Staff Reports

LA Tech Baseball

Louisiana Tech Bulldogs baseball erupted for 15 runs over the final four innings and completed a three-game sweep of Delaware Blue Hens with a 17-4 run-rule victory in eight innings Sunday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Louisiana Tech (13-8, 3-0 Conference USA) opened league play with a perfect record, marking just the second time under coach Lane Burroughs that the Bulldogs have started conference play with a sweep and the third occurrence for the program since 2003.

The Bulldogs outscored Delaware (8-12, 0-3 CUSA) 31-7 in the three-game series and used six-run innings in both the fifth and eighth to seal Sunday’s win via the run rule.

Tech won Friday 5-0 and then took a 9-3 decision on Saturday. 

On Sunday, Louisiana Tech struck first in the opening inning when Trey Hawsey singled up the middle to score Cade Patterson, who reached on a walk and advanced to third during a hit-and-run play. Sebastian Mexico followed with a double into the left-center gap, and Colton Coates later drove in a run when he reached on a Delaware error to give the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead.

Delaware answered in the fifth, scoring three runs to briefly take a 3-2 lead after a two-run double tied the game and an RBI single to center field put the Blue Hens ahead.

Louisiana Tech responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning, batting around and scoring six runs to reclaim control. Mexico tied the game with an RBI single before Wesley Scott delivered the biggest blow of the inning, launching a three-run homer over the left-field wall to give the Bulldogs the lead for good.

Patterson later capped the rally with a two-run double to left field, extending the advantage to 8-3.

Hawsey added a solo home run in the sixth to push the lead to six runs. Delaware plated a run in the seventh, but Louisiana Tech answered with two more runs in the bottom half of the inning, including an RBI groundout by Hawsey that made it 11-4.

The Bulldogs ended the game in the eighth. After loading the bases, Colby Lunsford delivered a walk-off grand slam to left field, triggering the run rule and finishing the sweep.

Mexico led the offensive surge with three hits, including two doubles, while six of the seven Bulldogs who recorded hits had multiple hits. All nine Louisiana Tech batters reached base at least once.

Louisiana Tech also produced its second consecutive game with 14 hits, the first time the Bulldogs have recorded at least 14 hits in back-to-back games since the 2025 series against Dallas Baptist Patriots baseball.

After the game, Burroughs praised his team’s offensive performance and discipline at the plate.

“We won the freebie war again, so back-to-back days I felt like we’ve done a great job of having quality at-bats,” Burroughs said. “I feel like it was clicking on all cylinders this weekend, and very proud to get the sweep.”

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LA Tech Softball

Allie Floyd tossed a one-hit shutout and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs scored nine runs in the third inning to defeat the Delaware Blue Hens 11-0 in five innings Sunday, completing a three-game sweep in Conference USA play.

Tech won Friday 5-0 and then outscored the Blue Hens 8-7 on Saturday.

“It was a really important weekend for us to even up in conference play,” head coach Josh Taylor said. “I think we pitched really well all weekend, played really good defense and got a lot of timely hits.”

Louisiana Tech (17-10, 3-3 CUSA) outhit Delaware 8-1 at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field, with Bradi Gallaway and Reagan Marchant each hitting three-run home runs during the decisive third inning.

Floyd (7-6) struck out six and walked four in her second complete-game shutout of the weekend. The right-hander allowed only one hit — a third-inning single — after a hard-hit ball deflected off a diving attempt by Aleah Brooks.

Louisiana Tech took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Brooks led off with a double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jina Baffuto. Alannah Rogers followed with another sacrifice fly to bring home Rosalie Dufresne.

The Bulldogs broke the game open in the third. After Marchant singled and Reese Torres walked, Gallaway launched a three-run homer to make it 5-0. Louisiana Tech continued to capitalize on Delaware pitching changes, with Elena Heng delivering an RBI single and Allie Furr adding a two-run single later in the inning.

Marchant capped the nine-run frame with a three-run home run, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 11-0.

Marchant finished with two hits and three RBIs, while Gallaway also drove in three runs. Brooks, Heng, Furr, Rogers and Torres each added a hit for Louisiana Tech.

Floyd retired the side in the fourth and worked around a walk in the fifth to seal the run-rule victory.

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Grambling State Baseball

The Grambling State Tigers rallied from an early five-run deficit and held off the Alabama State Hornets 14-13 on Sunday to clinch the series at Wheeler-Watkins Baseball Complex.

GSU won 9-5 on Friday before falling 5-4 on Saturday. 

Grambling State (5-13) collected 16 hits and erased multiple deficits, highlighted by a dominant performance from Julio Vasquez, who went 5 for 6 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs.

Alabama State (9-9) jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on walks and wild pitches. Jackson Williams delivered a two-run single during the rally as the Hornets took early control.

The Tigers responded in the third inning when Hasani Johnson and Trey Bridges reached base before Vasquez launched a three-run home run to center field, trimming the deficit to 5-4.

Alabama State answered in the bottom of the inning when Miguel Oropeza hit a three-run homer to left-center field to extend the lead to 8-4.

Grambling State chipped away in the fifth. Johnson singled and Bridges walked before Cameron Hill drove in a run with a single. Vasquez followed with an RBI hit that also allowed Hill to score on a defensive error, cutting the deficit to 10-7.

The Tigers tied the game in the seventh inning. Aidan Lopez doubled to start the rally, and Vasquez added an RBI double. Shannon Martin followed with an RBI single before Johnson delivered a two-run double to center field to even the score at 11-11.

Alabama State briefly regained the lead in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Adrien Mendoza.

Grambling State responded in the eighth inning when Vasquez hit a solo home run to tie the game. Charles Ashe III later gave the Tigers the lead with a two-run homer, putting Grambling State ahead 14-12.

Alabama State scored once in the ninth and loaded the bases, but the Tigers ended the game when Alex Espaillat lined into a double play.

Johnson added three hits and two RBIs for Grambling State, while Ashe and Martavius Thomas each finished with two hits.

Payton Allen (1-0) earned the win with three innings of relief, allowing two runs — one earned — and striking out two.

Oropeza led Alabama State with three hits and six RBIs, including a three-run home run.

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Grambling State Softball

Grambling State dropped both games of a Southwestern Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday against Southern at Lady Jaguar Field, falling 7–1 in the opener before suffering a 6–5 walk-off loss in the nightcap.

In the first game, Grambling State took an early lead in the third inning when Ahsunte’ Specks belted a solo home run to left field.

Southern answered with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take control and added three more in the fifth to seal the victory.

Specks finished 1 for 3 with the Tigers’ lone run. Cadashia Collins, Ziya Donaldson and Z’Natria Evans each recorded a hit. Hailei Harrell took the loss in the circle.

In the second game, Grambling State built a 3–0 advantage in the fourth inning behind RBI efforts from Collins and Donaldson, along with another run that scored on an error.

Southern cut the deficit to 3–2 in the fifth, but Collins delivered an RBI single in the seventh to extend the Tigers’ lead to 4–2.

The Jaguars responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game and force extra innings.

Specks gave Grambling State a brief 5–4 lead in the ninth inning with her second home run of the day. Southern answered in the bottom of the frame with a two-run single to secure the 6–5 win.

Specks paced the Tigers offensively in the second game, going 4 for 5 with three runs scored. Collins added two hits and two RBIs, while Jaidan Richard pitched a complete game in the circle.

 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

Louisiana Tech will compete in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament, facing off against Rice in Tudor Fieldhouse in Houston on Thursday, March 19th.

Game time and ticketing information will be released at a later time.

Tech and Rice are former Western Athletic Conference and Conference USA foes. The Lady Techsters lead the all-time series 17-16. 

The WBIT is a 32-team postseason tournament from March 20 (first-round), March 23 (second-round) and March 27 (quarterfinals), with the highest-seeded teams hosting games at campus sites. WBIT semifinal and final games will be conducted at Butler University’s historic Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis on March 31 and April 2.

The Lady Techsters are automatic qualifiers after winning the 2026 Conference USA regular season, going 17-1 in league play. All 17 wins were in a row and is the longest winning streak in CUSA league play history.

Louisiana Tech is 26-6 on the season, the most wins by the program since 2005-06.

Paris Bradley was named to the All-Conference USA First Team on Monday, with Jordan Marshall and Jianna Morris on the Second Team, and Alexia Weaver making Honorable Mention. It is the most of any CUSA team this season. Bradley is one of three Lady Techsters ever to make the conference First Team, alongside Vickie Johnson and Tamicha Jackson, both of whom were Kodak All Americans.

Bradley, alongside Joy Madison-Key, were named to the CUSA All-Tournament team. Bradley made 13 threes on 59.1 percent shooting, leading the Lady Techsters in scoring every game in the tournament. Madison-Key led Louisiana Tech in assists every tournament game, recording nine in the semifinals victory over Delaware.

Rice (28-5, 17-1 American) was defeated by UTSA 54-40 in the American Championship game. The Owls are first in the country in free throw percentage at 81.6 percent.

The winner will face the winner of Kansas vs. Troy in the second round.

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Keith W. Elliott, aged 94 of Ruston LA, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 12, 2026. Services for Mr. Elliott will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, March 17, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel with Rev. Dana Thrash and Rev. Brad Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery of Gaars Mill, near Dodson, LA under the direction of Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston, LA.

Keith was born July 4, 1931 at his home in Gaars Mill, LA to Lettie Kelly Elliott and Alfred Elliott. He went to be with the Lord on March 12, 2026.  Keith was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Fanny “Mae” Elliott, his parents, sister Cortez Elliott, and brother Kelly Elliott.

Keith is survived by his son Keith “Randy” Elliott and wife Donna of Jacksonville, FL, his daughter Linda Elliott Richardson and husband Scott of Choudrant, LA; grandsons:  Clint Richardson (Amanda), Zachry Richardson (Savannah); granddaughter Kayla Elliott, step- granddaughter Vanessa Guiel; seven great grandsons:  William, Harlan, Elijah, Colton, Danny, Landyn and Ezra. He is also survived by his nephew Brion Elliott (Cathy), a host of former coworkers, many friends and other relatives.

Keith’s hobbies included camping with The Caney Lake Good Sams, reading a good western, gardening, fishing for crappie, having coffee with the men at Ambrose Country store, and spending time with his family. He retired with 40 years of service from AT&T Company.  Keith was a member of Wesley Chapel Methodist Church, and a Korea War veteran serving in the Navy aboard the Battleship USS Iowa. He was a member of Ruston Lodge #106 as a Master Mason and a member of Baraka Shrine Temple in Monroe and a member of Ruston VFW Post 3615. He also volunteered with Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s S.C.O.P. department.

Serving as pallbearers are Clint Richardson, Zachry Richardson, Jeff Burnham, Noah Borden

Honorary pallbearers are Randy Elliott, Brion Elliott, Slade Richard, members of the Caney Lake Good Sams camping club, coffee drinking buddies at Ambrose Country Store, and AT&T retirees.

The family would like to extend thanks to The War Veterans Home of Monroe LA, Passages Hospice, and Reeves Memorial Hospital for the wonderful care given to him.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to:  The Shriners Hospital for Children in Shreveport, LA or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Monday, March 16, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel in Ruston. 

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A visitation service for Jackie Lou Holladay, age 90 of Ruston, LA will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home of Ruston. A graveside service will be held at Keesee Cemetery in Monarch, AR at 10:00 AM, Friday, March 20, 2026.

Jackie was born on May 4, 1935 in Monarch, AR to Glessie Jenkins Anderson and Alva Francis Anderson and passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in Ruston, LA. She spent more than 30 years teaching Physical Education at Louisiana Tech, where she inspired and encouraged many students. She also taught at Tech Rome. Jackie attended School of the Ozarks in Hollister, Mo and she was a standout athlete and was named an All-State Basketball Player.

Outside of her career, she enjoyed many hobbies. Jackie enjoyed sewing and doing cross-stitch, reading, and searching for hidden treasures at garage sales. She loved flower gardening and she enjoyed traveling, as she had traveled all over the World. Above all, Jackie cherished her grandchildren and her great grandchildren and treasured the time spent with her family, especially during the holidays.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents; her grandson, Matthew David Pyle; and 9 siblings: Mildred, Betty Jo, Sue, Eileen, Neil, George, Ted, Billy, and Francis. She is survived by her sons, Steve Pyle and wife Milagro and Larry Pyle; grandchildren: Chris and Kelly Pyle, Jason and Samantha Pyle, Julia Pyle, Sintia Arias, Jennifer Arias and Chris Jett, Stephany Arias, several great-grandchildren; and a host of other family and friends.

Jackie will be remembered for her love of family, her dedication to teaching, and the many lives she touched along the way. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all that loved her.

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Ella L. Jones 
Tuesday 08/20/1940 — Tuesday 03/10/2026  
Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am, Miracle Temple Church of God in Christ, 1405 South Farmerville Street, Ruston 
Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Grambling Memorial Garden, US Highway 80 West, Grambling 

Jerome Dimmer 
Friday 06/07/1957 — Wednesday 03/11/2026  
Family Gathering: Friday 03/20/2026 2:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Visitation: Friday 03/20/2026 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home 
Funeral Service: Saturday 03/21/2026 11:00am at King’s Funeral Home 
Interment: Saturday 03/21/2026 Following Service, Ebenezer Cemetery, Parish Road 214, Ruston 

Keith Wallace Elliott 
July 4, 1931 – March 12, 2026 
Visitation: Monday, March 16, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel 
Funeral service: Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 10:00 AM, Owens Memorial Chapel 
Cemetery Committal: Tuesday, March 17, 2026, 12:00 PM, New Hope Cemetery – Dodson, 7223 LA-126, Dodson 

Jackie Lou Holladay 
April 19, 1935 – March 12, 2026 
Visitation: Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 
Graveside: Friday, March 20, 2026, 10:00 AM, Keesee Cemetery, Monarch, AR 

Gerald Van Lyles 
June 21, 1947 – March 12, 2026 
Memorial Visitation: Monday, March 23, 2026, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Owens Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 

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Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications

A resilient defensive effort and relentless work on the glass kept the game within reach, but an ice-cold shooting night ultimately proved too much for Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs fell 71-60 to Kennesaw State in the title game of the 2026 Air National Guard Conference USA Men’s Basketball Championship on Saturday night inside VBC Propst Arena.

No. 4 seed LA Tech (20-14) battled throughout the night to slow down one of the league’s most explosive offenses in No. 6 seed KSU (21-13). One area where the Bulldogs found success was on the glass, pulling down 45 rebounds, including 23 on the offensive end.

However, shots that had fallen throughout the four-game winning streak leading into the championship refused to drop against the Owls. LA Tech finished just 22-of-72 from the field and 2-of-28 from three-point range.

“I am so proud of this team,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “This team fought, they scrapped. They were together. They represented our university in the right way. I will never have this team again. That is the sad part for me. I will never have this collection of men again.”

Despite the offensive struggles, the Bulldogs remained within striking distance. The two teams traded punches in the first half, which featured five ties and seven lead changes before KSU carried a slim 35-32 advantage into halftime.

The Owls first tried to create separation midway through the second half, building a 55-46 lead with 10:25 remaining. LA Tech responded with a 6-0 run, ignited by a Kaden Cooper slam dunk. A driving layup by DJ Dudley followed by two made free throws from Avery Thomas II cut the deficit to three at 55-52 with 8:42 to play.

Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, the offense went cold down the stretch as LA Tech made just two of its final 19 field goal attempts. Meanwhile, KSU connected on five straight field goals during a decisive 10-2 run that created enough separation for the Owls to close it out.

Thomas II, who was named to the CUSA All-Tournament Team, recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The sophomore forward averaged 10.7 points and 10.3 boards across the three games in Huntsville.

AJ Bates also earned CUSA All-Tournament Team honors after finishing with six points and eight assists in the title game. Over the three contests, the sophomore point guard averaged 20.7 points and 6.7 assists.

“Will Allen poured his blood, sweat, and tears into this university in an era where there is no commitment in the game of college basketball,” said Hester. “He will leave as a very beloved Bulldog. AJ Bates, he was the head of our snake. Proud of the way he fought to give ourselves a chance to play for a conference championship.”

Scooter Williams provided a spark off the bench with 10 points, while Cooper nearly posted a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Sir Issac Herron added eight points, and fifth-year senior Will Allen, playing in his 122nd career game as a Bulldog, chipped in three points and seven rebounds.

“Louisiana Tech has been a second home for me,” said Allen. “My older brother played football at Tech so in high school we came up to Ruston. It was already a second home for me then. There was no second guessing on where I was going to go to school.

“This was a rough year for me. These coaches have been there for me on my roughest days. I lost my mom, and they were there at the funeral. This coaching staff means the world to me. I have so much love for them.”

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LAKE CHARLES – The drought continues.

Ruston’s hopes of a long-awaited ending to its 38-year quest to win another boys basketball state championship will have to wait at least one more year.

The Bearcats (23-4) lost a heartbreaker to No. 1 seed Zachary, 63-60, in the Division I Non-Select state championship game at Burton Coliseum Saturday night.

As they struggled shooting the ball all night against Zachary’s athletic defense, junior center Ahmad Hudson nearly willed the Bearcats to a state championship. The 6-foot-7 superstar was brilliant, turning in nearly a triple-double with 34 points, 24 rebounds, seven blocks and four steals.

Ruston coach Marcus Jackson described Hudson’s production Saturday night as “huge” and said that he put on a “heck of a performance.”

“He can definitely change the game by the way he plays,” Jackson said. “He’s effective in multiple ways and can put teams in bad positions.”

Zachary (30-2) held the lead for most of the game, tying the game at 15 with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by junior Ian Edmond at the end of the first quarter and taking the lead on a layup by junior Ethan Kimmie less than 30 seconds into the second quarter.

The Broncos maintained that lead throughout the second and third quarters, leading by six at the break and by as many as 10 midway through the third quarter.

However, behind stellar play from Hudson and sophomore guard Darren Ford, the second-seeded Bearcats chipped away at Zachary’s lead. They cut it to three late in the third quarter on a Hudson layup before Zachary pushed it back to 47-41 with a 3-pointer at the buzzer following one of Ruston’s turnovers.

Despite picking up his fourth foul early in the fourth quarter, Hudson continued to impose his will against the Broncos. He scored three straight baskets, including an and-1 at the 6:11 mark to cut Zachary’s lead to three. Following a Ford basket, Hudson’s putback with just under five minutes remaining in the game gave the Bearcats a 50-49 lead, their first since the first quarter.

Zachary responded with four straight points before Ruston junior Keshun Malcolm scored his only bucket of the game, and Hudson’s monster two-handed slam put the Bearcats back on top 54-53 with 3:33 to play.

But the Broncos, as they had all night, responded with clutch buckets, retaking the lead at the 3:05 mark and again with 2:34 left. It’s a lead they wouldn’t relinquish as they made their free throws and forced Ruston to take tough, contested shots down the stretch.

Edmond, who led the Broncos with 20 points on 6-of-20 shooting, was named the game’s Most Outstanding Player as Zachary repeated as state champions for the second time in the past six years.

The Broncos got much-needed contributions from eight different players, who combined to shoot 42 percent from the field and 41 percent from 3. Kimmie added 12 points, while junior Mason Newman finished with 11.

Ruston, meanwhile, got extremely little production on the offensive end from anyone other than Hudson and Ford, who combined for 51 of the Bearcats’ 60 points. Malcolm (seven points) and junior Jasen Morgan (two points) were the only other Ruston players to score.

“I feel like I could have done a lot more,” said Ford, who scored 13 of his 19 points in the first half. “If we didn’t win the game, then I didn’t do enough.”

Hudson and Ford combined to knock down 19 of their 32 field-goal attempts, but the rest of the Bearcats connected on only two of their 21 shots. Ruston missed all 12 of its 3-point attempts in the game.

“Darren played well, made some shots and kept us in it early,” Jackson said. “I’m proud of ‘em. There’s times where they could have quit. They kept fighting back, climbing back in, climbing back in, climbing in, fighting through adversity.”

Jackson said early foul trouble forced the Bearcats to adjust their game plan, and they even played some zone defense for the first time all season. He credited the Broncos’ coaching staff for switching defenses and forcing the Bearcats into an uncharacteristic number of turnovers.

“They sped us up,” Jackson said. “We made a lot of unforced turnovers that we normally don’t make. That’s the highest turnovers we’ve had all year.”

Although they came up painfully short on Saturday night, the Bearcats celebrated their deepest playoff run in 38 years and have much to look forward to during the 2026-27 season. Backup point guard Zaterrion Sutton, who missed most of the season due to injury, was the only senior who saw the floor against Zachary, and seven of the nine players who did play Saturday will be seniors next year.

Hudson said he was proud of his teammates for the way they played Saturday and for an outstanding season. However, he and Ford already are looking forward to a possible rematch with the two-time defending champions.

“We will be back, and I hope it’s against Zachary – because I’m not gonna let that one slip away again,” Hudson said.

“I know how it feels to lose, so I don’t want to do that again,” Ford said.

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by Malcolm Butler

In a basketball game turned rock fight, Missouri State knocked off regular season champion Louisiana Tech 43-38 Saturday afternoon in the CUSA Championship game in Huntsville.

The loss snapped Tech’s 19-game winning streak and leads to a WBIT berth for the Lady Techsters (26-6).

Tech head coach Brooke Stoehr gave an emotional answer when asked about the disappointment of coming up short in the bid for the first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2011. 

“I wouldn’t want to be in any other lockerroom then the group that we have gotten to enjoy and the privilege to coach and be around all year,” said Stoehr. “My message to them is you don’t let one day define who you are. Today is not indicative of the year that they have had, the season they have had, and the journey that they have taken.”

Tech led 16-12 after the first quarter and 26-23 at halftime, but the Lady Techsters hit just 5-of-32 field goals over the final 20 minutes of play. 

Leading 37-31 heading into the fourth quarter, Missouri State hit a shot on its first possession to increase the lead to eight points. However, it would be the last field goal the Lady Bears would make in the game. 

Tech sophomore guard Paris Bradley, who ended with 14 points and 8 boards, made a shot at the 8:05 mark to close the score to with 39-33 … but it would be the last points by either team for more than seven and a half minutes of play.

A Bradley 3-pointer with :33 seconds to play cut the margin to 39-36, but Missouri State hit four free throws down the stretch to seal the win. 

“It’s been over 60 or 70 days since we experienced (a loss), and it’s hard,” said Stoehr. “We wanted nothing more for this group to be the one that got us over the hump, but today wasn’t our day. Tip your cap to Missouri State.”

Both teams applied relentless defensive pressure over the final two quarters as the game became increasingly physical with hardly any fouls called on either end. Tech shot just four free throws while the Bears attempted just 10 — with four of those coming in the final 30 seconds when the Lady Techsters were intentionally fouling. 

In the postgame press conference, Bradley talked about her team’s compassion for each other and how it has led to this year’s success. 

“Jordan (Marshall) said it the first day we were here,” said Bradley. “She said, ‘Love wins.’ And it does. As long as we stick together, we will be fine. 

“Staying together and showing up and working. We have to thrive in that 1 percent. We have to take it day by day, and focus on one goal at a time.”

In addition to Bradley’s performance, Averi Aaron added 12 points and 8 rebounds. 

Kaemyn Bechemier led Missouri State with 16 points.

Tech will learn it’s WBIT match-up on Sunday at 8 p.m. 

 

 

 

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by Malcolm Butler

Trailing by six points at the half and their hopes of an NCAA Tournament berth in jeopardy, Louisiana Tech got downright defensive against Liberty.

The Lady Techsters (27-5) held the Flames to just 17 points in the second half and rallied for a 61-48 win to advance to the Conference USA championship game for the first time since 2022.

“It was just an unbelievably gritty, tough game by both teams,” said Stoehr. “I think you have to give Liberty a lot of credit. I thought they forced tempo and played the pace that they wanted the game to be at for a majority of the game.”

After Liberty shot over 50 percent from the field in the opening two quarters to build a 31-25 halftime lead, the Lady Techsters picked up their defensive intensity over the final 20 minutes. Tech held the Flames to just 6-of-27 from the field, including 2-of-13 from the three-point line. 

“I can’t say enough about the resilience and the toughness and grit of our group,” said Stoehr. “To come back and defend the way they did in the second half, only giving up 17 points, and that’s who this group has grown into all year long. We just said, stay true to who you are, and they did that beautifully, and it’s a really, really fun thing to see when they celebrate each other and they play together with that toughness and that grit.”

Tech trailed 39-38 heading into the final quarter and that’s when the Lady Techsters showed why they are the Conference USA regular season champions, outscoring Liberty 23-9. 

However, it didn’t come without some dramatics.

Tech led 46-39 with just over six minutes to play when the Flames used a 7-2 run, including a three-pointer by Avery Mills with exactly 5:00 minutes to play to cut the deficit to 48-46. 

On the ensuing offensive possession for Tech, the best player in Conference USA showed why. 

Paris Bradley calmly sank a corner three-pointer that started an 11-0 run to seal the victory.

“We were in a play, and Jianna did a good job of drawing my defender,” said Bradley. “Jianna is a really good athlete and scorer and so they have to help on her. So she drew my defender, and I just lifted and moved with her and got to the open space. And I was able to hit the shot.”

It was one of four three-pointers by Bradley, who set the sophomore 3-pointers made record for Tech and finished with 14 points, three rebounds and two steals.

“I thought we had a bunch of opportunities in the third quarter and just didn’t convert,” said Stoehr. “But I thought we converted them in the fourth quarter. We stayed true and we stayed the course of who we have been all year … and when we went back to that when it mattered most, we came through.”

Tech hit 22-of-29 free throws in the game which helped the Lady Techsters overcome a minus nine in the rebound column.

Sophomore Jordan Marshall came up big for Tech in the win, scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds.

“Coach Brooke told me to stay in it, and that I know who I am,” said Marshall. “I know my identity. God is so good. I just told myself, that I know me, and He knows me, and I just wanted to go out there and do everything to the best of my ability.”

Tech outscored Liberty 20-9 on points off of turnovers, forcing 15 by the Flames.

Tech will play Missouri State Saturday at 4:30 p.m. with a berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line.

 

 

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By T. Scott Boatright

 

The Lincoln Preparatory School basketball team has won all season long thanks to its suffocating defense.

But during Friday’s Division IV Boys Select School state championship game, the Panthers did it with offense, too.

Lincoln Prep led from start to finish inside Barton Coliseum in Lake Charles to defeat Southern Lab 69-42 for the first state title for a Grambling high school since what was then known as Grambling Laboratory School defeated White Castle 52-49.

Panthers sophomore Jabari Levingston earned MVP honors with a 28-point performance for a team that connected on 68% of its shots from the floor and went 22-of-28 at the free throw line.

“This is bigger than what you may know,” said Panthers coach Antonio Hudson, who as a Grambling Lab Kitten never defeated Southern Lab in three postseason tries, including the 2000 Class 1A state title game.  “I was talking to (former Grambling Lab coach Michael Lyon’s son last night). The last championship (for a Grambling high school) was won on Friday, March 13, 1992. Exactly 34 years to the day. 

“And to do it against a great team like Southern Lab with a great coach — our city, our community, these players, they deserve this.”

So did the Panthers’ head coach, who has now led his team to four straight trips to Marsh Madness.

“Grambling is everything to me,” Hudson said. “It took a little kid, turned me into a basketball player and gave me a chance to go to LSU and all of that means so much. People don’t realize what the school has been through. The school almost closed. We didn’t have anywhere to practice, anywhere to play.

“But we were resilient and continued to fight. It’s that resiliency and playing for the community kept us going. To finally get a championship after more than 30 years is just amazing.”

Lincoln Prep began the game by forcing three Southern Lab turnovers and led 17-9  at the end of the opening stanza and 32-24 at halftime after the Kittens closed out the second quarter with a 6-2 run to cut the Panthers’ lead back down to eight points heading into the locker room.

But Lincoln Prep outscored the Kittens 18-6 in the third quarter to build a 20-point lead at 50-30 heading into the final stanza.

“While Hudson credited his players for the win, they returned the favor in acknowledging their coach.

“The game plan, the mentality, the work we put in. all of that was the difference,” Levingston said. “We trusted it. We trusted Coach Hud.”

Spann added 16 points and six rebounds for the Panthers while Hicks chipped in with 12 points and nine boards.

Hudson admitted relief in watching his senior players finally earn a state championship.

“We’ve focused on defense all year,” Hudson said. “The players put in the work. Even when they didn’t want to, they never said anything, They just continued to trust the process. 

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by Malcolm Butler

 

The AJ Bates train chugs on.

Bates scored 27 points and for the second straight game played all 40 minutes to lead No. 4 seed Louisiana Tech to a 69-66 win over No. 9 seed Missouri State in the Conference USA semifinal inside VBC Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama.

Less than 20 hours after netting 29 points in an 11-point win over Middle Tennessee, Bates and his Bulldog teammates held off a late Missouri State rally for the victory. 

It marks the first conference tournament title game appearance for Tech since 2022, and the Bulldogs are one win away from the program’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 1992.

After losing 10 of their first 12 away from home this year, Tech has now won four straight.

“I think its the buy in to who we really are as a team,” said Tech head coach Talvin Hester. “The struggle of coaching is to get a bunch of alphas to buy into something and do it together. We have a bunch of alphas. We have a bunch of guys who want to be the lead dog.

“At the end of the day, it’s my job to try to get them to buy in and get them to do things together. Late in the year, these guys have started seeing success. I really do think these guys want to win. The tide rises all ships.”

Tech (19-11) led by as many as eight points (59-51) late in the game before Missouri State rallied twice in the closing two minutes to cut it to one. 

Trey Williams three-pointer with 42 seconds to play pulled Missouri State to within 65-64 before sophomore forward Avery Thomas converted a tip-in off a Bates miss with 16 seconds to play, pushing the Bulldogs lead to 67-64.

Michael Osei-Bonsu, the Bears power forward who scored 19 points, hit two free throws with 3.1 seconds to play to pull Missouri State back within one. 

After multiple timeouts, Tech inbounded the ball to the Kaden Cooper, who was fouled with 3.0 seconds to play. Cooper went to the line for a one-and-one and calmly sank both to give Tech a three-point line.

Out of timeouts, Missouri State tried a pass to halfcourt, but the Bulldogs Thomas came away with the steal to seal the win. 

The Bears scored the first points of the game as Osei-Bonsu gave Missouri State the early 2-0 lead, marking the first time in the last four games that Tech has trailed. 

However, behind Bates 16 first half points, Tech fought back and took a 30-27 lead into the halftime locker room. Tech shot 50 percent from the field (13-26) in the opening 20 minutes, including 7-of-14 by Bates. 

Bates has now scored 27 or more points in three of the last four games and is averaging 24.8 points a contest during this recent four-game winning streak.

“He struggled a lot this year,” said Hester. “I think any coach in the country would rather him be hot now as opposed to November. I think it’s a testament to how mentally tough he is and how mentally strong he is to take the criticism for not hitting shots or not making plays and to keep fighting. 

“It talks a lot about him and who he is that he has just kept his head up and has continued to work.” 

As has been the case during this Bulldog run late in the season, a different guy stepped up in an important stretch on Friday. Sir Issac Herron scored seven straight points during a three minute stretch for the Bulldogs helping Tech increase a two-point lead out to 57-49 with 7:15 to play.

“He was unbelievable,” said Hester. “He came in and was key. It makes me feel good that I have another body that I can use because everyone is going to be tired playing three games in three days.”

The second half saw the Bulldogs help themselves from the free throw line, an area that has been a struggle this season. Tech hit 12-of-13 from the charity stripe over the final 20 minutes of action.

In addition to Bates big day, DJ Dudley scored 10 points while Avery Thomas added seven points and a game-high 12 rebounds.

The Bulldogs won all three games against Missouri State this year by a combined six points (1, 2 and 3). 

“Our guys have bought in and some special things have happened,” said Hester. “We get to play for a trophy.”

Tech will play the winner of Sam Houston and Kennesaw State in the title game Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

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by Malcolm Butler

Following a February 24 story regarding the roundabouts that are coming upon the completion of the new Cooktown Bridge, there was plenty of feedback in regards to the lack of a fourth roundabout.

The question many people asked was why no fourth roundabout (second on the south side of the new bridge)?

Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker believes a fourth roundabout would better serve traffic coming off the frontage roads south of Interstate 20.  However, the financial implications and space limitations of putting the fourth roundabout is ultimately what has prevented it from being included in the current construction. 

Bridget Skinner, who serves as the DOTD’s area engineer for Lincoln Parish, talked in more detail about those challenges.

“Right now we are restricted on the funding,” said Skinner. “The challenge is (the fourth roundabout) has to fit in between property from Starbucks and the gas station (across the road) that is currently going under redevelopment. I do have real estate looking at the appraisal for what it would take. The driveway from Starbucks that connects to 544 would have to come out. 

“We have to look at the cost estimate for that. The last time we did was about 10 years ago, and at that point it wasn’t included in the current project because the cost estimate was too high.”

Although Skinner didn’t have the exact cost of the estimate from a decade ago, she said it was in the “multiple millions of dollars just for the right of way acquisition.”

So could a fourth roundabout still be added into the current project?

“It’s too late for this project,” Skinner. “Federal laws cap the amount of money you can change order into a project. We wouldn’t be able to change order a fourth roundabout into this project because it would exceed that federal limit.

“But if we get the funding for it, we could have it designed and roll into construction of it where the public wouldn’t feel a difference. That could be a possibility.”

However, Skinner brought up another possibility that is being seriously discussed. 

“If the fourth roundabout at that location isn’t financially feasible, we are looking at the possibility of one at Bearcat Drive (and Tech Drive),” said Skinner. 

Bearcat Drive is the intersection on Tech Drive located just south of the Chevron and just north of the Marbury Center that leads to Ruston High School.

“We could facilitate drivers (coming off the frontage road) turning south (on Tech Drive) and turning on the roundabout on Bearcat Drive to head back north,” said Skinner. “There is a lot more property open there. We have a conceptual drawing of it and a roundabout would fit there. It would be a lot less expensive and something that we could fund.”

District 12 State Representative Chris Turner said there are on-going discussions within the legislation about this alternate option.

“They still have to study it, and they still have to do it,” said Turner. “But the point is if you put in a fourth roundabout it is still going to slow things down with (Temple Baptist Church) traffic. They say that’s 1,000 to 1,500 vehicles.

“So if you make everyone go south then they can use the roundabout (at Bearcat Drive) to turn around and come back north to get onto the interstate. It will create a better flow.”

Turner said the original price tag on the entire Cooktown Bridge construction project, including four roundabouts, was roughly $46 million, and it was reduced to around $39 million when the fourth roundabout was taken out of the equation. 

“I have not seen the paperwork on this, but I have talked to (Mayor Walker) and others in the state DOTD and that’s what I understand,” said Turner. “It was roughly $6 million cheaper without the fourth roundabout. It’s a lot more money.”

If a roundabout is constructed at Bearcat Drive and Tech Drive, a median would be included that would run from that roundabout all the way north to in front of Starbucks. This would revent motorists from turning across the lanes whether traveling north or south.

“That is my understanding to keep traffic flowing and to reduce accidents,” said Turner. “That’s one of the most dangerous stretches in Ruston.

“There is still a lot up in the air and a lot of planning to do for this. I don’t know where we are going to end up.”

Turner said Glenn Ledet, the new Secretary of the DOTD in Louisiana, has been to Lincoln Parish numerous times since being appointed to his position by Governor Jeff Landry in June. 

“Glenn Ledet is so forward thinking,” said Turner. “He is not focused on the now. He is thinking about 10, 15, 20 years down the road and what the needs will be. What are we going to need then? That’s what they are focused on. It’s for future growth needs.”

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By Bret H. McCormick

LAKE CHARLES – The Ruston Bearcats are never gonna give up their hopes of a boys basketball state championship.

And they certainly didn’t let the Bearcat faithful down Thursday night.

The second-seeded Bearcats pulled away in the second half Thursday night at Burton Coliseum, ripping off a 15-3 run to close the third quarter on their way to defeating No. 6 Central 71-57 in the Division I Non-Select semifinals.

It’s the Bearcats’ first berth in the state title game since they won the Class 4A championship in 1988 – when Rick Astley’s iconic “Never Gonna Give You Up” topped the charts.

The Bearcats (23-3) advanced to face No. 1 Zachary, which was a 74-59 winner over Denham Springs in Thursday’s first semifinal. The top two seeds will battle it out at 8 p.m. Saturday for the state championship.

Ruston made its third appearance in the past four years at the LHSAA’s Marsh Madness – the annual week-long tournament at Burton Coliseum consisting of semifinals and finals. But their two prior appearances ended in semifinal losses.

The Bearcats’ Big 3 of Darren Ford, Ahmad Hudson and Keshun Malcolm made sure the third time was a charm.

Ford, Ruston’s sensational sophomore point guard, scored a game-high 26 points, including 16 in the second half, when Ruston turned a slim three-point advantage into a double-digit blowout.

Malcolm, the junior left-handed sharpshooter, finished with 24 points on an efficient 9-for-12 shooting, including 3-for-4 from behind the 3-point arc, and the Bearcats’ dominant junior inside presence, Ahmad Hudson, added 19 points, 12 rebounds, seven steals and four blocks.

“I’ve been saying it all year, they all got unique talents,” Ruston second-year coach Marcus Jackson said. “When they play with each other and off of each other, we make good things happen. In the second half, we went in to Ahmad. He sealed; they doubled. We know they’re coming. We tell him they’re coming. Malcolm and Ford were able to knock down some shots and help spread it out. At that point, they had to play (Ahmad) 1-on-1, so when you’re playing him 1-on-1, it’s hard to do.”

“I knew playing in a new gym that the shots might not fall instantly,” Malcolm said, “so my plan was to see it go in one or two times before I stepped out and started shooting the 3. My shots were just falling today, and I’ll take it.”

The Bearcats won each of the first two quarters, though barely, and clung to a 26-23 lead at the half. Ford and Malcolm carried the bulk of the scoring burden in the first half with 10 points apiece.

Malcolm knocked down a clutch 3-pointer with 14 seconds left in the first quarter to put the Bearcats ahead by two, 14-12.

After clinging to the lead most of the half, the Bearcats fell behind late in the second quarter. However, Ford finished a tough drive to the basket through contact for a three-point play with 6.3 seconds left in the first half to give Ruston a three-point advantage going into the break.

Hudson slammed home two powerful dunks in the first half, but those were his only two baskets during the first 16 minutes of action as the Bearcats shot just 40 percent from the field.

Jackson described his team as “jittery” in the first half, but the Bearcats were able to calm down and refocus after halftime.

“I think in the second half, our defense led the offense and we kind of got in transition and opened the game up,” Jackson said. “Ahmad made his presence felt in the second half. He opened up everything else for us.”

“I pray every day to be in this situation and God put me in it, so I’m not going to take it for granted,” Hudson said. “I just had to shake off being nervous. I’ve been here. I’ve played here before. It’s just another game, just in a bigger environment.”

Central senior guard Jace Conrad, who led the Wildcats (24-7) with 20 points, knocked down a 3-pointer with 6:10 left in third quarter to give the Wildcats a 28-26 lead. Then the Bearcats’ Big 3 took over.

Malcolm knocked down a floater, while Hudson added one of two free throws – the only one of 22 free throws on the night that Ruston missed.

Ford knocked down a jumper, followed by two Malcolm free throws. Hudson turned one of his seven steals into a monstrous fastbreak dunk, which led to a Central technical foul. Ford hit the two free throws, and Malcolm drained a 3 on the ensuing possession.

At that point, the Bearcats had flipped the two-point deficit into a 12-point lead.

Central finally slowed the bleeding a bit by knocking down a 3-pointer with 1:26 left in the third quarter, but Ruston closed with another Hudson dunk and a Ford basket in the final minute. The Bearcats outscored Central 20-10 in the third quarter and took a 44-31 lead into the final period.

Back-to-back buckets by Malcolm in the fourth quarter gave the Bearcats a 20-point lead, and Hudson’s fifth dunk on the night, an emphatic slam off of two feet that brought the red-and-white-clad Bearcat fans to their feet, gave Ruston its biggest lead of the night at 59-38 with just over four minutes to play.

The Wildcats refused to fold, though, responding with a 6-0 run to make it a 15-point game with just over three minutes remaining. Central continued chipping away, trimming the deficit to 12 with 42 seconds left, but the Bearcats were able to ice the game with two Ford free throws and dribble out the clock.

“While we’re disappointed,” Central coach Scott Osborne said, “you look at (Ford) had 26, (Malcolm) had 24, (Hudson) had 19. We give our opponents their due credit.”

Hudson admitted he had some extra motivation Thursday night playing against Central, which defeated the Bearcats 42-0 for the 2024 state football championship.

“That was pretty embarrassing to go out there and do that,” Hudson admitted. “Just to be able to get the get-back for the seniors and the team before us, that felt great.“

Now the Bearcats shift their focus to Zachary, the No. 1 seed which has lost just twice all season, and a chance to win the school’s fifth state title.

“They’re athletic,” Jackson said of the Broncos. “They shoot the ball well. They’re fast. We can’t get into an up-and-down game with them. We’ve just got to go with the game plan that we went with in the second half (Thursday). We’ve got to pound it into Ahmad and see what they’re doing and be able to make shots outside off of it.”

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Courtesy of LA Tech University Communications

Louisiana Tech University senior Jesse Webb will represent the United States this April at the NYU Abu Dhabi International Hackathon for Social Good, one of the world’s premier student quantum computing competitions.

Webb, a Physics, Mathematics and Music triple major with a minor in Computer Science, earned his place on the international stage after winning the International Quantum Circuit Championship at QuantathonV2 in South Carolina this fall. His team, Team 17, secured first place in the competition, advancing to the global championship in Abu Dhabi.

“Competing internationally is an incredible opportunity,” Webb said. “Quantum computing is a global field, and being able to represent Louisiana Tech and compete alongside students from around the world is both exciting and humbling.”

The Abu Dhabi competition will bring together top student innovators to apply quantum computing to real-world challenges. Webb’s qualifying project developed a hybrid quantum and classical machine learning pipeline to predict tornado intensity using atmospheric data. The project also earned an Honorable Mention in the 2025 qBraid GPU4Quantum Challenge.

“We wanted to show that quantum computing can be applied to meaningful, high-impact problems,” Webb said. “Tornado prediction affects real communities. Being able to combine physics, data science, and quantum algorithms to approach that problem was incredibly rewarding.”

Webb’s upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi caps an extraordinary year of rapid achievement in quantum computing. In January, he earned 2nd Place at MIT’s iQuHACK in the IQM Quantum Computers Challenge, where his team developed scalable methods for verifying quantum entanglement on real quantum hardware. Last spring, he won 3rd Place at the Yale Quantum Institute’s YQuantum competition, his first in-person quantum hackathon.

“In less than a year, Jesse has placed at Yale, won a national championship, placed at MIT, and now advanced to international competition,” said Dr. Lee Sawyer, academic director of Physics and Chemistry. “That trajectory is remarkable. Competing in Abu Dhabi places him among the world’s top student quantum innovators.”

Webb’s success in quantum computing builds on a broader interdisciplinary foundation. He recently completed a summer internship with Fermilab and the University of Alabama in quantum machine learning for high-energy physics and was awarded a four-month research extension as a Department of Energy’s High Energy Physics RENEW SPRINT Scholar. He was also nominated last year for the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious undergraduate awards in science and mathematics. Most recently this month, Webb has been named a Presser Scholar, receiving the Presser Foundation’s Undergraduate Scholar Award, a national recognition for outstanding senior music majors.

“My background in both physics and music has shaped how I approach problems,” Webb said. “Music teaches discipline and creative interpretation. Physics teaches analytical rigor. Quantum computing requires both.”

As he prepares for the April competition, Webb says the international stage represents more than personal achievement.

“This field is still emerging,” Webb said. “To be part of it at this stage, and to represent Louisiana Tech internationally, is something I take seriously. I’m looking forward to learning from other teams around the world and pushing our ideas even further.”

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The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that S. Bonner St. between E. Louisiana Ave. and E. Texas Ave. will be closed Friday, March 13, 2026, beginning 8am to 4pm.

This closure is necessary for utility repairs.

The City of Ruston regrets any inconvenience this necessary work may cause residents and motorists. We appreciate your patience, and any questions can be received by the Public Works Department at (318) 242-7703.

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An Alabama man was arrested last week after he punched a restaurant employee in the eye causing serious injuries after the victim tried to stop him from getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.

Kendall Wayne Smitherman, 35, of Semmes, Alabama, was arrested about 2 a.m. on March 6 after Ruston Police were dispatched to a Park Avenue restaurant regarding a fight in progress.

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Officers were told one of the involved parties was nearby in a white pickup truck. Smitherman was found at a white Dodge Ram pickup behind the restaurant. He said he was leaving the restaurant with a beer in his hand when he was attacked without provocation in the middle of Park Avenue.

Smitherman said after the fight he got into a friend’s truck who drove him around to the rear of a restaurant where officers found his parked vehicle. However, he could not identify the friend. He said he entered his vehicle from the passenger side and started it up and rolled down the window.

Officers observed Smitherman exhibited obvious signs of intoxication. He used a patrol vehicle to support himself so that he could stand. He refused to submit to field sobriety tests.

Witnesses said restaurant employees were attempting to stop Smitherman from leaving with the beer and prevent him from driving while intoxicated.

Apparently one person grabbed Smitherman’s shirt and attempted to stop him and Smitherman struck the individual with a closed fist, causing multiple fractures around the victim’s eye. This victim was transported to the North Louisiana Medical Center emergency room where he was treated for the injuries.

Other witnesses who saw the incident said Smitherman entered the driver’s seat of his own truck and drove around to where officers found him behind the restaurant, contradicting his account that he had not been driving.

Smitherman was arrested and taken to the Lincoln Parish Detention Center where a breath test administered, but Smitherman refused to provide a breath sample. He was booked for first offense DWI and second degree battery.

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.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

 

The City of Ruston announces, weather permitting, that E. Louisiana Ave. between S. Bonner St. and S. Trenton St. will be closed immediately until further notice.

This closure is necessary for utility repairs.

The City of Ruston regrets any inconvenience this necessary work may cause residents and motorists. We appreciate your patience, and any questions can be received by the Public Works Department at (318) 242-7703.

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By T. Scott Boatright

During a 13-year Major League Baseball career, Ruston native Ralph Garr lived out some special moments that remain relatively unheralded to this day.

Grambling State Athletics will honor the legendary alumnus nicknamed “Roadrunner” with an official retirement of his No. 10  baseball jersey during a ceremony at Wilbert Ellis Field at R.W.E. Jones Park prior to GSU’s 3 p.m. game against Southern on Saturday, April 11.

A Grambling standout, Garr batted .585 while leading the Tigers to a 35-1 record before becoming  a third-round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves.

Despite starting off playing two seasons of Minor League ball, Garr eventually became a key player for Atlanta.

One of those largely unheralded moments as a Brave was standing on second base when Atlanta’s Hank Aaron tied Babe Ruth’s then-record of 714 home runs by knocking one out of the park against the Reds at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati on April 4, 1974.

Another was Garr capturing the 1974 National League batting championship by  leading the league with a .353 average after already setting a record with 149 hits before the All-Star break that season.

And it all started in Grambling playing on a travel team for then-Grambling assistant coach Wilbert Ellis, who later became GSU’s head coach and is a College Baseball Hall of Famer.

“Even at a young age you could see his determination — his desire to be the best,” Ellis said. “He had great speed and great talent, and he had the work ethic to develop his talent and put it all together.

“Ralph had great vision. He could hit tough pitches to hit because he had great hand-eye coordination. He had a real sweet swing, and could be surprisingly powerful.”

But later, Ellis still had to talk then Grambling President and head baseball coach Ralph Waldo Emerson Jones into giving Garr a chance.

“I told Prez (Jones) about Garr, but Prez said he was too small,” Ellis said. “Prez wanted another player, but that player didn’t stick. Ralph Garr did.”

The man who would later be nicknamed “Roadrunner” admitted it was his speed that earned him the opportunity to become a G-Man.

“The other boys (Grambling) liked were stronger and more powerful than me,” Garr said. “I was a singles hitter, and I could run a little faster than the others.”

Garr didn’t get many opportunities his first two seasons as a Tiger because Grambling had so much talent ahead of him.

But when he got his chance his final two seasons, Garr made the most of the opportunity.

Garr set a single-season record with a .582 batting average as a senior, helping the Tigers go 33-1 and finish in third place at the NAIA World Series.

He batted 57-of-98 with 20 extra base hits (including 11 triples) during that 1967 season along with 46 runs scored, 31 RBI and 12 steals to earn NAIA All-American honors.

Garr was given his nickname his first full season in the majors in 1971.

Fans in Atlanta loved Ralph Garr so much that the Braves even worked with Warner Bros. Cartoons to be able to use scenes of the Looney Tunes character Road Runner on the scoreboard and created a special calliope behind right field that would even go “beep-beep” every time Garr reached first base. 

By the end of that season, Garr’s batting average was .343. This was the second-best in the NL, just behind Joe Torre. He also scored a career-high 101 runs.

In December of 1975, the Braves traded Garr to the Chicago White Sox.

He was traded to the California Angels in 1979, where he ended his Major League baseball career in June of 1980 after playing in 1317 games and recording a lifetime batting average of .306 with 1,562 hits, 717 runs, 172 stolen bases and 75 home runs.

Garr would later make many appearances at GSU and other north Louisiana region colleges working in scouting and player development for the Braves under the mentorship of Aaron, who was serving as a Senior Vice President for Atlanta.

“Even after his playing career ended, Ralph has always been good to Grambling,” Ellis said. “He’s been good to me coming out and helping with my baseball camps for so long now.

“Ralph is just a special person and worked hard for all his achievements while staying humble. I’m proud to see his jersey get retired. He’s truly earned that honor in so many different ways.”

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by Malcolm Butler

Chad Yates has a luxury and his name is Kade Luker.

The junior southpaw made it look easy Thursday night, going the distance on the mound to lead Cedar Creek to an 8-0 win over St. Frederick. Luke used 87 pitches — 65 for strikes — and faced only 24 batters in lead the Cougars (12-2) to their eighth straight victory.

“His stuff is electric,” said Cedar Creek head coach Chad Yates. “When we put him out there, we know what we are going to get out of him. He just throws strikes.

“If you are the other team, you have to swing the bats. It’s not like you are going to get him in pitch trouble because he is strike one, strike two. That’s his strength.”

It didn’t take long for the Warriors to see that strength. Luker threw just 15 pitches to strike out the side in the top of the first two set the tone for the rest of the night.

“Fastball. Change up. Mix a breaking ball a couple of times,” said Yates. “It just seems like he gains more and more momentum each time he takes the bump.”

The Cougars didn’t waste any time in giving their ace a little run support. 

Luker led off with a walk and moved to second when Connor Yates was hit by a pitch. After a sacrifice bunt by Brett Bell moved both runners, Luker scored the first run of the game on an RBI groundout to second base by Connor Nichols. 

“It’s baseball laws. The first team that can score the first run has a high percentage of winning the game,” said Yates. “We felt like we could bunt for a hit right there which we tried. We just didn’t get it far enough down the line.

“But yeah, getting the runners over, and give ourselves a cushion. It just kills the spirit of the other team because they know what they are about to face (in Luker).”

Creek added a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning on back-to-back RBI singles by Bell to right field and Nichols to left field, scoring Luker and Yates. Creek led 3-0.

With Luker facing the minimum number of batters over the first four innings — a runner reached on a throwing error in the second but was erased by Bell trying to steal second base — the Cougars kept their slim 3-0.

That is until the bottom of the sixth. 

The Cougars sent nine men to the plate and added five more runs. Nichols added a two-out, two run single to centerfield to make the score 5-0 to give him four RBI on the night. 

“Connor has been hitting the ball hard for us,” said Yates. “They have just been finding gloves. But we have stuck with him in the four hole. We know what he is capable of doing. He had a big two-out hit (in the sixth). We are going to keep giving him confidence.”

The final three runs scored when the bases emptied on a dropped fly ball in centerfield with two outs. 

Luker finished the night allowing just two hits (both singles) and one walk.

 

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One of Sandy’s daily tasks was to retrieve his mail from post office box number 510 at the Visalia Post Office.  It was a task that had become so routine that he performed it without much thought.  It was just one of the routine details of his daily life such as putting on his shoes and grabbing his car keys.  Soon after the election, Sandy decided to leave Visalia, California and move to Baxter Springs, Kansas to be near his parents and siblings.  In the chaos of moving, Sandy forgot to return his post office box key.  It remained on his keyring.  Sandy was still getting things settled in Baxter Springs when a local hotel manager resigned and moved to another town.  The hotel owner offered Sandy the hotel manager position and he quickly accepted.  Sandy had not set up his new address in Baxter Springs when he was hired for his new job.  When he visited the post office, he requested the same post office box which had been used by the previous manager just in case any mail intended for the hotel was delivered to that box.  After completing the necessary paperwork, the postal clerk gave Sandy the box key.  Stamped on one side of the key was the post office box number.  Sandy was surprised when he looked at the key and saw it stamped with the number 510.  Sandy had the same post office box number in Baxter Springs that he had in Visalia some 1650 miles to the west.

Sandy shrugged off the coincidence.  He made sure the new key worked, retrieved a few pieces of mail from the box, then put the key on his key ring with little thought.  Nearly two years went by, and checking his mailbox at the Baxter Springs Post Office became just another item on his daily routine.  Then in August 1969, Sandy pulled out his keyring and opened box number 510.  He retrieved the mail and was in the process of locking his post office box when he noticed that another key on his key ring was stamped “510.”  That is when he finally realized that he had forgotten to return his key to the Visalia Post Office.  Then, he wondered which of the two keys he had been using for nearly two years to get his mail.  Other than normal wear, the keys were practically identical.  Sandy tried both keys in each of the mailboxes in the Baxter Springs Post Office.  Although they would not open any other box at that post office, both keys opened post office box number 510.           

Sources:

1.     The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kansas), August 25, 1969, p.5.

2.     The Daily Item (Port Chester, New York), October 1, 1969, p.8.

3.     “Lowell Sandy Robinson,” FindAGrave.com, accessed March 1, 2026, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28198671/lowell-sandy-robinson.

For the latest local news, subscribe FOR FREE to the Lincoln Parish Journal and receive an email each weekday morning at 6:55 right to your inbox. Just CLICK HERE to sign up.

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