LPJ Sports Report
Cedar Creek sweeps pair behind Luker, Nichols and Yates
RUSTON, La. — Cedar Creek put together a strong two-game stretch this week, blanking Ouachita Parish 10-0 on Monday before rolling past Glenbrook 11-1 on Wednesday behind timely hitting and steady pitching.
Against Ouachita Parish, Kade Luker powered the Cougars offensively, driving in four runs on two extra-base hits. He doubled home two runs during Cedar Creek’s six-run second inning, then broke the game open with a bases-clearing triple in the third.
Cedar Creek took control early. Brett Bell brought home the first run on a groundout in the opening inning, then the Cougars erupted in the second. Jax Doiron singled in a run, Luker’s double plated two more, Carter Nichols was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Noah Smith drew a run-scoring walk and Doiron added another RBI single.
Nichols handled the rest on the mound, throwing a five-inning no-hitter. The right-hander struck out seven and walked one in the shutout win.
Doiron, hitting seventh, finished 3 for 3, and Cedar Creek added pressure on the bases with five steals.
The Cougars stayed hot Wednesday, using a six-run fifth inning to turn a comfortable lead into an 11-1 win over Glenbrook in the first game of the District 1-1A championship series.
Smith gave Cedar Creek an early spark with a two-run double in the first, and the Cougars added three more runs in the second on an error and Bell’s two-run single. In the fifth, Cedar Creek capitalized on patience at the plate and a series of quality at-bats. Luker, Connor Yates, Bell and Smith all drove in runs during the inning, while Nichols also produced a run on a fielder’s choice.
Yates earned the win, allowing one run on five hits over five innings while striking out six and walking two.
Nichols led the offense with three hits in four at-bats, while Bell and Smith drove in three runs apiece. Cedar Creek drew 10 walks in the game, with Bell, Yates and Luker collecting two each.
Over the two wins, Cedar Creek outscored its opponents 21-1, got standout work from its pitching staff and continued to show depth throughout the lineup.
Creek and Glenbrook will face off tonight in the second (and possibly third if necessary) game of the district title series.
Bagwell’s Three-Hit Day Powers Choudrant Past Downsville
CHOUDRANT — Braden Bagwell delivered a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 to lead Choudrant to a dominant 15-0 victory over Downsville on Tuesday.
Bagwell set the tone early with singles in each of the first three innings and added a sacrifice fly as part of a massive opening surge. Choudrant broke the game open in the first inning, erupting for 11 runs behind a flurry of extra-base hits, walks and productive outs.
Cash Camp and Cy Spatafora each doubled home two runs in the inning, while Max Milton added a two-run single. Bagwell and Gavin Hall also drove in runs during the frame, as Choudrant capitalized on nearly every scoring opportunity.
The Aggies continued to add on in the second inning. Hall was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Cole Rinehart lifted a sacrifice fly, and Josh Sellers drew a bases-loaded walk to push the lead even further out of reach.
Choudrant finished with 12 hits and showed patience at the plate with eight walks. Milton, Spatafora, Camp, Rinehart and Hall each recorded two RBIs, while Cam Bagwell chipped in two hits in limited at-bats.
On the mound, Choudrant combined for a dominant, no-hit performance. Milton earned the win with a scoreless inning, striking out two. Jase Donald and Sellers followed with scoreless relief appearances to complete the shutout.
Defensively, Choudrant was just as sharp, committing no errors. Sellers led the way with six chances in the field.
Choudrant will return to action Tuesday when it travels to face Weston.
Harrell Leads Simsboro to Pair of Wins with Power and Precision
SIMSBORO — Chris Harrell delivered a standout week both at the plate and on the mound as Simsboro High picked up a pair of victories over Providence Classical and Haynesville.
The Tigers opened with a dominant 12-1 win over Providence Classical, breaking the game open with an eight-run fourth inning.
Braylon Gipson started the surge with an RBI single, while Trevor Cook added a run-scoring double. Levi Adkins capped the rally with a two-run double as Simsboro turned a close game into a rout.
Simsboro got on the board early, taking advantage of two Providence errors in the first inning, and extended the lead to 4-0 in the second on another miscue.
Harrell set the tone on the mound, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out five without issuing a walk. He also delivered an immaculate inning in the first, striking out the side on nine pitches. David Cedotal worked in relief to help secure the win.
Gipson and Adkins each collected two hits, while Cook drove in three runs. Simsboro showed discipline at the plate with six walks, added four stolen bases, and played error-free defense.
The Tigers followed that performance with a more tightly contested 4-2 win over Haynesville, powered by Harrell’s bat.
Harrell blasted two home runs and drove in all four Simsboro runs, including a go-ahead two-run shot in the fifth inning that proved to be the difference. He also homered earlier in the third to tie the game after Haynesville had taken a 2-0 lead.
On the mound, Noah Thomas delivered a dominant complete-game performance, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out 14.
Across the two games, Simsboro combined timely hitting, strong pitching and clean defense to secure the sweep.
The Tigers return to action Thursday at home against Beekman Charter.
Ruston splits pair of early week, non-district matchups
RUSTON — Ruston High opened its week with a dominant performance before coming up just short in a comeback bid, splitting a pair of games against St. Frederick and Ouachita Christian, respectively.
The Bearcats wasted no time in Monday’s matchup, erupting for eight runs in the first inning on the way to a 12-0 shutout of St. Frederick.
Sam Hartwell got things started with an RBI single, and Ruston capitalized on a mix of patience and pressure. Nolan Parnell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Kenden Freeman added an RBI groundout, and Lander Smith delivered a two-run single. An error helped bring home three more runs in the inning as the Bearcats seized complete control early.
Ruston extended the lead to 10-0 in the second inning and added two more runs in the third behind a Hudson Wood RBI double and a Hunter Soto groundout.
On the mound, Colt Lary set the tone with three scoreless innings, allowing four hits while striking out two. Hudson McIntyre followed with two shutout innings in relief to complete the combined shutout.
Offensively, Ruston collected nine hits, with Smith, Freeman and Hartwell each recording two. The Bearcats were aggressive on the bases, swiping eight steals, and were equally sharp defensively, turning three double plays without committing an error.
Ruston carried that momentum into Tuesday but found itself in an early hole against Ouachita Christian.
The Eagles jumped out to a multi-run lead in the first inning and added three more runs in the second to stretch the advantage to six. Ruston responded with a steady comeback effort, chipping away with a combination of productive outs and timely hits.
The Bearcats plated runs on a flyout, double, sacrifice fly, hit-by-pitch and groundout to climb back within striking distance, but the rally ultimately fell short in an 8-6 loss.
Lander Smith continued his strong stretch at the plate, going 2-for-2, while Hartwell and Smith each drove in two runs. Ruston also turned two double plays defensively in the contest.
After the split, Ruston looks ahead to its next road test at Pineville on Thursday.
Ruston head coach Bryan Beck praised his team’s start to the week and the effort shown in adversity.
“Monday game was a great way to start the week. Colt Lary and Hudson McIntyre combined for the run-rule shutout and offense came blazing out of the gate to score eight in the first inning,” Beck said.
“Tuesday was not so good in the first inning. We gave up four runs in the first and followed up with another three in the second,” he added.
Despite the early deficit, Beck highlighted his team’s fight throughout the game.
“Would have been real easy to lay down and take it, but our kids fought back all night and we had a chance in the sixth and the seventh to tie or go ahead and just couldn’t get the timely hit,” Beck said.
Beck also pointed to a key bright spot on the bump for the Bearcats.
“Freshman middle reliever Tristan Nassar kept us in the game on the mound for three innings of quality work. Extremely proud of him, and you will be seeing him more down the stretch and heading into playoffs,” Beck said.
“Tough loss, but we will bounce back.”
They’ll have a chance to do just that today on the road at Pineville for a district matchup.
