottom halves including a seemingly backbreaking three-run, opposite field home run by the conference’s long ball leader Hunter Reid. The Wildcats polished it off by surviving a bases loaded jam in the ninth to win the first conference tournament championship in team history.

The starting pitchers, Trip Flotte (LCU) and Dylan Cabral (TAMUT), refused to blink in the face of danger. Flotte twirled four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and nary a walk while Cabral went 5.1 frames without giving up a run before four consecutive singles by Braden Trull, Tyler McKenna, Harrison Waxley, and finally Nicholas Brunet, whose base rap drew first blood.

Waxley and Brunet then threw the counterblows after TAMUT dropped a three-spot to take the lead, hitting a pair of two-RBI singles in a span of three hitters, to move the Wildcats back in front by a 5-3 margin heading into the seventh inning stretch.

Reid continued his reign of terror on the Cats’ pitching staff, placing a perfectly placed Kade Linn fastball that painted the outside corner over the wall for a seemingly devastating blow that gave the regular-season runner-up yet another late-game advantage.

The resilient men deployed by Byrnes were undeterred, kicking off the comeback in earnest with a selfless sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one. A routine flyout put the rally in jeopardy, however, Braden Trull kept the scoring train chugging along with a hard shot through the hole in left side to tie the contest.

Then, one of the two championship defining moments happened, as the hero with the nation’s fifth-highest batting average (.443), McKenna, unleashed his team-high seventh round-tripper of the season into the parking lot behind the right field fence as the first-base side bleachers and LCU’s dugout went into mass hysteria mode as he slowly jogged around the pillows, savoring every second.

Linn, continuing into his second full inning of relief on the bump, fearlessly standing face-to-face with the tall task of sitting down the heart of the Texas A&M-Texarkana lineup in the bottom of the ninth to win the ship, including Reid who had taken him deep two innings earlier. It was a promising start for the Orange and Blue as Dakota Leopold was sent back to the bench looking. Reid was smartly pitched around and walked, but then TJ Krause lofted a soft line drive into right-center to put the winning run at the plate. Linn got back on track as he got Jonathan Rios to flail in vain to put LCU on the brink of destiny. Tension hung on every pitch to TJ Hughes, who delivered a two-strike single past a diving Brunet to load the bases.

But Linn notched a called third strike to save the game and head the ‘Cats to postseason glory.

LCU, who lost to this same team in walk-off fashion two days prior, who had to beat the fourth-ranked and three-time defending conference champions twice in a span of three days after failing to crack the win column against LSUS in its previous 19 tries before the tournament, did the seemingly impossible.

Byrnes’ boys became the third LCU team during the 2023-24 athletic calendar to reach the league’s mountaintop and earned a to-be-determined regional destination to be revealed Thursday at 4 p.m. on the NAIA YouTube channel.

Northwestern state University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development hosted a spring Honors Convocation April 17 to recognize the academic accomplishments of students and faculty in the School of Education, Department of Health and Human Performance, Department of Military Science, Department of Psychology and Department of Social Work.   

School of Education honor recipients were as follows.  

Deville — Tara Grimm, Esther Cooley Memorial Award 

Fairbanks, Alaska — Bre-Anna Marron, Outstanding Senior Award in Child and Family Studies 

Gloster – Candice Ramsey, Excellence in Teaching in Graduate Teacher Education (PREP) 

Jena – Chandlar Fannin, Excellence in Teaching in Graduate Teacher Education (MAT) 

Many – Macy Dowden, Marie Shaw Dunn Award in Early Childhood Education; Ethan Penfield, Outstanding Master’s Degree Candidate  

Natchitoches — Erin Smith, T.P. Chaplin Award; Jose Del Rio, Dill Perseverance Award  

Shreveport — Marita Hunt, Outstanding Research in Education; Jewel Coleman, Educators Rising Outstanding Service Award 

West Monroe — Adreanna Thrift, Excellence in Teaching in Undergraduate Education 

Department of Health and Human Performance honor recipients are as follows. 

Baton Rouge — Honor Camus, Outstanding Sport and Recreation Management Undergraduate Student 

Bridgewater, Massachusetts — Conner Mackie, Outstanding Health and Physical Education Undergraduate Student, Allen R. “Buddy” Bonnette Scholarship Recipient 

Brookhaven, Mississippi — Dawson Flowers, Outstanding Male athlete in Human and Health Performance  

Chiba City, Japan — Ayu Ishibashi, Outstanding Female Athlete in Health and Human Performance 

Hornbeck — Peighton Rhodes, Anna Cloutier Harrington Scholarship Recipient  

Many — Shania Collier, Outstanding Health and Exercise Science Undergraduate Student 

Natchitoches — Kathryn Marshall, Outstanding Sport Administration Graduate Student; Annemarie Broussard, Health and Human Performance Graduate Assistant of the Year; Spencer Robinson, Health and Human Performance Graduate Assistants of the Year, Outstanding Public Health Graduate Student 

Shreveport — James D. Taylor, Allen R. “Buddy” Bonnette Scholarship Recipient 

Vivian — Madison Cook, Chris Roper Memorial Scholarship Recipient  

Zwolle — Madasyn Ebarb, Chris Roper Memorial Scholarship Recipient  

Department of Military Science honor recipients are as follows.  

DeRidder — Cadet Jacob P. Mullican, Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS I  

Gheens — Cadet Layla L Theriot, Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS II 

Jennings — Cadet Loren T. Higginbotham, Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS IV 

Pearland, Texas — Cadet Brendan C. Campbell, Superior Cadet Decoration Award – MS III 

Department of Psychology honor recipients are as follows.  

Bossier City — Taylor Maust, Donald O. Gates Psi Chi Honor Graduate Award 

Leesville — Laila Salas, Hurst Moreland Hall Jr. Research Award 

Natchitoches — Keeley James Narvaez, Outstanding Graduating Senior Award in Addiction Studies, Wendy Kyei, Robert L. Breckenridge Graduate Student Award 

St. Martinville — Lizzie Blanchard, Terry Isbell Outstanding Senior Psychology Major Award 

Simmesport – Katee Feduccia, Maureen A. McHale Outstanding Junior Award in Psychology  

Department of Social Work honor recipients are as follows.  

Alexandria — Shelby Lemoine, Title IV -E Child Welfare Scholars 

Baton Rouge — Catherine Golden – Social Work Senior Fall Academic Award 

Bossier City — Tashon Adams, Malcolm C. Braudaway Award, Social Work Senior Spring Academic Award 

Colfax — Michael Tyler, Title IV -E Child Welfare Scholars 

Delhi — Makeisha Fair, Title IV -E Child Welfare Scholar 

Jena — Coree Nash, Outstanding Social Work Student Award 

Leesville – Cassandra Hill, Title IV -E Child Welfare Scholar  

The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development also recognized faculty for service, teaching and scholarship.  Faculty award winners are Dr. Michelle Brunson and Dr. Patrice Moulton, Distinguished Service Awards; Dr. Jackie Calhoun, Dr. Cynthia Lyndsey and Byonr McKinney, Distinguished Teaching Awards; Dr. Debra Jo Hailey and Dr. Christy Hornsby, Distinguished Scholar Awards and Kristen Walker and Stephanie Smith, Distinguished Staff Member Awards.   

Northwestern State University’s Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development serves about 2,000 students.  Information on programs and degrees offered through the College is available at https://www.nsula.edu/gcehd/.   

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

May 2

Maurico Garza-Gallegos, 25, Alexandria — OWI 2st, improper lane usage, speeding, no driver’s license, 9:08 pm, $1,300 bail.

May 3

Brandon Higginbotham, 43, Alexandria — OWI 1st, improper lane usage, unsafe vehicle, 11:50 pm, $1,200 bail.

May 4

Shadi Bouz, 46, Alexandria — OWI 2nd, obstruction public passage, 12:34 am, $2,000 bail;

Jermaine Harden, 41, Alexandria — OWI 1st, seat belt violation, no registration, suspension/revocation, no signals, running stop sign, resisting, misdemeanor possession, 3:33 am, $2,500 bail;

Derrick Long, 23, Alexandria — OWI 1st, running stop sign, tint violation, no driver’s license, contempt 3 counts, 3:50 am, $76,300 bail;

Micah Meche Jr., 23, Pineville — OWI 1st, 5:17 am, $1,000 bail.

May 5

Michael Colson, 45, Boyce — OWI 1st, open container, contempt, 12:47 am, $3,600 bail;

Charles Gray, 38, Boyce — OWI 1st, careless operation, improper display license plate, 2:03 am, $1,200 bail;

Jacob Waites, 20, Deville — OWI 1st, careless operation, 3:00 am, $1,100 bail.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

May 5

India Dorn, 23, Opelousas — home invasion, battery on officer, assault on officer, child desertion, contempt 6 counts, $15,000 bail;

Troy Pennington, 58, Pineville — home invasion, aggravated assault, aggravated domestic abuse strangulation, unauthorized entry, criminal mischief tampering with property, contempt 3 counts, probation violation, $46,852 bail. 

This date: 13 arrests, 7 including at least one contempt count. 

Arrests are accusations, not convictions

May 5

Alger Boyd Jr., 36, Alexandria — possession, contempt, parole violations, $50,000 bail;

Omar Coleman, 35, Alexandria — possession, paraphernalia, misrepresentation during booking, resisting 2 counts, $2,500 bail.

JOURNAL SPORTS

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation, boosting efforts to generate funds to support the state’s sports museum in Natchitoches including technology upgrades at the 11-year-old facility, will participate in “Give for Good Day” to complement its fund-raising initiatives.

Under the auspices of the Community Foundation of North Louisiana (CFNL), today’s “Give for Good Day” is North Louisiana’s largest day of giving. Established in 2014 by the CFNL, “Give for Good” has raised over $19 million for non-profit entities in North Louisiana. The event empowers the entire Northwest Louisiana community to go the extra mile for causes while building awareness and support for those hard-working and worthwhile organizations. The 2023 “Give for Good Day” raised nearly $2.8 million for over 200 non-profits.

The Independence Bowl Foundation will be celebrating the day of giving at Flying Heart Brewing & Pub from 3-8 p.m. today. Flying Heart Cares is supporting two causes through Give for Good this year — the Independence Bowl Foundation and the Humane Society of NWLA.

The LSHOF Foundation is focused on enhancing the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum and “Give for Good Day” is the latest in a series of initiatives.

“Any opportunity to attract support for the foundation’s mission of enhancing the Hall of Fame museum which honors Louisiana’s great sports legacy is one which we will pursue. We are in an exciting new partnership with a nationally-acclaimed company developing a multi-phase plan which will significantly raise the ‘wow factor’ at the museum,” said LSHOF CEO Ronnie Rantz of plans to bolster the facility, which opened in the Natchitoches Historic District in June 2013.

Efforts to increase development for the LSHOF have included statewide fund-raising events, an inaugural membership drive and sponsorship support for the annual Sports Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, to be held June 20-22 in Natchitoches. The 2024 class of 12 inductees includes New Orleans Saints icon Drew Brees, WNBA and LSU basketball standout Seimone Agustus, MMA star Daniel Cormier along with other athletes and ambassadors whose extraordinary accomplishments have earned them Hall of Fame distinction.

LSHOF Foundation Director of Business Development and Public Relations Greg Burke is familiar with annual giving days, dating to his days as athletic director for Northwestern State.

“These special giving days often inspire current supporters to give just a little bit more in support of causes for which they are passionate,” said Burke, who added that LSHOF Foundation hoped to raise $10,000 in its first “Give for Good” initiative.

“Give for Good” donations to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Foundation can be made by clicking on https://www.giveforgoodnla.org/organization/Louisiana-Sports-Hall-Of-Fame-Foundation online.

The Independence Bowl Foundation’s emphasis is on its own foundation and the Humane Society of NWLA.

Flying Heart will donate a percentage of sales to both causes. Flying Heart has also donated a percentage of sales from the past three Tuesdays to the Independence Bowl Foundation and will be presenting a check for the donations of the four Tuesdays to the Independence Bowl Foundation. Flying Heart is also providing teachers presenting a valid school ID with 10 percent off pizzas.

This year through Give for Good, the Independence Bowl Foundation is focusing on Extra Yard for Teachers, which provides donations to a variety of teachers’ projects each year. Over the past three years, the Independence Bowl has donated over $85,000 to local teachers and education through Extra Yard for Teachers. Every dollar donated by the Independence Bowl Foundation through Extra Yard for Teachers is matched by the College Football Playoff Foundation, doubling the Independence Bowl’s impact on local teachers.

By JIM BUTLER

By the time he was 12 William Taylor in centerfield was like a deer with a Rawlings.

By the time he was 15 he had left the Alexandria Youth Baseball Association and was singing Credence Clearwater to the ASH staff — “put me in Coach, I can play centerfield.”

Indeed.

By the time he was 17 Taylor was scouted regularly by Major League Baseball talent hunters.

That scouting resulted in the San Diego Padres making Will their second selection in that year’s MLB draft, the 39th overall pick.

(Some perspective: a guy from Auburn was the 105th pick — Bo Jackson.) Like most of those selected every year, Taylor never made the bigs. Even a transition from right-handed batting to switch hitting was not enough for his speed to carry him to the majors.

Today, he’s in custody in Rapides, accused of unauthorized entry of a place of business.

Taylor, 55, was booked just after midnight Thursday. No bail had been set through Sunday evening.

The charge, if proved, carries a penalty of up to $1,000 fine or up to six years with or without hard labor or both.

By JIM BUTLER

A nurse accused of narcotics violations has posted bail in Rapides Parish.

According to records, Billi Ryder, 41, of Ville Platte was arrested about 2 p.m. Wednesday and charged with 372 counts of CDS 11 possession less than two grams.

Her bail was initially set at $558,000.

Just before noon Thursday she posted reduced bail of $93,000.

Details of investigation leading to Ryder’s arrest have not yet been provided.

Ryder, social media accounts indicate, is a Registered Nurse, who has worked as an ER nurse and at area hospital clinics.

Pineville’s picturesque Lake Buhlow was the scene of intense nautical competition as 21 teams from area businesses, hospitals and churches spent Saturday, May 4 vying for bragging rights at the 12th Annual Dragon Boat races sponsored by the Alexandria Museum of Art. This popular event, held in conjunction with Riverfete, has rapidly become an area-wide favorite, growing each year.

Dragon Boat Races are a competition in which teams of paddlers, often in themed costumes, race their boats to the beat of a drummer. Since the race was held on May Fourth, many of the paddlers and drummers wore Star Wars-themed costumes. Each boat has a dragon head at the prow. On the morning of the race, each team paints the eyes of their boat’s dragon in order to awaken it.

The Dragon Boat Races are a true community effort. The Museum’s staff was assisted by a contingent of community volunteers, including several young men from Alexandria’s Scout Troop 6. Pineville High School senior Katelyn Bush   performed a superb rendition of the National Anthem at the race’s start.

While the Dragon Boat Races are quite a bit of fun, the event has a serious purpose. It is the signature fundraiser for the Alexandria Museum of Art. This year’s race is expected to bring in over $60,000 to help fund the museum’s operations. The Alexandria Museum of Art is an integral part of Central Louisiana’s cultural scene and one of the many things that make our city special.

Downtown Alexandria’s Riverfete was the place to be for family fun Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The popular free admission event, an eagerly awaited local tradition since 2013, drew tens of thousands of visitors to Alexandria’s iconic downtown.

The festival featured an eclectic blend of over 120 vendors, food trucks, and bands divided into several areas. Nine bands entertained festival goers on Friday and Saturday with everything from rock to country. The festivities began with Thursday’s “Dinner on the Bricks” featuring local restaurants serving tastings of their best fare with entertainment provided by DJ Tony Groove.

The Alexandria Museum of Art sponsored a delightfully unique event Friday evening. Fifteen Luminaria paraded through the festival area led by the talented young men and women of the Pineville Elementary School drumline. Each luminaria is a handmade costume lit by LED lights. Spiders, dragons, and other whimsical creatures floated through the parade route.

The Indie Village welcomed one and all with everything from gourmet coffee to art and music. The riverbank featured “Que’in on the Red”, a BBQ competition that filled the area with mouthwatering aromas. Classic car aficionados could enjoy the many beautiful cars on display in the “Classic Car Fete”. The younger set had their own area, “Kid’s Fete”, where they could play to their heart’s content. Adult Riverfete fans could enjoy refreshments at the beer garden while enjoying the festival’s sights and sounds. Riverfete also featured a “Battle of the Bands” with 4 local schools vying for top honors.

Riverfete is terrific fun and a superb example of what can happen when a community comes together to do something special. The annual Riverfete is one of the many things that make life in Louisiana wonderfully flavorful.

LSU Shreveport had lost only two Red River Athletic Conference baseball games this season among over two dozen played, a typical performance by the powerful Pilots.

They lost twice this weekend to Louisiana Christian’s upstart Wildcats,  who have surged into the RRAC Tournament championship game at 1 p.m. today.

Coach Mike Byrnes’ club stunned LSUS Sunday in 12 innings, 7-6 to reach today’s conference tourney final against Texas A&M-Texarkana in Sterlington.

The Wildcats topped Texarkana, previously perfect in the conference tourney, by 6-4 Sunday evening to force today’s winner-take-all final.

LCU is 31-19 overall while Texarkana stands at 25-25. The Eagles had a 19-11 RRAC regular-season record while the Wildcats were 17-13. LSUS won the conference race with a 28-2 regular-season league slate.

Harrison Waxley did everything and then some on Sunday, sending LSU Shreveport packing with a walk-off single in the first contest before making his first career collegiate pitching appearance in the nightcap, getting the start on the mound and giving his skipper a much-needed three full innings of one-run work in addition to a pair of strikeouts. The RRAC Freshman of the Year led the team by going 4-for-8 at the dish (.500) with an LCU-best four RBIs and two doubles on top of scoring twice, walking once, and registering a sacrifice fly.

In Sunday’s win over LSUS, Cy Fontenot stared down the fourth-ranked team in the country and did not blink nor waver, hurling five-and-two-thirds of two-run baseball to go along with nearly as many punchouts (5) as a combination of hits or walks allowed (6).

The Pilots slipped to 42-9 overall.

Byrnes’ boys are on the precipice of history as they sit just one win away from LCU’s first NAIA Regional baseball berth and conference championship since 1987 as well as the program’s first postseason appearance of any kind since the 2003 NCCAA World Series.

By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports

Three Rapides Parish baseball teams punched their tickets to Sulphur last week. 

Menard, Grace Christian and Rapides all earned spots in this week’s state baseball tournament at Sulphur’s McMurry Park with quarterfinal victories. 

Menard, the fourth seed in Division III Select, swept No. 5 Dunham, 5-2 and 11-0, to advance to face top-seeded and defending state champion St. Charles Catholic at 2 p.m. Wednesday. 

Coen Laroux pitched a complete game, giving up five hits and two runs, to win Game 1 on Thursday as the Eagles (23-8) scored four runs in the sixth inning. Case Butterfield’s two-run single to center was the big hit of the inning. 

Cooper Scott threw a one-hit shutout with eight strikeouts to finish off the series on Friday while hitting two doubles at the plate. Drake Aldredge provided a three-run home run, while Laroux had a double and three RBIs and Ben Wade added a double and two RBIs. 

Grace Christian, the No. 2 seed in Division V Select, exploded for a 21-0 victory over Downsville to advance to the semifinals, where the Warriors (26-9) will face No. 3 Family Community at 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

Kanyon Wright and Seth Cook both went 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs to lead the Warriors against Downsville, while Maddox Attales went 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. Brayden Wells drove in four runs and scored four runs. 

No. 5 Rapides upset fourth-seeded Family Christian in Baton Rouge, 16-3, and will face top seed and defending state champion Avoyelles Charter at 11 a.m. Tuesday. 

The Mustangs (13-16) broke a 3-3 tie with four runs in the fourth and finished off the game with a nine-run fifth. Leadoff batter Phoenix Peart had four hits and four runs scored, while Craig Chamberlain went 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and two runs. 

TIOGA, MENARD WIN TRACK TITLES: The Tioga boys claimed the Class 4A state outdoor track and field championship on Saturday, while Menard’s girls won the 2A title on Friday. 

The Indians tallied 60 points at the meet to finish six points ahead of Warren Easton. 

Gunnar Delaney won the javelin with a throw of 169 feet, 1 inch to lead seven podium finishes for the Indians. Max Kadrmas finished second in the 300-meter hurdles (38.37) and third in the 110 hurdles (15.12), while Ja’Corian Norris (44-11) and Kervin Johnson (44-9) finished second and third in the triple jump. 

Kaleb Woolery turned in a third-place finish in the pole vault (12-5.25), while the 1,600-meter relay team of Wyatt Smith, Kadrmas, Woolery and Bradley Riccardi finished third in a time of 3 minutes, 22.18 seconds. 

A’Shyria Burns, Cami Harrison and Carly Meynard all won events to lead Menard’s effort as the Lady Eagles tallied 91 points to finish six ahead of runner-up Newman. 

Burns won the 100 meters (12.18) and 100-meter hurdles (14.35) while finishing second in the long jump (17-6.75) and triple jump (37-7.5). Harrison placed on the podium three times, winning the pole vault (10-5.25) and finishing second in the 100 hurdles (15.42) and 300 hurdles (47.08). 

Meynard won the shot put (35-3.25) and finished second in the discus (116-7), while Olivia Marcantel finished third in the pole vault (9-11.25). 

Menard’s boys finished in a tie for 13th with 14 points, while Tioga’s girls finished in a tie for 21st place with eight points. Tamiyah Howard led the Lady Indians with a third-place finish in the shot put (33-11).  

In Saturday’s Class 5A meets, Alexandria Senior High’s girls finished sixth with 34 points and the boys were ninth with 22 points. Pineville’s girls finished 34th with two points. Peabody finished tied for 35th in the Class 4A boys meet with one point. 

ASH senior Hunter Rivet broke his own school record with a throw of 179-0 on the final toss of his high school career to win the discus, while the boys’ 800-meter relay team of Jordan Johnson, Ja’voric Allen, Jaylin Johnson and JT Lindsey finished second in 1:26.51. 

The girls’ 400- and 800-meter relay teams that featured Sanyla Atkins, Kelise Kelly, Jakyra Edwards, Reana Dupar and Amari Dupar finished second with times of 47.18 and 1:40.08, while Raegan Monroe finished third in the 1,600 meters (5:08.73). 

Grace Christian’s girls, led by Audrey Tarver’s win in the 100 hurdles (17.00), finished 11th in Thursday’s Class B meet with 17.5 points, while the boys were 12th with 18 points. Tucker McCoy won the javelin (179-2), while Brandt Rachel was third in the 3,200 meters (10:48.88). 

McCoy will become the second parish thrower to sign with Louisiana Tech during a signing ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, joining ASH’s Rivet, who signed on April 30.  

The Rapides girls, led by a third-place finish in the discus by Teema Perkins (91-9), finished in a tie for 16th in Class B with eight points, while Oak Hill was 23rd with five. 

Oak Hill’s boys tied for 20th with two points, while Northwood-Lena’s girls tied for 27th with four points in the Class 1A meet and Buckeye’s girls tied for 23rd with four points in Friday’s Class 3A meet.

STATE GOLF RESULTS: Although no Rapides Parish teams qualified for the state golf championships, Tioga’s Morgan Goudeau and Menard’s Hunter Vaughn both competed as individuals.

Goudeau carded rounds of 89 and 85 to finish the Division I girls tournament at 26-over-par, good for 15th place at the par-74 Les Vieux Chenes Golf Club in Youngsville. 

Vaughn finished in a tie for 32nd place in the Division III boys tournament, carding rounds of 88 and 85 during a rigorous 36-hole day at the par-72 The Farm d’Allie in Carencro to finish at 29-over. The tournament was shortened from two days to one because of the weather. 

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – It took until the last third of LSU’s SEC baseball schedule, but the defending national champions Tigers’ NCAA tourney hopes are no longer in intensive care and are now breathing on their own.

That’s not to say head coach Jay Johnson’s team is out of the woods and not susceptible to a relapse.

But after taking Johnson’s “every game is a Game 7” approach, the Tigers provided their postseason bid resume with the biggest boost of a tough season by winning a home series over No. 1 ranked Texas A&M over the weekend in an energized Alex Box Stadium.

LSU (31-18, 9-15) took the series with a pair of 6-4 victories in Games 1 and 2 on Friday and Saturday nights before losing to Aggies (40-8, 16-8) 14-4 in Sunday afternoon’s Game 3.

As much as the Tigers would have loved their first conference series sweep of the season, there was little disappointment in LSU winning its third straight SEC series after losing its first five league series including four to top 6 nationally ranked teams.

The factors that plagued the Tigers in series losses to Mississippi State, then-No. 6 Florida, then-No. 1 Arkansas, then-No. 6 Vanderbilt and then-No. 4 Tennessee – shaky starting pitching and timely hitting – held up for the first 22 innings vs. A&M before imploding in the fifth inning of Sunday’s game 3.

“We played about as good as we have all year for 22 innings and we just kind of ran out of bullets against a lineup of that caliber,” Johnson said. “I don’t think we could have pitched better for 22 innings. We laid it all out there for two nights. That’s why it’s hard to sweep a good team.”

In Friday’s series opener, LSU starting pitcher Gage Jump gave up a pair of homers and 3 runs in 5.1 innings. Even though the Aggies led 2-0 after the first two innings, he navigated out of trouble.

Trailing 3-2, the Tigers’ bats busted loose in a 4-run sixth off three A&M pitchers, starting with Josh Pearson ripping a 2-run double down the left field.

“I went into the at-bat and I had a good plan,” said Pearson, who hit new A&M reliever Kaiden Wilson’s 3-2 pitch. “I was the first batter he (Wilson) faced, so I was able to go over my approach (during Wilson’s warmup). I saw every pitch he threw.”

LSU’s 6-3 lead held up, thanks to relievers Fidel Ulloa and Griffin Herring holding the potent Aggies to 1 run in the final 3.2 innings. Herring struck out A&M’s Braden Montgomery, ranked third nationally in RBI and fourth in home runs, to end the game with runners on first and second.

The Aggies lost despite winning all four replay reviews, including an apparent solo homer by LSU’s Hayden Travinski being ruled an eighth inning-ending out because of apparent fan interference.

“I never seen four video review calls overturned in a game, let alone against one team,” Johnson said.

In Saturday’s Game 2, Holman, like Game 1 starter Jump, was slow out of the gate. He allowed 3 first-inning runs on 3 runs and 2 hits.

The Tigers tied the game with a 3-run third inning, jumpstarted by back-to-back solo homers by Tommy White and Jared Jones.

Yet that momentum almost disappeared in the A&M fourth when Holman gave up a single and two straight walks to load the bases with no outs. Normally stoic, he pounded his glove in frustration after issuing the latter walk.

“When that happens,” Johnson said noting Holman’s displeasure, “it can be very bad or very good.”

Holman’s response was spectacular. He recorded three consecutive strikeouts on nine pitches, getting the last two outs against Gavin Grahovac and Jace LaViolette, who had combined 40 homers and 115 RBI this season.

“I hate walks,” Holman said. “I was mentally not there, the first inning was terrible. I got on the horse and said, `Let’s lock in and get the job done.’ Coach (Johnson) has a lot of trust in me. I probably would have taken myself out.”

LSU broke the tie with a run in the seventh spurred by a pair of wild pitches by A&M reliever Evan Aschenbeck. But a 2-run LSU eighth powered by RBI singles from Alex Milazzo and White and 3.2 innings of almost flawless pitching from reliever Christian Little got the Tigers across the finish line.

“I was just trying to fill up the strike zone,” said Little, who allowed 2 hits and 1 run while striking out 6 and walking 1. “They’ve got a really good team. I really didn’t want to give them too much leeway.”

In Sunday’s Game 3 in a battle of remaining available pitching arms on each staff, it was LSU taking a 3-0 lead. Catcher Brady Neal hammered a 2-run second-inning homer and Pearson slapped a third-inning RBI single.

But finally, the A&M team that entered the weekend ranked fourth nationally in home runs unloaded.

The Aggies’ 9-run fifth-inning explosion off four LSU relievers featured 8 hits including Grahovac’s 3-run homer, a 2-run blast by Jackson Appel, 2 triples and 4 singles. Pinch-hitter Kaaden Kent’s grand slam homer and a LaViolette solo shot in A&M’s 5-run ninth concluded the Aggies’ 4-dinger day.

Even the sting of Sunday’s 10-run beatdown, when the Tigers were unexpectedly playing with house money, couldn’t dampen the euphoria of winning a series over a No. 1-ranked team for the first time since 2016.

“I think anybody that watched us in the fall (practice) knows we’re capable,” Neal said. “The talent on his team is unreal. And I feel like the pieces are coming together. This is what we’re capable of. That’s the best team in the country on paper, and they’re really good. We displayed good performances.”

After playing its final non-conference game of the season vs. Northwestern State on Tuesday night at home, LSU’s final two regular-season series are at Alabama starting Friday and home vs. Ole Miss on May 16-18. The Tigers need to win both series to keep their NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

“We’re in the fight, and that’s all we can do right now,” Johnson said. “We have work to do. I’m really excited about the next two weeks. We’ve improved and we’ve grown up some. We’re gonna keep fighting until they tell us we can’t play anymore.”

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

By JEANNI RITCHIE

The Xtreme Athletics Mini Militia team placed first in their cheer division at Disneyworld last week. Posting their highest score of the year, the 13 girls (ranging in age from 7-10) reigned supreme in their Mini Level 1.1 All Star cheer division in the Prep in Rec Grand Nationals at Universal Studios Orlando Florida.

It is the largest cheer competition in the world for this division and watching the routine on Instagram, I could see why they emerged victorious. It was tight and they were impressive. My life revolved around cheer competitions for over a decade when my oldest daughter was growing up and I know the effort it takes to pull off a flawless routine. The fact that these girls did just that at such a young age shows the determination and drive in each of them.

The dynamic team is comprised of Addilyn Bass, Sadie McKee, Sadie Gauthier, Belle Rivera, Adalynn Rivera, Preslee Perry, Molly Tyler, Hadley Rachal, Adalee Kopp, Elliot Grimes, Avery Lemoine, Addison Birkicht, and Londyn Yoist.

In addition to the physical skills and strengths needed to stunt, jump, or tumble, there is so much personal development that allows cheerleaders to gain practical life skills such as discipline, teamwork and goal setting. Cheer also instills confidence and promotes mental health positivity.

These girls are getting a head start on lessons that will benefit them greatly in life. We should be inspired by them. Congratulations Mini Militia on a successful season!

Jeanni Ritchie is a Central Louisiana journalist interested in all things with pompoms, routines, and spirit fingers. To have your competition highlighted, email jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

May 2

Gary Thompson Sr., 60, Pineville — aggravated assault with firearm, criminal mischief, filing false report, allowing dogs to run free, $3,500 bail.

May 3

Damien Boyd, 36, Alexandria — firearm possession by convicted felon, illegal possession stolen firearm, narcotics possession, $20,100 bail.

May 4

Yahmir Beaudoin, 17, Alexandria — firearm with drugs 2 counts, illegal possession stolen firearm, possession 2 counts, $500 bail;

Antonio Nichols, 28, Colfax — firearm possession by convicted felon, aggravated battery 2nd degree, no bail set.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

May 2

Kamron Anderson, 17, Alexandria — felony fugitive, released to other agency, no bail set;

Terrancella Booze, 51, Alexandria – theft, forgery, contempt, $3,500 bail;

Alexis Foy, 24, Pineville — illegal possession stolen things, contempt 2 counts, $57,000 bail;

Renissa Patterson, 17, Alexandria — battery on officer, resisting force/violence, $1,000 bail;

William Taylor, 55, Alexandria — unauthorized entry place of business, no bail set. 

This date: 18 arrests, 3 including one or more contempt counts.

May 3

Tiffany Detommaso, 35, Pineville — criminal conspiracy, criminal damage 6 counts, burglary 8 counts, contempt 2 counts, $138,000 bail;

Samson Ladner, 35, Joshua, TX — aggravated resisting force/violence, aggravated battery on police officer, $1,000 bail;

Zaylin Smith, 19, aggravated assault domestic assault, criminal damage, $6,000 bail.

This date: 22 arrests, 13 including at least one contempt count.

May 4

Hunter Guillot, 31, Pineville — aggravated battery 2nd degree, no bail set;

Kevin Hollingsworth, 57, Alexandria — domestic abuse battery, $5,000 bail;

Frank Jones III, 34, Alexandria — indecent behavior, no bail set;

Jamari Randall, 24, Vidalia — aggravated assault domestic abuse battery, aggravated domestic abuse battery strangulation, false imprisonment, criminal damage, resisting, $1,000 bail;

John Sears, 51, Alexandria — domestic abuse battery, $1,500 bail;

Krystal Sears, 42, Boyce — domestic abuse battery, contempt, $5,000 bail.

This date; 21 arrests, 7 of which included at least one contempt count.