LPJ Sports Report
Ruston Bearcats Sweep Ouachita in Dominant Fashion
The Ruston Bearcats delivered an overwhelming performance Saturday, sweeping Ouachita in a doubleheader with decisive wins of 15-0 and 26-2 on Senior Day for the 2026 Bearcats.
“What a beautiful day for baseball at our place,” Ruston High Head Coach Bryan Beck said. “We have a really special group of seniors here. Just what they were able to accomplish last year as juniors by winning 26 ball games — just keeping this thing rolling; I can’t say enough about those kids. The first half of our season has been really, really tough. We were on the road a lot, and you get tested as coaches and players. Those kids have stuck together through good times and bad times, and they put their stamp on it today.”
Ruston’s senior class includes Michael Brisco, Kenden Freeman, Jackson Lee, Hudson Wood, Nolan Parnell, Lander Smith and Jackson Burroughs.
Game 1: Ruston 15, Ouachita 0
Ruston wasted no time taking control, erupting for seven runs in the first inning before adding eight more in the second to put the game out of reach early.
In the opening frame, Parnell singled home a run to start the scoring, and a Ouachita error plated two more. Smith added an RBI single, while JP Moak drove in two with a double. Sam Hartwell capped the inning with an RBI double.
The Bearcats continued the offensive surge in the second inning. Jackson Lee delivered the biggest blow with a bases-clearing triple, driving in three runs as Ruston pushed the lead to 15-0.
Ruston piled up 11 hits in the game.
Parnell, Lee, Hartwell and Jackson Burroughs each collected two hits. Moak and Lee drove in three runs apiece, while Parnell also swiped three bases as Ruston totaled five stolen bases.
On the mound, Colt Lary was sharp for the Bearcats, allowing just two hits over three scoreless innings while striking out four.
“We started all seven seniors in the lineup, and the bats were hot all day,” Beck said. “Just really proud of them. And you flip into game two, and the bats kept rolling.”
Game 2: Ruston 26, Ouachita 2
The Bearcats continued their offensive onslaught in the second game, collecting 17 hits and scoring 26 runs.
Burroughs led the way with four RBIs, highlighted by a two-run home run in the third inning and a sacrifice fly earlier in the game.
“Jackson is one of our team captains, and he hit his first career home run on Senior Day,” Beck said. “It’s our second home run of the year as a team. We’re so incredibly happy for him — he deserves that. He’s an incredible leader and incredible competitor.”
Ruston scored in every inning, including a 14-run fourth inning that sealed the blowout. The rally featured contributions throughout the lineup, including a three-run home run by Aiden Adams, triples by Jackson Lee and George Smith, and RBIs from Parnell, Freeman, Tyler Osborne, Dillon Williams and Tucker Patterson.
“You look up a couple of innings later and Adams hits a home run out of the ball park, too,” Beck said. “It was an awesome day. You score that many runs — I don’t care who you play; it’s really difficult to do. Our guys were very disciplined and took what they gave us.”
The Bearcats had already built a large lead before the big fourth inning. In the second inning, Ruston scored five runs with RBIs from Hudson Wilkerson, Lee, Hudson Wood, Freeman and Burroughs. They followed with six more runs in the third, including Burroughs’ homer.
Hudson Wood led Ruston at the plate, going 3-for-4, while Freeman and Lee each added multiple hits. The Bearcats also swiped six bases and turned a double play defensively.
On the mound, Hudson Wilkerson earned the win, allowing one run on one hit over three innings while striking out three.
“Everybody on our roster got in this game in some sort of fashion,” Beck said. “It was just that kind of day. We hit the ball around the ballpark and all over the place. An all-around team victory, but most importantly, we celebrated these seniors today and what they’ve meant to our school and community. I’m excited about the second half of our season. They’re playing really good with a lot of confidence.”
Ruston returns to action Tuesday against Sterlington.
Choudrant goes 2-1 over three-game stretch behind Camp, offense
The Choudrant Aggies picked up two wins in three games over the weekend, highlighted by a dominant pitching performance from Cash Camp and a clutch late sacrifice fly from Mason Laborde.
Aggies 2, Anacoco 1
Choudrant opened the stretch Friday with a tight 2-1 win over Anacoco behind a complete-game performance from Camp.
Anacoco struck first in the top of the opening inning when Luke Thompson singled to drive in a run, but the Aggies answered immediately. Gavin Hall laid down a sacrifice bunt in the bottom of the first to bring home the tying run.
Choudrant took the lead for good in the third inning when an Anacoco error allowed the go-ahead run to score.
Camp handled the rest from there. The right-hander went the distance, allowing just three hits and one unearned run while striking out nine and walking three.
Hall drove in a run for Choudrant, while Rhett James, Braden Bagwell, Cam Bagwell and Keegan Barelle each recorded a hit.
Minden 17, Choudrant 14
The Aggies fell in a wild offensive battle Saturday, dropping a 17-14 decision to Minden despite a huge day at the plate from Cy Spatafora.
Spatafora drove in five runs on two hits as Choudrant collected 13 hits in the high-scoring contest.
Minden jumped out early with a four-run second inning, but the Aggies responded in the third. Choudrant scored five runs on five hits in the inning to take a 5-4 lead, highlighted by an RBI double from Barelle.
The game remained back-and-forth throughout the afternoon. Choudrant rallied again in the sixth to tie the game and erased another deficit in the eighth inning to knot the score at 14-14.
Minden ultimately pulled away in the ninth, scoring three runs to secure the victory.
Barelle led the Aggies with three hits, while Camp and Hall each added multiple hits. Cam Bagwell also reached base three times via walks.
Choudrant 7, Lacassine 6
Choudrant bounced back later Saturday with a 7-6 victory over Lacassine, surviving a comeback attempt by the Cardinals.
The Aggies jumped out early when Camp singled to drive in two runs in the first inning. Choudrant added three more runs in the second with help from an error, a sacrifice fly by Cam Bagwell and an RBI single from Hall.
Lacassine rallied to tie the game 6-6 by the third inning, but the Aggies regained the lead in the fifth when Laborde delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home the go-ahead run.
Braden Bagwell earned the win in relief, allowing six hits and seven runs (five earned) over three innings. Laborde was strong out of the bullpen, tossing four shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out three.
Camp paced the offense with three hits, while Laborde drove in three runs. James and Bagwell each added multiple hits as the Aggies finished with 11 hits.
Choudrant returns to action Tuesday when it hosts D’Arbonne Woods.
Simsboro Drops Pair Of Games In Weekend Action
The Simsboro Tigers came up short in a pair of games over the weekend, falling to Grace Christian on Friday before dropping a matchup against Covington on Saturday.
Simsboro opened the weekend in a tight pitcher’s duel with Grace Christian but ultimately fell 3-1.
Grace Christian took an early lead in the first inning when an error allowed a run to score. The Tigers answered in the third inning when Chris Stevens delivered an RBI single up the middle after an eight-pitch at-bat to tie the game at 1-1.
The contest remained even until the sixth inning when Grace Christian broke through. A balk allowed the go-ahead run to score before a single by Wells extended the lead to 3-1.
Chris Harrell turned in a strong performance on the mound for Simsboro, working five innings while allowing just two hits and three runs (two earned). He struck out six and walked six. David Cedotal pitched one inning of relief and struck out three.
Simsboro recorded three hits in the game with Maximus Lee, Stevens and Cedotal each collecting one. Stevens also drove in the Tigers’ lone run. Kaid Barmore drew two walks as Simsboro showed patience at the plate with six total walks. Defensively, the Tigers turned two double plays.
On Saturday, Simsboro fell 5-1 to Covington.
Covington took the lead in the first inning on an RBI double by Bradey Miller and extended its advantage in the fourth when Kaydin Antoine hit a two-run home run to center field.
Simsboro starter Noah Thomas worked 6⅓ innings, allowing seven hits and five runs while striking out six and walking four.
The Tigers finished with five hits in the contest from Chris Harrell, Braylon Gipson, Trevor Cook, David Cedotal and Kaid Barmore. Gipson drove in Simsboro’s lone run.
Simsboro was solid defensively, committing no errors. Catcher Chris Stevens led the Tigers with eight defensive plays.
The Tigers return to action Monday with a road game at Delhi Charter.
Luker Drives In Five As Cedar Creek Powers Past Claiborne Christian
Cedar Creek used a big offensive day — highlighted by a five-RBI performance from Kade Luker — to roll past Claiborne Christian 17-5 on Friday.
Luker led the Cougars at the plate, finishing with three hits and driving in five runs. He delivered an RBI single in the second inning, added a two-run single during a huge third inning, and later blasted a two-run home run to right field in the fourth.
Claiborne Christian struck first in the opening inning when Truett Hoston grounded out to bring home two runs for an early 2-0 lead.
Cedar Creek answered quickly in the top of the second to take control. Cason Floyd singled home a run, Eli Slocum followed with a two-run double, and Luker added an RBI single to give the Cougars a 4-2 advantage.
The game broke open in the third inning when Cedar Creek erupted for 10 runs. Micah Taylor drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, Floyd delivered a three-run single, and Luker added another two-run single. Carter Nichols later walked to bring home a run, Noah Smith doubled in a run, and Taylor capped the inning with an RBI single.
The Cougars added three more runs in the fourth. Luker highlighted the frame with his two-run homer to right field, and Brett Bell lifted a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 17-3.
Jax Doiron earned the win for Cedar Creek, allowing two hits and two runs (one earned) over three innings while striking out seven and walking two. Carter Nichols started the game on the mound for the Cougars, giving up three runs over two innings.
Cedar Creek finished with 13 hits in the contest. Smith, Slocum and Floyd each collected multiple hits, while the Cougars also showed patience at the plate by drawing nine walks. Nichols and Ryan Coleman led the team with two walks each.
The Cougars were also aggressive on the bases, swiping eight stolen bases in the win. Luker and Floyd each recorded multiple steals.
For Claiborne Christian, Hoston drove in two runs and finished 1-for-2 at the plate, while Parker Bearden led the team with two hits.
