Staff writer
Riding a 12-game winning streak, Ruston High School’s baseball team has earned a No. 4 seed in the 32-team LHSAA Class 5A playoff bracket and hosts No. 28 Ponchatoula at 4 p.m. today.
The Bearcats’ contest today is a win-or-weep outing. The survivor goes on to a best-of-three series against either 12th-seeded Central (Baton Rouge) or No. 21 Hahnville in the regional round, and the series format continues in the quarterfinals, where No. 4 Sam Houston is the projected foe.
Ruston is 24-8. With a win, the Bearcats could start their regional round action as early as Thursday and at home at the Ruston Sports Complex.
Choudrant, the longstanding Class B powerhouse, earned the No. 1 seed in its bracket and a first-round bye. The Aggies (28-3) have won a school-record 25 straight games and will play either No. 16 Holden or 17th-seeded Bell City later this week at home, possibly as early as Thursday.
Cedar Creek did not make the 16-team Division IV bracket.
The LHSAA Tennis Championships are today and Tuesday in Monroe, with Ruston and Cedar Creek each sending multiple players.
Eight Ruston players are in the draw in Division I, headed by the dynamic boys doubles team of Andrew Ellis and Will Johnson, both seniors, and singles player Caleb Free, a junior.
Other RHS qualifiers are Will Fendley (a freshman), along with twins Ellie and Sophie Puljak, Taryn Sternitzky and Aaron Williams, who are seniors.
Cedar Creek state qualifiers in Division IV are James Black, Margaret Gilmore and Andrew Maxwell.
High school regional golf and track competitions begin today and run through Wednesday, involving dozens of athletes from parish schools.
TODAY
• LA Tech softball, home vs. UTEP, 3 p.m. (doubleheader)
• Ruston HS baseball, home vs. Ponchatoula, 4 p.m. (Class 5A first round playoff)
• Ruston HS tennis, at Division I state tournament, Monroe, all day
• Cedar Creek HS tennis, at Division IV state tournament, Monroe, all day
• Cedar Creek HS golf, at Division IV, Region I championship, Oakwing GC, Alexandria, all day
• LA Tech golf, at C-USA Championships, Texarkana, Ark., all day
• Grambling baseball, at Texas Southern, 1 p.m.
• Grambling softball, at UAPB, 1 p.m.
TUESDAY
• Grambling softball, home vs. ULM, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
• Grambling baseball, at LSU, 4 p.m.
• Choudrant HS track & field, at Class B Region I championships, Castor, all day
• Simsboro HS track & field, at Class B Region I championships, Castor, all day
• Lincoln Prep HS track & field, at Class A Region I championships, Sibley, all day
• LA Tech golf, at C-USA Championships, Texarkana, Ark., all day
• LA Tech softball, at Northwestern State, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
• Ruston HS track & field, at Class 5A, Region I championship, Natchitoches, 3 p.m.
• Ruston HS golf, at Division I, Region I championship, Cypress Bend GC, western Sabine Parish, all day
• LA Tech golf, at C-USA Championships, Texarkana, Ark., all day
THURSDAY
• LA Tech golf, at C-USA Championships, Texarkana, Ark., all day
FRIDAY
• Grambling baseball, home vs. Prairie View, 6 p.m.
• Grambling softball, at Prairie View, 3 p.m.
• LA Tech baseball, at Middle Tennessee, 6 p.m.
• LA Tech softball, at Southern Miss, 6 p.m.
SATURDAY
• Grambling baseball, home vs. Prairie View, 3 p.m.
• LA Tech baseball, at Middle Tennessee, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
• LA Tech softball, at Southern Miss, 1 p.m. (doubleheader)
• Grambling softball, at Prairie View, noon (doubleheader)
• LA Tech track & field, at Alumni Muster, College Station, TX, all day
SUNDAY
• Grambling baseball, home vs. Prairie View, 1 p.m.
• LA Tech baseball, at Middle Tennessee, 1 p.m.
• LA Tech softball, at Southern Miss, 1 p.m.
• Grambling softball, at Texas Southern, TBA