In 1978, “Saturday Night Live” cast member Garrett Morris portrayed fictional former Major League baseball star Chico Escuela and unleashed the catchphrase “Beisbol has been bery good to me” in a sketch still remembered to this day.
Well, this spring, “beisbol” has been very good to Lincoln Parish.
Look no further than Louisiana Tech, where the Diamond ‘Dogs have made a historic rise in the national polls over the past two months, rising as high as No. 14.
It’s been a combination of pitching — an NCAA-best seven shutouts in 35 games so far — and high-powered batting that have led the Bulldogs to their current record of 26-9.
“We hit because we hit,” Tech coach Lane Burroughs said during his weekly press conference on Tuesday. “Our guys are over there at the stadium right now hitting. I guarantee it. They just love to hit. They’re in our facilities or on the field by themselves with nobody around. We know we have that ability to strike.
“Against a really good pitching staff like Southern Miss, I won’t say I was surprised, but more pleased, with how we didn’t stop. We can split a gap or whatever we need to do. Our guys don’t stop, they never quit and they know they’re not out of any game. As a coach, that’s a great feeling. No doubt.”
Grambling has overcome an 0-12 start to stand at 11-18 overall and 8-4 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference for first place in the West Division.
The Ruston High School Bearcats have won 12 straight and haven’t lost since March 26 at West Monroe.
Choudrant extended its school-record winning streak to 25 straight and stands as one of Class B’s top powers at 28-3.
It’s hard to remember a local baseball season being so exciting on both the high school and college levels heading into May and toward postseason play.
Yes, “beisbol” has indeed been very good to Lincoln Parish this spring.