Ruston Elementary School held its first ever glow in the dark art show, showcasing original works created by students using luminescent materials. Aptly named, “We’ve Got it Glowing On”, the art exhibition incorporated neon colors that illuminated under the blacklight displayed in a dark hallway.
All students at Ruston Elementary school had the opportunity to participate in this unique event. Students created glowing paper artworks using neon pastels and fluorescent paint. They also crafted small sculptures of sea creatures and pizza slices using air dry clay.
The art program at Ruston Elementary emphasizes teaching students about the different elements of art and principles of design while incorporating other content areas such as science and literacy. Throughout the year, students draw, paint, mold, and color to create works of art.
Art teacher Brittney Shambro highlighted the students’ enthusiasm in the creation of their pieces.
“I enjoyed how much fun the students had and how excited they were about their art,” Shambro said. “I also really liked how much attention to detail they used while creating their artwork.”
The inspiration for this exciting event came from Ruston Elementary Principal Mandy Brown, who had seen a similar event on social media. She was eager to recreate the magic for students at her own school. On the day of the show, parents and students lined up with a blacklight flashlight in hand to explore the hallway adorned with the students’ work.
“I loved seeing all the smiles and looks of amazement as parents entered the dark hallway with their children,” Brown said. “We were able to turn a regular hallway into a magical place of color and beauty. We will definitely do this again next year.”
On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, shortly before 8:00 a.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a single-vehicle fatal crash on I-20 east of LA 563. The crash claimed the life of 32-year-old Yashwanth Popuri of McKinney, Texas.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2023 Ford Explorer, driven by Popuri, was traveling west on I-20. For reasons still under investigation, the Ford traveled off the right side of the road and struck a tree.
Popuri, who was properly restrained, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The Ford’s front seat passenger, who was also properly restrained, received moderate injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. Routine toxicology samples were collected and will be submitted for analysis. This crash remains under investigation.
Troopers wish to remind motorists to always make good decisions while in a motor vehicle. Never drive impaired, fatigued, or distracted. Follow all traffic laws and always ensure that every occupant is properly restrained. While not all crashes are survivable, taking simple precautions such as these can often mean the difference between life and death.
In 2024, Troop F has investigated 19 fatal crashes, resulting in 20 deaths.
Kade Luker was named all-state honorable mention by the LSWA on Tuesday. (Photo by Darrell James)
by Malcolm Butler
Both the Cedar Creek softball and baseball teams were represented on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) all-state teams announced Tuesday.
Freshman Kade Luker and senior Max Brister were both named honorable all-mention for the Cougars baseball team following their impressive seasons.
Both Brister and Luker were named first team all-District 2-1A this season after guiding the Cougars to the state playoffs for the first time since 2019, including a first round playoff win over Hanson Memorial before falling to eventual state champion Opelousas Catholic.
Brister just signed to play collegiately at Howard College in Texas.
Opelousas Catholic swept the specialty awards as Mark Collins was named Most Outstanding Player and Justin Boyd was named Coach of the Year.
On the softball side, junior Mallory Smith and senior Bailey Adams were both named to the all-state first team while Anna Claire Fitzgerald was named honorable mention.
The Lady Cougars earned a postseason appearance this season, including a first round playoff win over Louis McGehee before falling to eventual state champion Opelousas Catholic in the second round.
Montgomery’s Zoey Fitts was named the Outstanding Player of the Year while Opelousas Catholic’s Cullen Matherne was named Coach of the Year.
Louisiana Tech saw of its female student-athletes earn College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honors as announced by the organization Tuesday.
Tech softball players Allie Floyd, Brook Melnychuk, Katelin Cooper, Caroline Easom and Nicole Hammoude earned honors while tennis student-athlete Tiffani Nash also earned the honor.
Nash, who already received her undergraduate degree in Management, carries a 4.00 grade point average while pursuing her master’s degree in Business Administration.
The senior recently became the first Bulldog in program history to be selected to the Conference USA All-Academic Team. She is also a two-time ITA Scholar-Athlete, two-time CUSA Academic Medalist, and two-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient.
On the court, the Bossier City, Louisiana native saw action in all 24 dual matches this past spring. She registered a 15-5 singles record, third most wins on the team, in route to being named Second Team All-CUSA.
Nash won nine of her last 11 matches including marquee victories over Houston, New Mexico State, Jacksonville State, ULM, UAB, Wichita State, and WKU. She also teamed up with three partners to produce eight victories in doubles.
Nash was selected as a CSC Academic All-America finalist. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced on June 4.
Floyd was a standout in the circle and the classroom for the Bulldogs in 2024. The sophomore recorded a 3.81 GPA while majoring in Biology. She is a two-time CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll and Academic Medalist selection (2023, 2024).
She led the Bulldogs with a 13-9 record and 81 strikeouts in 146.1 innings pitched while posting a 2.87 earned run average and five saves. Floyd was a Second-Team All CUSA selection and a three-time NFCA Top Performer during the season. Her 13 wins were the most by a LA Tech sophomore since 2017 and her 2.73 career ERA ranks third among LA Tech pitchers since 2000.
Melnychuk earned CSC All-Academic honors for the second consecutive year. She posted a 3.62 GPA and recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management this spring. The Hudson Bay, Saskatchewan product is a four-time CUSA Commissioners Honor Roll Selection (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021) and two-time NFCA Scholar-Athlete honoree (2022, 2023).
In the circle, she posted a team-best 2.77 ERA and a 13-7 record while striking out 67 batters in 124 innings pitched. Melnychuk was a two-time CUSA Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 19 and May 6) and went the distance in her final three starts of the season, allowing one run, one walk, and 13 hits in 21 innings pitched while striking out 11 on her way to earning three victories.
Cooper’s selection was her second in as many years. She holds a 3.87 GPA and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Counseling Psychology. She is a standout in the classroom, achieving Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete honors in 2022 and 2023. The Choudrant, La., native earned the prestigious Jim Castañeda Postgraduate Scholarship in 2023, which is given to one recipient from each of the conference’s member schools. She was also named to the 2024 CUSA All-Academic Team and earned CUSA Academic Medalist distinction in 2023 and 2024.
She started 51 games in left filed this past season while leading LA Tech with 36 walks, the seventh most in a single season by an LA Tech player. Her 96 career walks rank third in program history.
Easom carried a 3.60 GPA while majoring in accounting and has earned a spot on the CUSA Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times. She has earned Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete honors in 2022 and 2023.
The Bossier City, La., product had an outstanding senior season, batting .280 with 46 hits, nine doubles, and 26 RBI while leading the Bulldogs with seven multi-RBI games. The senior second baseman finished her career tying Karlee Jensen (2016-19) for the program record in double plays turned with 56.
Hammoude has posted a perfect 4.0 GPA while working towards her master’s degree in business administration. She was recently named to the 2024 CUSA All-Academic Team. Hammoude earned her bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture from Cal and was a 2021 PAC-12 Spring Academic Honor Roll selection.
In 2024, Hammoude led CUSA with 113 assists during the regular season while at shortstop. Hammoude also led Tech with five home runs and 32 RBI while registering 10 doubles and 25 runs scored.
To be nominated on the softball side, a student-athlete must have competed in 90 percent or started in at least 66 percent of the institution’s contests, or – for pitchers – pitched at least 25 innings or made 17 appearances, must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing and must carry at least a 3.50 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
LA Tech softball led all Conference USA members with five honorees. The five selections were the most in program history, eclipsing the previous record of three, set in 2023.
As a result of Floyd and Melnychuk earning first-team distinction, they will advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on Tuesday, June 18.
If there’s one debate in bass fishing that has gone on for decades, it’s the age-old question: Does color matter? What we are referring to is the color of the bait you’re throwing when fishing for those elusive largemouth bass. No other topic in the bass fishing world has a difference of opinion more than this topic. Today I’ll give you my perspective that could lean you in either direction.
If you ask any angler with years of experience, some will say, “Yes, color does matter,” while others will say, “No,” that the color of your bait has no bearing on if a bass will eat it. Occasionally, I will agree with the guys who say “no” because there are occasions where bass are on a feeding frenzy, otherwise known as “schooling,” and will bite just about anything you throw at them. But I’ve also seen instances where if you don’t throw something that is very close to the forage (baitfish) they are chasing, and I mean in both size and color, you will not get bit. This rule of “matching the hatch,” so to speak, pretty much applies 90% of the time.
Here’s my perspective when it comes to color. I say “yes” color does matter, if for no other reason than confidence. I know we’ve talked about confidence in the past and there’s nothing more important to an angler than his confidence, whether it’s in a particular color or a select bait. This is always a part of my message when I speak to high school or college anglers. It’s important for young anglers to gain confidence in a particular color because when the fishing is tough, you want to fish with something you have a lot of confidence in.
When it comes to soft plastic baits, color can make a huge difference on whether you catch bass or not. My argument has always been if color is not important, then why do manufacturers make so many for anglers to choose from? Some will say that is because companies are trying to catch anglers and sell lures. That might be true, but they also make so many colors because of the many different types of water clarity we have all across the country, and certain colors are designed to match different types of forage bass feed on.
All I know is this, over my many years of chasing those little green fish we call bass, more times than I can count, I made a color change and suddenly, I started catching bass. Was this a coincidence or was the new color I switched to closer to the forage they were feeding on? Only a bass can truly answer this question of whether color really matters, and until bass learn to speak, the world may never know.
John Wayne Pruitt Date of Death: May 25, 2024 Visitation: Kilbourne Hall~Grace Episcopal Church, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 1:00 pm Service: Grace Episcopal Church, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, 2:00 pm Cemetery: Grace Episcopal Columbarium, Wednesday, May 29, 2024
It could be North, South, East, or West– but play it safe when you’re on your quest!
This year’s Peach Prize is worth $500, and if the winner is wearing this year’s #LAPeachFest t-shirt when they find the prize, it will increase to $750. The Peach Prize is sponsored by The Cleaners of Ruston.
The 74th annual Peach Festival will be held Saturday, June 1, throughout Downtown Ruston. Admission will be free.
Ruston Police are investigating a homicide that occurred on Interstate 20 last week.
Chief Steve Rogers said investigators are still trying to pinpoint the exact location where the shooting occurred but that it was somewhere on I-20 between the Tech Drive interchange and Tarbutton Road.
Rogers could not provide a name or age of the victim Monday afternoon but said the victim was a young female who had just graduated from high school.
Chief Rogers said the department would try to release more information Tuesday.
Social media discussions of the incident said someone shot through the youth’s back window and she was taken to Northern Louisiana Medical Center last Tuesday night, but those details could not be verified.
No arrests have been made, according to Lincoln Parish Detention Center records.
(L to R: Dr. Pat Garrett, L.J. “Hoss” Garrett, Mary Alice Garrett, and Loyce Garrett Miller)
The Garrett Foundation has announced its 2024 grant recipients.
The Ruston High School programs that will receive the grant awards will be:
Tennis $800
Young Lives $700
Bearcat Nation $500
The Garrett Foundation was established in 1996 with an original gift of $50,000 from an anonymous donor with the interest accrued on the gift used to help Ruston High School clubs and organizations. Every year, a list of proposal’s will be submitted for review to the school, and from there, the Garrett Foundation’s board reviews and makes a decision on the award.
Donors can give to the fund to help the initial capital increase, which will allow for more opportunities for the school and Ruston students each year by making checks to RHS/Garrett Foundation and mailed or given to the administration at Ruston High. Deposits are also accepted at Argent for the Garrett Foundation.
The Ruston Sports Complex is proud to launch our SUPER SENIOR SUMMER this June and July with Senior Adult Fitness Classes for those in the community who want to shake things up this summer and get their bodies moving! As we get older, exercising is one of the most important things you can do for your health. There are numerous physical, mental, and social benefits for engaging in a fitness program, so come on out and give it a go!
The classes will be from 8-9 a.m. in our multipurpose room at our indoor facility with our first class starting on Tuesday, June 4th. at the Ruston Sports Complex. Our classes will primarily follow the routine of chair-oriented exercises on Tuesdays and more of a cardio and aerobic movement focus on Thursdays.
Whether you exercise on a regular basis or are just starting out, this class caters to all fitness levels! Best part is, these classes are at NO COST for all of the seniors in the Ruston community! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to get active this summer! We can’t wait to kick off our Super Senior Summer SO soon!
Ruston Police arrested a Ruston man Wednesday after he allegedly stolen $1,200 worth of money orders from the store where he worked.
Sean M. Augman, 24, was arrested at his residence after an investigation of the theft at the USA Travel Plaza on West Alabama Avenue.
The manager told police she found her morning audit on May 21 showed a shortage of $1,200. She examined surveillance video and saw Augman printing out four $300 money orders while working his shift.
Police were unable to contact Augman on May 21 but located him on May 22 at his residence and arrested him for illegal transmission of monetary funds. He was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center. His bail amount was not available at publication time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The image has stuck in my mind for more than 30 years.
My husband, Hooshang, and I were walking on the cliff above the ocean in Pacific Palisades Park in Santa Monica, California. That part of the park includes a sidewalk that nestles as closely to cliff’s edge as possible – with guardrails in place, of course.
The view of Santa Monica Bay was gorgeous, and we didn’t look too bad ourselves. For some reason we had dressed up. I was wearing an outfit with a hot pink cropped jacket and a black skirt that sported small white polka dots. Hooshang had on a sports coat and bolo tie – the same one he wore when we got married in Santa Fe a few months earlier.
Folks stared at us somewhat, and we never could figure it out. Did we look out of place there in our “finery” among the flipflops and shorts? Or maybe – just maybe – did passersby think Hooshang might be Adrian Paul from the then-popular TV series “Highlander”? At that time, Hooshang bore a striking resemblance to the series’ lead character.
So, yes, I remember these things. That was such a magical, blissful period – the early days of our marriage, which at that time was commuter-style.
But I also remember something else from that visit: row after row of mats lying on the lush green grass under the Palisades’ stately trees. Mats of the homeless. I couldn’t believe there were so many, so jam-packed together, just so “out there” – exposed. Exposed to the elements, exposed to everyone, exposed to the harsh reality of their owners’ situation.
In my mind, I now see most of the mats as being brown, and most being created from just a blanket. That means the dew would make them wet as night slipped into early morning. Definitely not something that sounds pleasant, along with so many other aspects of homelessness.
From what I observe in the news today, I can only imagine how many more mats – how many more homeless souls – might be out there now. And how many similar scenes are occurring throughout the country as homeless rates continue to rise. Between 2022 and 2023, the number of people experiencing homelessness in the U.S. jumped 12 percent.
While finding ways to deal with the pressing issue of homelessness is difficult, a local church is doing its best to make life a bit easier for these unfortunate individuals.
At Grace Methodist, a group of women gathers three times a week to weave plastic grocery bags into mats that are distributed to homeless populations in Monroe, Shreveport, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Houston and elsewhere. Similar efforts are being made by various organizations across the country, highlighting a growing grassroots movement to provide practical help for those in need.
My service group, the Zeta Rho chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, recently visited one of the local weaving sessions – and was most impressed. I took notes and photos, and two of my ESA sisters actually wove portions of a mat.
Since the mission began in 2019, more than 700 6-foot-by-28-inch mats have been made. Undoubtedly more would have been fashioned if it were not for Covid, but everything’s back on track now, and the team crafts a product that will help its owner stay dry at night and that can be easily rolled up for transport via the strap that is attached. (Note: The group accepts volunteer weavers from the community and other area churches.)
Much like the distribution, donated bags come from all over as well – from as far away as Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. So don’t throw away your plastic bags. Instead, take them to Grace Methodist, 3401 N. Trenton St., and they’ll become part of the project’s plarn (plastic yarn). Making just one matt takes 500-700 bags, so every contribution counts. And if you can, please neatly flatten the bags before donating; the volunteers will greatly appreciate it.
In the small room where this labor of love takes place, five handmade looms containing 19 pegs sit on fold-up tables. Strips of black plastic form the foundation (made from heavy-duty garbage bags donated by Lowe’s), and strips of plarn ranging from gray and white to pink and yellow come together to make the rest of the mat. Super-1 also helps out, donating bags that have gotten damaged.
During our visit, comments offering much food for thought floated freely around the room:
“Teamwork … It’s faster when someone helps you.” And “If you don’t do your foundation right, you’re going to have trouble.”
Maybe the best thing floating around that day, though, was a Bible verse that is affixed to each mat: “When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” – Proverbs 3:24.
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Sallie Rose Hollis lives in Ruston and retired from Louisiana Tech as an associate professor of journalism and the assistant director of the News Bureau. She can be contacted at sallierose@mail.com.
The 74th annual Peach Festival will return to Ruston on June 1st, brimming with exciting peach-themed events throughout the day.
The festival morning will kick off at 7:30am with the “Run for the Peaches 5K” starting at Trinity United Methodist Church. At 10:00am, the 2024 Peach Parade will commence at Ruston High School and proceed along West Alabama Avenue, showcasing the theme “Just a Little Peachy Lagniappe.”
The Peach Art Market will be open from 9:00am-5:00pm where attendees can discover local art, handmade items and homemade goods from local makers. Also from 9:00am-5:00pm, the Kid’s Alley:
An Art Experience will provide hands-on art activities and crafts on for all ages, along with interactive performances and demonstrations on the Kids Alley Stage.
The Ruston Farmer’s Market will run from 9:00am-1:00pm on festival day at their usual location. From 9:00am-5:00pm the Antique Classic Car Show will display and array of unique vehicles to browse. From 10:00am-11:00pm, live musical performances will be at the Railroad Park Stage, with the headliner, “Band of Heathens” taking the stage at 9:30pm.
Other events taking place throughout the festival day will include the Peach Tree Paintings exhibit, the Park Haust Cookery Contest, the Peach Fest Beard Contest, the Queen Dixie Gem Peach and Princess Peach pageants, and the annual Peach Rodeo.
The Louisiana Peach Festival will once again host an exciting array of events for all ages. From live music and arts to competitions and sports, there is something for everyone to enjoy at the Peach Fest.
Other peachy events taking place throughout the week are listed below with their times and dates. Peach Hunt: May 27th-31st Peach Culinary Crawl: May 26th-June 1st Peach Baby Photo Contest: May 30th Peach Art Exhibit: May 30th Peachy Sidewalk Sale: May 30-June 1 Peach Fest Pickleball Tournament: May 31st
It’s all things peachy in Ruston this week, and I am here for all of it. The parade, the art exhibit, the festival itself, the 5k run – I can’t wait.
I enjoy running – it’s one of the few exercises I keep up with, and running in Ruston is not for the fainthearted – you run uphill both ways! I’ve run the Peach Fest 5k a few times, and while I haven’t run it in several years, I will this year with my husband – as long as nothing goes wrong.
And when I say nothing, let me give you a little history. I used to run half marathons. I say “used to,” because I have not run one in over a decade. After my first daughter was born, I started training for another one to complete right around the time she turned one. However, I had an unfortunate accident that resulted in an injury that put running on a hiatus for several months.
No problem – about two years later, I decided to give it another go and try again. So I started training with my toddler daughter often accompanying me in her running stroller, and I was looking forward to running my next race. However, then again, literally the week before my race, I ended up with a foot injury that sent me back to the doctor’s office to run several tests to determine what was going on with my foot.
For my first doctor’s visit, they asked to do an X-ray, and after filling out the liability forms and assuring everyone I was not pregnant, the X-ray revealed that no, there was no broken bone. That was good, but next was a CT scan, which I had never had before. That was set up for the next day, and I stumbled around for another 24 hours before the scan.
As I sat waiting impatiently for the scan, I started thinking.
And counting.
And thinking.
And in a slightly panicked and high-pitched voice, I went back to the front desk of the doctor’s office and said, “Actually, yes, I would like to take a pregnancy test.”
Turns out my foot was just overextended from the preparation of the half marathon, and it healed on its own after a few weeks of using the RICE method. I didn’t get to run that half marathon either, and while I was a bit disappointed, I did have a better consolation prize:
From the lakes of north Louisiana to the Gulf of Mexico, there’s no shortage of prime fishing spots in the Bayou State, and summertime means anglers take full advantage of those bountiful resources.
Fishing tournaments become one of the summer activities of choice for seasoned pros with their fancy boats and top-notch gear to weekend warriors with trusty old rods and a cooler full of snacks.
The tourneys provide a chance to have a good time and perhaps win a little prize money.
But the popular contests can have a dark side as some participants seek every advantage, even illegal ones.
Some Louisiana tournaments offer big prizes—thousands of dollars, new boats, top-of-the-line gear. When big money is involved, a few unscrupulous anglers seek unfair advantages despite strict rules and precautions.
Last week, wildlife and fisheries enforcement agents arrested a Pollock man for alleged bass fishing contest violations on Toledo Bend.
Agents arrested Aaron Moreau, 38, for fishing contest fraud.
The arrest occurred after directors of the Big Bass Splash tournament at Toledo Bend reported a participant placing lead weights in a fish he caught on May 17.
When enforcement agents arrived at Toledo Bend, they determined Moreau had placed 2.59 pounds of lead weights inside a fish he used for weigh-in and then fled the scene.
Agents obtained an arrest warrant and Moreau turned himself in on May 23. He was booked into the Sabine Parish Detention Center.
When the most valuable prize offered in a Louisiana fishing contest amounts to a value of $100 or more, offenders face a fine of up to $3,000 and up to one year in jail or both.
The grand prize of the Big Bass Splash tourney included a fully equipped Phoenix 721 Pro XP bass boat, a Dodge Ram truck, and $5,000, a package valued over $100,000.
Barry Bonds hit career home run 715 on this day in 2006.
On May 28, 2006, San Francisco Giants outfielder Barry Bonds hits a 90-mph fastball from the Colorado Rockies’ Byung-Hyun Kim over the center-field fence for his 715th career home run to pass Babe Ruth for the second-most home runs in MLB history.
“I knew it was definitely gone,” Bonds says afterward. “There was no doubt.” The Giants lose the game in San Francisco, 6-3.
Bonds, who was 41, told reporters that passing Ruth was “a great honor” and that he had “a lot of respect for Babe Ruth and what he’s done.”
On August 7, 2007, Bonds—who was dogged by allegations of performance-enhacing drug use—hit his 756th home run, passing Hank Aaron and becoming MLB’s greatest home run hitter. Bonds finished his career with 762 home runs.
Bonds, who retired after the 2007 season, has denied knowingly taking steroids and other banned substances.
Teammates and opponents were awed by Bonds surpassing Ruth.
“Everybody was waiting for a moment like this,” San Francisco shortstop Omar Vizquel told reporters as Giants celebrated with Bonds with champagne in the clubhouse after the game. Colorado center fielder Ryan Spilborghs, who had been called up from the minors for the game, said he “had goosebumps” watching Bonds set the record.
Ten years after Bonds passed Hank Aaron, Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated summed up baseball’s complicated relationship with Bonds, writing, “Here we are, 10 years later, and Bonds still has the record for homers and dingers, but he can’t enjoy the full authenticity that Ruth and Aaron had.”
Louisiana Tech players react when their name was called during Monday morning’s NCAA Selection Show.
by Malcolm Butler
It will be a good ole fashion Dog and Cat fight Friday when the Fayetteville Regional opens as No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech faces No. 3 seed Kansas State at 7 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium in the first day of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
Tech and Kansas State will be joined by the host Razorbacks (43-14) and the No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (34-25) in the double elimination format. SEMO is the Ohio Valley Conference Champions while Arkansas is the No. 5 national seed and an at-large team from the SEC.
The Bulldogs players and coaches joined University administrators and fans to watch the selection show at the Davison Athletics Complex.
Tech head coach Lane Burroughs said he is very familiar with all three teams in the regional.
“Is there a good draw? Is there a bad draw? I think there are going to be a lot of storylines in this regional,” said Burroughs. “I obviously worked for Dave Van Horn at Northwestern State. Andy Sawyers is the head coach at SEMO. He played for Dave Van Horn. He replace me at Kansas State. I worked at Kansas State. Mitch Gaspard worked at Kansas State. And obviously our Player of the Year, Ethan Bates, played at Arkansas. So there are plenty of storylines to go around.”
So what did Burroughs think about the Bulldogs draw?
“I don’t know if there is such thing as a good draw or a bad draw,” said Burroughs. “There are 64 teams playing and every one of them are pretty good. The fact that we are still playing is the most important thing.
“One of our goals going into the season was to win the conference, which we did, and to win a regional. It’s time to move to the next step and get to a Super Regional. You see it every year. New teams get (to Super Regionals) every year.”
Kansas State is 32-24 on the season, including a 15-15 record in the Big 12. The Wildcats went 1-2 in the Big 12 Championships, falling to Kansas and TCU.
K-State is led by shortstop Kaelen Culpepper.
“I know Kansas State is really good,” said Burroughs. “They have a Team USA player on their roster (in Culpepper) that is a really good player. They were picked high in the Big 12 and had a pretty good year. They scuffled a little bit during the season, but I know what kind of (program that is). They are coached really well and they have really good players.”
Bates, the 2024 Conference USA Player of the Year who started is career with the Razorbacks, said he was excited about returning to Arkansas.
“I’m really excited,” said Bates. “Getting to go back home and see everybody that I know. All of my friends and family are up there. I guess it’s a good time to get back to Arkansas.”
This marks the third regional in the past four years for Tech as the Bulldogs hosted in 2021 and participated in the Austin Regional in 2022. Tech also played in the 2016 Regional in Starkville, Mississippi, where SEMO was one of the four teams.
The Grambling State baseball team watched the NCAA Selection Show Monday morning on their bus coming back from Atlanta.
By T. Scott Boatright
For the first time since 2010, Grambling State University is in the College Baseball Championship’s field of 64 teams.
The Tigers are headed to the Texas A&M Regional, where they will begin play at noon Friday against the host Aggies.
Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette round out the Texas A&M Regional teams.
“The main thing is that we’re just thrilled to be back in the tournament for the first time in so long,” said GSU coach Davin Pierre, who watched the NCAA Selection Show online this morning with his team while traveling via bus on the way home from Atlanta, where GSU defeated Jackson State on Sunday to earn the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
“What all of this means to this program is unbelievable,” Pierre said. “It’s a great opportunity to show our brand on a national stage. It’s a great opportunity for HBCU baseball. We didn’t care where we were going and who we were going to play, but we’re thrilled with the way it all turned out.”
Pierre said the facilities at Texas A&M are top notch.
“It’s a wonderful place to play baseball,” Pierre said. “They have wonderful facilities and I have no doubt it is going to be a great experience.
“But maybe the best thing about Texas A&M is the fact that it’s a very drivable distance from Grambling,” Pierre said. “We’re trying to build this program and grow our fanbase to the level that our football program has.
“This gives our loyal fanbase a Regional they can easily get to. Grambling has a strong fan base in Texas, so hopefully those fans will come out and show us some support. Texas and Grambling have a great history playing each other in regionals. We know all about Louisiana-Lafayette, who we played earlier this season (ULL won 12-4). So, this is an exciting field of teams for us.”
Grambling heads into the Regional with a record of 26-26 on the season and will be looking for its first ever regional win in only the fourth time the Tigers have earned a berth in one.
The 2024 Texas A&M Regional is paired with the Santa Barbara Regional, which features UCSB, San Diego, Oregon and Fresno State. The winners of those two Regionals will meet the second weekend in June for a best-of-three Super Regional to battle for a berth in the 2024 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Grambling State baseball team watched the NCAA Selection Show Monday morning on their bus coming back from Atlanta.
By T. Scott Boatright
For the first time since 2010, Grambling State University is in the College Baseball Championship’s field of 64 teams.
The Tigers are headed to the Texas A&M Regional, where they will begin play at noon Friday against the host Aggies.
Texas and Louisiana-Lafayette round out the Texas A&M Regional teams.
“The main thing is that we’re just thrilled to be back in the tournament for the first time in so long,” said GSU coach Davin Pierre, who watched the NCAA Selection Show online this morning with his team while traveling via bus on the way home from Atlanta, where GSU defeated Jackson State on Sunday to earn the Southwestern Athletic Conference championship.
“What all of this means to this program is unbelievable,” Pierre said. “It’s a great opportunity to show our brand on a national stage. It’s a great opportunity for HBCU baseball. We didn’t care where we were going and who we were going to play, but we’re thrilled with the way it all turned out.”
Pierre said the facilities at Texas A&M are top notch.
“It’s a wonderful place to play baseball,” Pierre said. “They have wonderful facilities and I have no doubt it is going to be a great experience.
“But maybe the best thing about Texas A&M is the fact that it’s a very drivable distance from Grambling,” Pierre said. “We’re trying to build this program and grow our fanbase to the level that our football program has.
“This gives our loyal fanbase a Regional they can easily get to. Grambling has a strong fan base in Texas, so hopefully those fans will come out and show us some support. Texas and Grambling have a great history playing each other in regionals. We know all about Louisiana-Lafayette, who we played earlier this season (ULL won 12-4). So, this is an exciting field of teams for us.”
Grambling heads into the Regional with a record of 26-26 on the season and will be looking for its first ever regional win in only the fourth time the Tigers have earned a berth in one.
The 2024 Texas A&M Regional is paired with the Santa Barbara Regional, which features UCSB, San Diego, Oregon and Fresno State. The winners of those two Regionals will meet the second weekend in June for a best-of-three Super Regional to battle for a berth in the 2024 Men’s College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Louisiana Tech players react when their name was called during Monday morning’s NCAA Selection Show.
by Malcolm Butler
It will be a good ole fashion Dog and Cat fight Friday when the Fayetteville Regional opens as No. 2 seed Louisiana Tech faces No. 3 seed Kansas State at 7 p.m. at Baum-Walker Stadium in the first day of the NCAA Baseball Tournament.
Tech and Kansas State will be joined by the host Razorbacks (43-14) and the No. 4 seed Southeast Missouri State Redhawks (34-25) in the double elimination format. SEMO is the Ohio Valley Conference Champions while Arkansas is the No. 5 national seed and an at-large team from the SEC.
The Bulldogs players and coaches joined University administrators and fans to watch the selection show at the Davison Athletics Complex.
Tech head coach Lane Burroughs said he is very familiar with all three teams in the regional.
“Is there a good draw? Is there a bad draw? I think there are going to be a lot of storylines in this regional,” said Burroughs. “I obviously worked for Dave Van Horn at Northwestern State. Andy Sawyers is the head coach at SEMO. He played for Dave Van Horn. He replace me at Kansas State. I worked at Kansas State. Mitch Gaspard worked at Kansas State. And obviously our Player of the Year, Ethan Bates, played at Arkansas. So there are plenty of storylines to go around.”
So what did Burroughs think about the Bulldogs draw?
“I don’t know if there is such thing as a good draw or a bad draw,” said Burroughs. “There are 64 teams playing and every one of them are pretty good. The fact that we are still playing is the most important thing.
“One of our goals going into the season was to win the conference, which we did, and to win a regional. It’s time to move to the next step and get to a Super Regional. You see it every year. New teams get (to Super Regionals) every year.”
Kansas State is 32-24 on the season, including a 15-15 record in the Big 12. The Wildcats went 1-2 in the Big 12 Championships, falling to Kansas and TCU.
K-State is led by shortstop Kaelen Culpepper.
“I know Kansas State is really good,” said Burroughs. “They have a Team USA player on their roster (in Culpepper) that is a really good player. They were picked high in the Big 12 and had a pretty good year. They scuffled a little bit during the season, but I know what kind of (program that is). They are coached really well and they have really good players.”
Bates, the 2024 Conference USA Player of the Year who started is career with the Razorbacks, said he was excited about returning to Arkansas.
“I’m really excited,” said Bates. “Getting to go back home and see everybody that I know. All of my friends and family are up there. I guess it’s a good time to get back to Arkansas.”
This marks the third regional in the past four years for Tech as the Bulldogs hosted in 2021 and participated in the Austin Regional in 2022. Tech also played in the 2016 Regional in Starkville, Mississippi, where SEMO was one of the four teams.
