Ruston High School baseball picture by T. SCOTT BOATRIGHT (Lincoln Parish Journal
Staff writer
Ruston’s Bearcats baseball team completed a District 2-5A sweep Friday by heading south.
The storms that lashed the local area were later arriving in Alexandria, where RHS put away Alexandria Senior High 8-3, on the heels of a homefield 3-0 triumph Thursday evening.
At ASH, the Bearcats (18-8, 4-2) erased an early 1-0 deficit with a three-run fourth inning and took command with a four-spot in the top of the fifth.
The Trojans had double trouble as Ruston moved on top. RBI doubles by winning pitcher Issac White, Dyson Fields and Dawson Willis lit up the visitors’ scoreboard in the fourth inning.
Joshua Miller and Fields (2 RBIs) had run-scoring singles in the next inning, when pinch-hitter Dawson Szymanski added a sacrifice fly as the Bearcats moved up 8-1.
White scattered six hits in five innings, before Jackson Procell and Fields came out of the bullpen to keep ASH at bay.
Fields went 3-for-4 with his three RBI to pace Ruston’s nine-hit attack. J.R. Tollett, who was dominant on the hill in a shutout Thursday night, cracked a pair of hits Friday.
The Bearcats visit Delhi Charter Tuesday at 6 and have another district series Thursday (there) and Friday (home, 5:30) with Pineville.
CEDAR CREEK BASEBALL: Oak Grove’s Chad Ashburn shut down the Cougars Saturday, striking out 11 in six inning and allowing only a fourth-inning double by Jack Parks in a 10-0 run-rule decision.
The visitors doubled their 5-0 lead in the fifth and sixth innings to end the game.
Cedar Creek (11-11) wraps up its homestand this evening at 6 against Claiborne Christian.
COACHES’ ALL-STATE FOOTBALL: The Louisiana Football Coaches Association released its 2020 All-State teams over the weekend, and six local boys earned accolades.
Five Ruston Bearcats, all seniors, were recognized. First-team Class 5A selections were running back Ketravion Hargrove, offensive lineman Richard Page, defensive lineman Jalen Penegar and kicker Caleb Phillips. Honorable mention recognition went to Dalton Herbert.
Cedar Creek junior Bryson Fields drew honorable mention on the Class A team.
RUSTON TRACK & FIELD: Incoming stormy weather forced cancellation of Friday’s Ruston Invitational on Dave Anderson Track at L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium. While the storms didn’t arrive until early evening, the risk of severe weather potentially impacting travel home for participating teams forced RHS coach Allen Whitaker to cancel the meet.
