Craig Nall, the Alexandria native and former LSU quarterback who set regular-season records for passing yardage (2,022) and completions (166) in his only season at Northwestern State in 2001, is trying to recover from heart-piercing blows two years ago that involved three deaths in his family within 15 days.

The 44-year-old Nall, who backed up Brett Favre for five NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, is also trying to recover from a divorce.

And Nall, who several years ago started QB1 Sports, a venue offering one-on-one coaching from a former NFL quarterback, is also trying to recover from alcoholism.

He’s making progress on all fronts.

Craig’s father, Malcolm, died of a heart attack two years ago, and within 15 days, an uncle and a sister-in-law died. “That was pretty tough for the family,” Craig understated. “My dad was my best friend, my biggest fan.”

About three times a year he leaves his home in McKinney, Texas, to visit his mom, Susie, in Alexandria. He visits often on the phone with her and describes her as “a strong woman of faith,” adding, “and we’re kind of getting through things together.”

Divorce reared its ugly head in Craig’s life after 17 ½ years of marriage in October of 2022. “Amanda and I didn’t give our two sons a great example of what love is,” he said, trying to explain they grew apart through financial difficulties. Neither was making much money in their respective jobs at the time – when he was in commercial real estate and brokerage — and his alcoholism was part of the problem, he said. “We didn’t get along. There was no infidelity, but we argued a lot.”

Now, he says, he has a girlfriend, Jessica, whom he met on St. Patrick’s Day last year. “We get along so well, we have fun doing anything together. Within 10 minutes of meeting her, he said, she persuaded him to go with her and get a tattoo, admitting it sounds crazy. “I couldn’t tell her no.” He said he got the Taurus sign above his right shoulder since he and both of his teenage sons, Matthew, a saxophone wizard, and Mason, a good athlete, all were born under that astrological sign. Mason, incidentally, who’ll turn 14 in two weeks, shares the same April 21 birthday with Craig.

Jessica, he said, has a serious side, too, and “has certain expectations of me, and I don’t want to screw this up.” They are not engaged, although they have talked about it. “I know Dad would love Jessica.”

As for the alcoholism, Craig said, he’s dealt with it in varying degrees since college but more so during his time in the NFL, “where we worked hard but we partied hard, too.” He said while most people who drink can quit after a couple, he found he always wanted more. It peaked last July, around the same time he had a serious bout with Covid, when his blood pressure soared to a dangerous 200 over 130.

“One night I left the house to go to the store to get something to drink,” he said in a phone interview Monday. “I had this routine where I’d do that and cruise around, usually in the neighborhood. I ended up on a highway and out of gas. I had no idea how I got there. I went into a treatment center in the first week of August.

“I made a phone call to a friend, who has over five years of sobriety,” Craig continued. “I wanted to get help. He got me booked to a treatment center.”

The treatment center’s program focused largely on faith, he said, and he said he found help from prayer. “I let Him take the wheel. I let Him guide me. I pray all the time. I’m trying to be obedient to Him, to be of service to Him.”

He said he learned alcoholism is not a behavioral thing but a disease. “Some people like me have allergic reactions to alcohol, where it’s an addictive problem. You’ve got to want to quit. I needed help. I wanted to set a better example for the boys. Probably within two months, (the urge to drink) was gone.”

He credits God for being 8 ½ months sober and gives Him thanks daily.

He’s now finding satisfaction in a new job as a registered representative in the oil and gas business with the SEC in 28 states, but he still attends AA meetings, and finds himself counselling others in his group who are struggling with not only addiction but with faith.

“There’s a joy of knowing God is in control,” he said. “I’m trying to live out His will.”

The inspiration for this column was from a recent “Next on the Tee” podcast in which Nall was the guest of Chris Mascaro of Atlanta. It is available on open.spotify.com.  

By JIM BUTLER

Some say the Police Jury has quit preaching and gone to meddling. Others say it’s about time.

At issue is Juror Craig Smith’s proposal to ask the state to impose a reduced limit on crappie catch in the vast Saline-Larto Lakes complex east of Alexandria-Pineville and to add a minimum size.

From Big Creek on the west side to Larto on the east thousands of white crappie and black crappie are caught annually. Fifty is the daily limit and there is no minimum size restriction.

Fifty a day with no minimum size is the statewide standard though some waterways have more stringent rules.

The cyclical nature of crappie populations often leads to concerns about the role of creel limits in the total fish count.

Smith was to ask the Jury at its meeting Monday to petition the Department of Wild Life and Fisheries to set a 25-fish daily limit with a 10-inch minimum length.

That’s not slab or saddle blanket size but is much larger than many of the younger crappie now taken from the fishery annually.

Saline-Larto crappie have been prized fare since the days of them being illegally netted and shipped to Natchez, Jackson, Memphis and points north as a popular restaurant entree.

When the complex was essentially choking to death in the 1970s from ag runoff and hydrological changes, the crappie population survived to a degree surpassing other sport fish/ bass and bluegill though those have no rebounded also.

In the reborn fishery of the last 30 years, crappie have put the waterway on the destination calendar of anglers nationwide.

A LDWF study in 2017 projected no population gain in the crappie fishery from a size limit assuming the mortality rate (natural and angler catch) remain constant.

Published results of a later study, completed in 2022, are pending.

Other lake-related items were on the agenda Monday.

Juror Danny Bordelon proposed to drop free admission to Cotile Recreation Area for persons over 60 for fishing or for boat launching. They would pay a $3 fee. 

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Aaron York played college football at Louisiana Christian in Pineville, married a Menard High girl, and the native Floridian has his feet firmly planted in Central Louisiana.

But his home address is shifting east, from Natchitoches and St. Mary’s High School, to Buckeye High, where after six seasons in charge of the Tigers’ program, he is succeeding new LC coach Ben McLaughlin as the Panthers’ head coach.

York announced his move to the St. Mary’s players early Monday. Although he’ll continue working at St. Mary’s through the end of the school year, he’ll be in transition and also putting in time at Buckeye.

Since 2018, he’s emerged as one of the standout coaches in Central Louisiana. York took over a proud and accomplished program and added to the rich St. Mary’s tradition.

York’s Tigers made the playoffs each season, highlighted by the last two – state LSWA Top 10 rankings, high power rankings and runs to the Division IV Select state quarterfinals in in 2022 and 2023. St. Mary’s has captured two District 3-1A championships in the past four years, topping public school power Logansport to do it.

In the last three years, despite playing a five-game non-district schedule that was filled with schools from larger classifications, SMHS has notched at least 8 wins; only a shortened Covid season in 2020 (6-2) prevented a very likely four-year streak.

The Tigers have handled Buckeye, beaten Menard, and notably knocked off Class 4A stalwart Abbeville in last fall’s season opener. His teams featured record-breaking quarterback Adam Parker, and when he headed to Southern Arkansas University, St. Mary’s became a predominantly power-running game offense that returned to the state quarters last fall. A stout defense and superior kicking game have also been Tiger trademarks as they’ve been 39-19 in his tenure.

All that sustained success, and the fact that his twin sons are entering the ninth grade next year, made this the right time to make a move, he said.

“I had a good opportunity come across,” he said Monday afternoon. “It’s kind of a bittersweet thing because this community, this school, these parents, these kids have been great to my family and I. We have a lot of gratitude for everything they’ve done for us.”

But looking at long-range career plans, it’s time to make that jump from private school to public school. With my boys going into the ninth grade, it’s the right time to move now.”

His philosophy at St. Mary’s will travel, he said, and it also is deeply rooted on East Fifth Street in Natchitoches.

“From Day 1 to now, the coaching staff has established, not just in football but in all sports, that we’re going to develop kids who compete, who are tough-nosed, who are strong kids. We knew we wouldn’t always be the biggest, or the fastest, but we knew if you can develop the competitive edge and toughness in a kid with a drive, a good attitude and good effort, you can win ballgames. Over the course of six years, we’ve seen that, not just in football but all sports. Everybody’s bought into that vision,” said York.

“It’s a similar situation at Buckeye. You can compare their kids to those here at St. Mary’s and it’s the same mold – a quality kid who works hard, is disciplined, is a tough, hard-nosed young man. It’s a public school but similar to St. Mary’s because of the community that exists in Buckeye.

“It’s just a bigger scale. Instead of 120 kids walking the hallway, you’ll have 900 to a thousand. You’re still going to work with the same caliber kids, and that’s what’s appealing about it,” he said.

York expects to benefit from retaining the Panthers’ current coaches.

“The staff there is a bunch of good guys. I know them from being around the area and competing against them. There may be opportunities to bring in 1-2 extra, maybe, but I have confidence in those men,” said York.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

April 7

Tyjanae Charles, 25, Alexandria — aggravated assault/domestic abuse, $1,000 bail;

Anthony Maldonado, 24, Tucson, AZ — aggravated battery on police officer, aggravated resisting with force or violence, $2,000 bail;

Elisha Mazerolle, 27, Pineville — murder 1st degree, probation violation, $100,000 bail;

Kirby White, 59, Pineville — aggravated assault, $500 bail. 

This date: 12 arrests, 8 of which included at least one contempt count.

A father’s alleged murderous abuse, a mother’s suspected neglect

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

April 7

Katevius Perry, 24, Pineville — possession, suspension/revocation, fog lamps improper use, contempt 3 counts, $3,700 bail. 

In collaboration with International Programs and Distance Learning, the LSUA Career Center has teamed up with Interstride, an interactive platform tailored to meet the career needs of international students in Louisiana and across the U.S. This partnership means that LSUA’s international students can now access Interstride’s extensive database of job and internship opportunities by simply registering with their LSUA email.

Interstride’s platform is uniquely designed to assist students in navigating Curricular Practical Training (CPT), Optional Practical Training (OPT), and H-1B visa requirements and opportunities. This makes the job search and internship process much smoother, as students can easily find and apply to positions where they are more likely to be hired. Additionally, they can tap into valuable resources like webinars and courses covering career development, resume building, job search strategies, and US immigration pathways.

LSUA student Mattia Loioli said, “I just started using Interstride, but it immediately showed how helpful it can be. Being able to filter job opportunities with any characteristic you need and knowing that, as an international student, you have the chance to apply is incredible. Also, if you turn on the notifications it keeps you updated when new jobs are posted. I think this is a big change for international students, and it will make a difference.”

The platform also fosters connections among international students, alumni, and globally like-minded individuals at LSUA. This creates a supportive community where international students can share experiences and advice based on their needs, interests, and goals.

Beth Palmer, LSUA Assistant Vice Chancellor of Holistic Education and Career Development, said, “Like Handshake, Interstride is another platform helping our online and on-campus international students acquire internships and jobs. It also removes the anxiety and challenges of qualifying for these positions in Louisiana and across the United States.”

With the launch of this partnership, LSUA reaffirms its dedication to fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for international students and equipping them with the tools and resources they need to succeed academically and professionally.

Find out more about Interstride at http://www.interstride.com. To connect with LSUA students ready to graduate and enter the workforce, contact the LSUA Career Center at 318-473-6561.

Photo credit – Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

Pardon Charles Smith for being skeptical when he was told in February he was a finalist for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the highest honor the game affords its elite.

It came in his first year of consideration. He’s a high school basketball coach, a subset that had only four representatives among the 450 people enshrined since 1959.

“I didn’t know if it was true or not. When I got the call I was a finalist, I had to pinch myself,” he said Saturday, after Smith, coach at Peabody Magnet High School for the past 40 years, was announced as one of 13 Class of 2024 inductees.

Again, pardon him for being skeptical.

“When I did get the call that I had been (chosen to be) inducted … it was April Fool’s Day,” he said.

It was no joke. Smith was told to please keep it quiet – which was no problem for the low-key 74-year-old Rapides Parish native. Arrangements were made for him and his wife to fly to Phoenix, where the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024 class was introduced Saturday during halftime of the Purdue-North Carolina State game in the NCAA Final Four.

Smith will go in during induction festivities in Springfield, Mass., Aug. 16-17. The 2019 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee is joined in the “Hoop Hall” class of 2024 by another Louisiana luminary, Baton Rouge native and LSU women’s basketball great Seimone Augustus, who is going in the LSHOF in Natchitoches June 20-22.

Also among the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 2024 Class:  Vince Carter, Chauncey Billups, retired Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan, and as contributors, Doug Collins, Herb Simon and Jerry West.

Scanning the list of previous Basketball Hall inductees are superstars like Shaquille O’Neal, Bill Russell, Pete Maravich, Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Bob Cousy, Karl Malone and Bob Pettit – not to mention the game’s greatest coaches from all levels, like Red Auerbach, Pat Summitt, Kim Mulkey, Leon Barmore, Lenny Wilkins, Adolph Rupp and John Wooden.

The inductees are chosen after a multi-tiered process that culminates with finalists being considered by a 24-person Honors Committee, with at least 18 affirmative votes required for induction.

Smith’s credentials are unquestionably among the best ever among high school coaches. He has 1,208 career wins, fifth in high school history, and his teams have won nine state championships – the latest just last month in an overtime victory over Madison Prep at the Marsh Madness LHSAA Final Four in Lake Charles. He has won 85 percent of the games he’s coached, losing only 214.

He came to Peabody in 1974 as a math teacher – and remains in that role. He was an assistant coach, helping the Warhorses win the first state title in school history, before taking over the head coaching role in 1984.

Saturday, in Phoenix, his thoughts raced back home to Cenla.

“It’s a thrill to be here, to represent my school, Peabody High School. I’ve been there for 50 years, teaching and coaching. I’ve had some wonderful guys to play basketball for me. This is an honor not only for me, but for all high school basketball coaches,” he said.

“I’m from a little small town, Taylor Hill. I want to give credit to my parents. My father was a World War II veteran. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge with General Patton. My mother was a teacher,” said Smith. “I have an outstanding family. My wife and I have been married for 50 years, this year. My son is my associate head coach, and my daughter is a vice president at Southern University-New Orleans.”

He noted that a coach’s success depends on a lot of other people – administration, faculty, supporters, assistant coaches, but most of all, teen-aged boys.

“It’s been a great ride,” said Smith, “and I want to thank my players for allowing me to be in this position.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By JIM BUTLER

Another Alexandria man is accused of illegally brandishing a machine gun.

Marquell Bell, 23, was jailed April 4. He is a convicted felon accused of illegally possessing a firearm, aggravated criminal damage and probation violation.

Where he or any other suspect could allegedly purchase or steal a machine gun is not part of the arrest record. But get them some allegedly do.

Bell, being held under $210,000 bail, is apparently no stranger to guns.

In fact, records show he was booked on two counts of attempted 2nd degree murder in October 2020.

Three months earlier, he was charged with illegally possessing a stolen firearm and with illegal use of a weapon.

In April same year he was charged with illegal carry and illegal use of a weapon and with aggravated criminal damage.

More recently, in June 2022, Bell was accused of felony flight from a traffic stop.

Two months ago he was booked on a contempt charge.

By JIM BUTLER

Through Sunday evening investigators had released no information regarding a murder charge against a Pineville man.

Rodney Guillotte Jr., 38, arrested Saturday, is charged with 1st-degree murder.

He is also charged with a count a count of attempted murder 1, domestic abuse battery with child present and contempt of court. His bail is $1,551,500.

First-degree murder is defined as specific intent to kill or inflict great bodily damage under a number of specific circumstances.

Guillotte’s parish arrest record includes:

May 2022 – criminal trespass, resisting arrest, traffic charges; June 21 – narcotics possession, traffic charges; May 2019 – contempt of court non-support order.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

April 4

Marquell Bell, 24, Alexandria — handling machine gun unlawful, firearm possession by convicted felon, illegal use weapons, aggravated criminal damage, probation violation, $210,000 bail;

Pedrick Harris Sr., 50, Lecompte — firearm possession by convicted felon, criminal conspiracy, aggravated burglary, criminal damage, $76,500;

Joseph Lincecum, 42, Lecompte — firearm possession by convicted felon, aggravated burglary, criminal conspiracy, criminal damage, $57,500 bail. 

April 6

Rodney Guillotte Jr., 38, Pineville — murder 1st degree, attempted murder 1st degree, domestic abuse battery child present, contempt, $1,551,500 bail;

Devontavious Davis, 22, Alexandria — firearm with drugs, battery on infirm, possession, suspension/revocation, running stop sign, contempt 7 counts, $30,200;

Andrica Smith, 47, Alexandria — aggravated assault with firearm, assault, $250 bail. 

By BRET H. MCCORMICK, Journal Sports

Top of the seventh inning, two outs, runners on first and third in a one-run game. 

At bat is one of, if not THE best hitter in Rapides Parish, Tioga senior shortstop and Southern Miss signee Abbi Troquille. 

In the circle is the parish’s top pitcher, Buckeye senior and Southeastern Louisiana signee Olivia Henry.

Hollywood writers couldn’t have planned the script any better. 

Troquille took strike one before looking at two balls and fouling off the fourth pitch for a 2-2 count. She then ripped Henry’s pitch down the third-base line, but Buckeye sophomore Makinley Miller scooped up the ball and fired it to first baseman Rikki Nitz to give the Lady Panthers the 2-1 victory in a battle of the parish’s top two softball teams last Monday. 

“Me and Abbi have been playing ball together since we were little kids,” Henry said. “She’s a stud. All credit to her, but I knew that my defense (would) back me up. … We executed, and it was great. It was a very even matchup. I knew it could go either way, but the defense had my back.” 

Buckeye coach Justin Kees said the game provided a “playoff atmosphere” and that both teams “gave the fans their money’s worth.”

“We wouldn’t have wanted it any other way,” Kees said. “(Tioga coach Brad Woodard) wants his all-state shortstop up to bat with two runners on, and I want Liv in the circle. We got what we wanted. We lucked up this time and got the out to end it. We play another game tomorrow, same situation, he might win that one. It might be flipped.”

Tioga took the early lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by senior second baseman Zoe Roland that scored Troquille. The Lady Panthers answered back with two runs in the fourth inning on an RBI double by freshman shortstop Rosalee Richey and an RBI single by Miller. 

Henry scattered six hits and gave up one unearned run with no walks in seven innings, outdueling Tioga senior Christina Lambert, who gave up eight hits and two runs. 

Richey and Miller both had two hits and an RBI to lead Buckeye at the plate, while Grace Turlington and Mayghan Brown had two hits apiece for Tioga. 

The Lady Indians (23-6) bounced back with five straight wins to finish the week ranked No. 3 in Division I Select with two games remaining in the regular season, against Winnfield on Monday and Neville on Tuesday, both at home. 

Buckeye (23-6), the top-ranked team in Division II Select, finished the week 7-0 to run its winning streak to 10 games and will close its regular season at Opelousas Catholic on Tuesday. 

SIXTEEN IN A ROW: After starting the season 4-10, the Menard Lady Eagles have ripped off 16 straight wins. 

They went 6-0 last week, including an 8-6 come-from-behind victory at Oakdale that wrapped up the District 4-2A championship. 

The Lady Eagles (20-10) won four of the games by double digits and finished off the week with a 4-1 victory over Airline on Saturday. They moved up to No. 4 in the Division III Select power ratings and will finish their regular season at Pine Prairie on Monday. 

SOFTBALL PLAYOFF BRACKETS: With the end of the softball regular season on Tuesday, the LHSAA will announce matchups in the 10 playoff divisions on Wednesday. 

Non-Select brackets will feature 26 teams with the top six seeds getting byes, while Select brackets will feature 24 teams and eight byes, except in Division V, which will have just eight teams. 

First-round playoff matchups must be completed by Saturday with second-round and quarterfinal matchups next week and the semifinals and finals being played at Sulphur’s Frasch Park on April 26-27.

Ten parish teams are projected to make the playoffs. 

In Division I, Tioga is third with Pineville at No. 6 and Alexandria Senior High eighth. 

Buckeye ranks first in Division II, while Peabody is 18th. Menard (No. 4) and Glenmora (20th) are both projected to make the Division III bracket. 

Northwood-Lena is ranked No. 21 in Division IV, while Grace Christian is first and Oak Hill is No. 6 in Division V. All teams in Rapides Parish play in the Select divisions. 

TROJANS DROP PAIR ON DIAMOND: ASH dropped two games against West Monroe, losing 11-0 and 3-1, in a battle of the top two baseball teams in District 2-5A. 

The two losses dropped the Trojans to 14-9 on the season and 6-2 in district play with just over a week remaining in the regular season. 

Meanwhile, Buckeye took control of the District 2-3A race with a pair of wins over Caldwell to move to 19-7 overall and 8-0 in district play. 

Buckeye beat the Spartans 3-2 and 5-2 before having its 11-game winning streak snapped with a 5-2 loss to Tioga on Friday. 

Menard (16-8) moved to 8-0 in District 4-2A and ran its winning streak to 10 games by sweeping Oakdale, 17-0 and 9-4, and beating Tioga (14-9) 7-1. 

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – Hoping to snap his rapidly-sinking 18th-ranked team out of his three-week nosedive to start SEC play, LSU head baseball coach Jay Johnson banned his players from using cell phones in the locker room last week.

Johnson reasoned such a takeaway was necessary for his team’s total commitment and focus of pulling out of its funk of opening league play with series road losses at Mississippi State and Arkansas sandwiching a home series loss to Florida.

And then No. 7 Vanderbilt came to Baton Rouge last Thursday.

Despite the Commodores’ 10-6 first-game loss, they essentially erased any remains of LSU’s waning competitive spirit in wins of 8-6 in Game 2 on Friday and 13-3 in Game 3 on Saturday.

What’s left of a shell of the defending national champions became the first LSU team to lose its first four SEC series since the 1969 team.

The ’69 squad lost all six conference series when it went 4-13 in its then 18-game (one game at Ole Miss was canceled) schedule.

“They have to answer the competitive level question,” said Johnson of his team (21-12 overall, 3-9 SEC) after Saturday’s series-ending run-rule beatdown. “They need to answer who they’re accountable to. They’re obviously accountable to the program and to me and our coaches and everybody that supports LSU baseball, which is a lot of people. But they’ve got to start with themselves.”

Johnson knows he’s had to replace seven of last season’s nine starters, his starting pitching rotation and top reliever. And he understands the Tigers have a top-heavy league schedule in which they play four of their first five series against top 7 nationally-ranked teams with No. 4 Tennessee up next in Knoxville starting on Friday.

But he’s irked by his squad’s repeated failures to execute when each SEC series has been at turning points, and then getting run-ruled in 3 of 4 Game 3 losses.

“It just seems we can’t put anybody away with two strikes and we can’t get off the field with two outs,” Johnson said.

There’s a laundry list of failures in key moments such as:

• Game 1 at Mississippi State: With the Bulldogs leading 6-3 through six innings, LSU failed to get a runner home with two outs three times in the first six innings of an eventual 10-4 Hail State win.

• Game 2 vs. Florida: LSU reliever Nate Ackenhausen was two strikes away with two outs in the ninth from securing a 4-3 LSU victory that would have won the series since the Tigers won 6-1 in Game 1. Instead, he gave up the game-tying single, Florida won 6-4 in 11 innings and crushed LSU 12-2 the next day in Game 3 to win the series.

• Game 2 at Arkansas: After the Hogs won 7-4 in Game 1, Tigers’ shortstop Michael Braswell III charged an Arkansas ground ball and whiffed with the game tied 3-3 in the 10th. The next Hogs’ batter ripped a walk-off double down the left field line, scoring the winning run from first base in a 4-3 Arkansas victory that captured the series. The No. 1 Razorbacks completed the sweep.

• Game 2 vs. Vanderbilt: After holding on for a 9-6 win over Vandy in the series opener last Thursday, LSU was four outs away from securing a 6-5 victory in Game 2 to clinch the series. Ackenhausen struck out the first batter in the top of the eighth, hit the second batter on a 2-2 pitch, retired the next batter on a second-out fly ball, and then gave up a first-pitch two-run homer to Vandy’s Jayden Davis for a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the LSU eighth, the Tigers had the tying run at third and the go-ahead run at first with one out. Instead of playing it safe by having nine-hole hitter freshman Stephen Milam possibly sacrifice bunt which at worse would be a second out with LSU’s top of the batting order coming to the plate, Milam was ordered to swing away and hit into a rally-killing double play.

Vandy added a run in the ninth, LSU got nothing in its last at-bats and the Commodores won 8-6 and captured the series.

“Let’s go back to Thursday night (Game 1),” Johnson said. “We’re winning 9-0 (with two outs in the sixth). And we made an error (a fielding blunder by Braswell) which forced us to bring him (LSU’s most effective reliever Griffin Herring) in the game. If we don’t have to bring him in the game, he’s finishing the game last night (Game 2), and I felt pretty good about our chances to win that game.”

LSU’s “roll over and play dead” Game 3 performances are even worse.

Using a hodgepodge of pitchers, the Tigers have been outscored 47-15 and outhit 51-27 in Game 3 losses to Mississippi State, Florida, Arkansas and Vanderbilt. Almost half of the opponents’ hits – 24 – have been for extra bases (12 doubles, 12 homers).

In the latest Game 3 collapse, an eight-inning run-rule loss to Vanderbilt, the Commodores scored in every inning and LSU batters struck out at least once in every inning.

LSU hasn’t hit over .260 in any SEC series. Tigers’ batters have more strikeouts (118) than hits (100) in league play.

The Tigers’ pitching staff hasn’t had an earned run average lower than 6.33 in any SEC series. Bullpen returnees Ackenhausen and Thatcher Hurd (who had started Game 3 in the Mississippi State and Florida series before being placed in the bullpen) are both 0-3 in SEC play with respective ERAs of 9.00 and 10.97.

“There’s a nice (national championship) trophy from 2023 because of Nate Ackenhausen and Thatcher Hurd,” Johnson said. “I’m going to continue to pitch those guys. I believe in them.

“We’ve rebooted this thing. They deserve that opportunity. We need to get some different guys in the mix, also. We’re going to figure it out. I believe in the pitching staff that we have. They need to execute a little bit better and they want to execute a little bit better.”

After a non-conference home outing against McNeese Tuesday, LSU completes its Murderers Row of ranked SEC opponents in a three-game series at Tennessee (26-6, 7-5 SEC) beginning Friday.

Last season, the Tigers won 2 of 3 games in the regular season series in Baton Rouge, then beat Tennessee twice (6-3, 5-0) in the College World Series to eliminate the Vols.

After Tennessee began SEC play this season with a series loss at Alabama, the Vols won back-to-back home series vs. Ole Miss and Georgia.

This past weekend at Auburn, Tennessee run-ruled the Tigers 15-3 in seven innings in Sunday’s series-deciding Game 3. The Vols hit 14 homers in the series, including 6 each in Saturday’s 12-2 game 2 win and Sunday.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

April 4

Jessica Bledsoe, 29, Alexandria — felony fugitive, no bail set;

Martin Ferguson, 52, Ball — criminal trespass, fire raising on land of another, criminal damage, theft, $2,000 bail. 

This date: 31 arrests, of which 12 involved at least one contempt count.

April 5

Laken Afemon, 38, Hineston — unauthorized entry inhabited dwelling, contempt 3 counts, $55,095.72 bail;

Summer Hall-Gonzales, 23, Ball — aggravated assault dating partner, contempt 2 counts, $4,000 bail;

Patrick Hammond, 58, Alexandria — sex offender failure to renew registration, $5,000 bail;

Stephen Reed, 31, Pineville — theft of motor vehicle, $20,000 bail;

Michael Taylor, 38, no address — felony fugitive, no bail set;

Sidney Wheeler III, 43, Pineville — domestic abuse battery child present, domestic abuse battery, $2,000 bail. 

This date: 13 arrests, of which 8 involve at least one contempt count.

April 6

Constance Brown, 64, Alexandria — bank fraud, $1,000 bail;

Myron Bush, 45, Alexandria — false imprisonment, disturbing peace, contempt, $1,000 bail;

Patrick Burns, 29, Slidell — parole violation, resisting, contempt 4 counts, $8,500 bail;

Akieska Reed, 50, Alexandria — use/possession counterfeit or forged monetary instrument, resisting, misrepresentation at booking, $1,000 bail. 

This date: 16 arrests, 11 of which included at least one contempt count. 

Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

April 4

Kendedrick Armstrong, 35, Alexandria — possession with intent 2 counts, probation violation, contempt, flight, speeding, $10,600 bail;

Polly Bernard, 56, Boyce — possession 2 counts, $3,000 bail;

Tonya Carriker, 34, Alexandria — possession, theft, contempt 3 counts, $8,000 bail;

Justin Dyer, 35, Deville — possession, suspension/revocation, seat belt violation, contempt 5 counts, $14,700 bail;

Brittany Franklin, 28, Ball — possession, $2,500 bail;

Dakota Hudspeth, 31, Boyce — possession 3 counts, paraphernalia, probation violation, $5,000 bail;

Tami Mickey, 43, Boyce — possession, $2,600 bail;

Bruno Reed, 44, Pineville — possession 2 counts, $1,500 bail.

April 6

Julia Patton, 37, Pineville — possession, theft, contempt 3 counts, $9,000 bail;

Michael Vernon, 54, Boyce — possession with intent 3 counts, paraphernalia, contempt, fugitive, $56,000 bail;

Susan Whitehead, 62, Boyce — possession 2 counts, $2,000 bail. 

Houston – After a brief illness, Judge Frank Alan “Pappy” Little, Jr. died on March 31, 2024. He was 87. Judge Little was married for one week shy of 66 years to Gail, who was his college classmate. He had two children, five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. His elder daughter Sophie L. McGough is an architect in Austin, Texas and with her husband David had children Ryder and Erin. Ryder is married to Aaron (nee Strawser) and they have two boys, Wells and Patton. Judge Little’s younger daughter Sabrina L. DiMichele recently retired from the practice of law in Houston, Texas. She and her husband Rich have three children, Vincent, Evangeline, and Olivia.

St. Francis Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas will conduct Judge Little’s funeral on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tulane Law Fund (giving.tulane.edu/law) or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Judge Little graduated from the School of Arts & Sciences at Tulane University and from Tulane University School of Law. He spent a summer studying at the University of Madrid, Spain. Beginning his legal experience with the Chaffe McCall law firm in New Orleans, Judge Little practiced law until his death, a period that spanned 63 years. He and his wife Gail moved to Alexandria, Louisiana in 1965 when he joined the Gold Hall law firm. Little was president of that firm, then known as Gold Little Simon Weems & Bruser, when President Ronald Reagan nominated him to the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in 1984. The U.S. Senate quickly and unanimously approved his nomination. Judge Little served as a federal judge for over 22 years, six as Chief Judge of the Western District of Louisiana, and sat by designation many times on the United States Courts of Appeal for the Fifth and Sixth Circuits.

Upon retirement from the federal bench, Judge Little served for nearly nine years as Chief Tribal Judge for the Coushatta Indian Tribe in Kinder, Louisiana. Little then returned to the private practice of law and was most recently of counsel to the firm of Gold Weems (formerly Gold Little) in Alexandria. He continued to be affiliated with the firm when he and Gail relocated to Houston, Texas in July of 2022.

In addition to his judicial service and active legal practice, Judge Little was a recognized specialist in estate tax and estate planning. He also taught law school on a part time basis in this country and in Greece (with Tulane’s Law School Summer program). The Louisiana State Bar Association engaged Judge Little for many years to craft the examinations for specialist certification in the categories of income tax, estate tax, and succession administration. He was a frequent speaker at seminars here and abroad, mostly on topics dealing with wills, descent and distribution, estate tax, and ethics. His articles have been published in the Tulane Law Review, The Journal of Taxation, and the Hastings Constitutional Law Journal. Frequently engaged for arbitration and mediation, Judge Little enjoyed the highest rating (AV) as a lawyer and was recognized as a Best Lawyer in Louisiana. Not only was he proud of his continuous activity with the Tulane Law School, Judge Little was honored to participate as a senior officer in the Louisiana State Law Institute for over 50 years. He was a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a Life Member of the American and Louisiana Bar Foundations, a member and past president of the Alexandria Bar Association, a member of the Louisiana Bar Association, and a Certified Public Accountant (Hon.). In 2023, Tulane Law School recognized Judge Little to the Tulane Law School Hall of Fame.

With Gail, his companion of essentially a lifetime, Judge Little traveled widely and often (always wearing one of his many Tulane caps), read incessantly, was a devoted piano player and poor golfer, and reveled in the company of countless friends. He often remarked that his wife, family, and friends formed the most valuable assets of his estate.

September 7, 1958 – April 3, 2024

Graveside Services for Glenn David Markle will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at Central Louisiana Veterans Cemetery, Leesville with Bro. Benji Rhame officiating under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Alexandria.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Hixson Brothers, Alexandria and again on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until shortly before service time at the funeral home.

Mr. Markle, 65, of Forest Hill, passed away on Wednesday April 3, 2024 in Rapides Regional Medical Center, Alexandria.

Mr. Markle is retired from the United States Navy. He also was a certified welder. He loved hunting and fishing and cooking for his family. He was a talented artist who used oil paints as his medium. He also loved humor, and loved “picking” at his friends and family.

Those preceding Glenn in death are his parents, Ted P. Markle and Marjorie Mae Stephens Markle; two brothers, Keith Allen Markle and Delane Clark.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Phyllis Smith Markle; his sons, Glen Joseph Markle, Robin Leon Underwood (Aletha), Roy James Smith, and Steven Thomas Smith; his daughter, Billie Jo Smith (John Urvan); his sisters, Debbie Guillory (Joe) and Kathy Dunn, and twelve grandchildren, many great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and staff at Rapides Regional Medical Center for their excellent care.

The family will gather at the funeral home to depart by 12:00 p.m. on the day of service to travel to the cemetery.

Arrests are accusations, not convictions. 

April 3

Christian Holt, 18, Centerpoint — resisting,  escape, felony flight, illegal handling machine guns, illegal possession stolen firearm 2 counts, theft of firearms 2 counts, illegal carrying dangerous weapons 3 counts, criminal conspiracy 2 counts, burglary 4 counts, $91,500 bail.

Opinion/By AMY HAYES/Contributor to the Journal

An exhibit of Kim Mulkey’s 2023 National Championship season at LSU hangs in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum in Natchitoches. Rightfully so, considering Natchitoches is the small town where the movie Steel Magnolias was filmed.

Kim Mulkey is a steel magnolia personified.

If you have never seen the movie or play, then you may not know what that means. In Natchitoches, the term is understood as part of the local vernacular. A metaphor for the contrasting imagery associated with a tough metal and a delicate flower.

A steel magnolia is thought of as an independent woman who faces adversity with strength and dignity. Just like the sturdy steel frame of a fragile magnolia tree.

When you watch Mulkey on the sidelines of a game or listen to her speak in a post-game presser or radio interview, you know that she embodies a combination of toughness yet kindness.

She loves basketball, she loves winning, but most of all she loves her players and her family. Her players are her family, and she states that often. She is a doting mother and grandmother, but also a devoted coach to young, impressionable athletes.

Society wants us to believe that women can’t be both strong and gentle at the same time. But in the South that is the way women are raised. We are taught to fight like hell for what we believe in. We are taught to be compassionate and tender-hearted. And we can be both of those things at the same time.
In a world where women should be equal to men in all areas. That is most certainly not true when it comes to sports. Women have been marginalized spectators watching as men have made millions of dollars and achieved celebrity status as professional athletes.

Mulkey is still the same person she’s always been but since taking the head coaching job at LSU, opportunities have started to change. She gives her players the freedom to be themselves and they have excelled at becoming entrepreneurs in the new world of NIL. Together they have helped to elevate the game of women’s basketball to a level that could never have been dreamed of even a few years ago.
According to ESPN, 12.3 million people watched the Elite 8 game on Monday night between LSU and Iowa. It was the most watched college basketball game ever on ESPN platforms.

Ironically, this broke the previous ratings record for women’s basketball of 11.84 million in 1983 when USC beat Mulkey’s Louisiana Tech team in the NCAA Championship.

Despite such success and progress, the media have critiqued her every move. Talked about her clothing choices, dug up her family history, nitpicked her coaching, made assumptions about her political and personal beliefs, criticized her personality, and now, even questioned her allegiance to the American flag.

Mulkey can withstand the millions of daggers that are thrown at her because her armor is made of steel. She had to overcome obstacles at a young age in the male-dominated world of sports and continues to have to defend herself and her female players nearly 60 years later.

Our only hope should be that she can pass the strength and resolve that she embodies onto her young players.

The relentless media seems to have taken a Clairee (Olympia Dukakis) line out of the movie to heart, “If you can’t say anything nice about anybody, come sit by me.”

But as any true Steel Magnolia would say, “Bless their hearts.”

Contact Amy at AmyHaysJSLLC@gmail.com.