Simsboro rolls through three-game stretch with dominant pitching, explosive innings
SIMSBORO — Simsboro put together a commanding three-game run this week, overwhelming Doyline, Delhi Charter and Union Parish with a combination of dominant pitching and big offensive innings.
The Tigers opened the stretch with a 12-0 victory over Doyline, fueled by a massive third inning and a standout performance on the mound from David Cedotal. Cedotal struck out 13 over five shutout innings, allowing just two hits without issuing a walk.
Simsboro broke the game open with a 12-run third inning, highlighted by run-scoring hits from Chris Stevens, Kaid Barmore and Braylon Gipson. Stevens led the way offensively with two hits and three RBIs, while the Tigers were aggressive on the basepaths and flawless defensively.
The momentum carried into Wednesday as Simsboro defeated Delhi Charter 10-0 behind another strong all-around effort. Barmore earned the win, tossing five shutout innings while allowing just one hit and striking out six.
At the plate, Simsboro steadily built its lead before pulling away late. Gipson delivered an RBI single to open the scoring, while Chris Harrell added a two-run home run in the fourth. Cedotal capped the scoring with a three-run homer in the fifth. Noah Thomas led the Tigers with three hits as Simsboro again played error-free baseball.
Simsboro closed the week with its most lopsided win, a 16-1 rout of Union Parish. The Tigers jumped out early with a four-run first inning and never looked back, adding seven runs in the second and five more in the third.
Thomas and Cedotal each drove in multiple runs during the early surge, while Maximus Lee and Harrell contributed key extra-base hits. Simsboro also showed patience at the plate, drawing 10 walks, and continued to pressure defenses with aggressive baserunning.
Harrell earned the win on the mound, allowing one unearned run over three innings.
Across the three games, Simsboro’s pitching staff did not allow an earned run, while the offense consistently produced in bunches. The Tigers combined timely hitting, speed on the bases and clean defense to control each contest from start to finish.
Simsboro returns to action Monday against Downsville.
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Luker’s dominant outing lifts Cedar Creek past Evangel
SHREVEPORT — Kade Luker delivered a dominant performance on the mound, striking out 13 batters to lead Cedar Creek to a 6-2 win over Evangel Christian on Thursday.
Luker worked eight strong innings, allowing two runs on five hits while walking two as the Cougars controlled the game behind their ace.
Cedar Creek took an early lead in the first inning when Carter Nichols drove in a run on a groundout, then extended the advantage in the second on an RBI single by Eli Slocum.
Evangel Christian answered in the bottom of the second, tying the game on a run-scoring single by Parker Davis and an RBI double from Slade Alexander.
The game remained deadlocked until the eighth, when Cedar Creek broke through with a four-run inning. Ryan Coleman delivered an RBI single, and the Cougars capitalized on an Evangel error before Jax Doiron and Slocum added run-scoring hits to put the game out of reach.
Slocum, batting in the ninth spot, led Cedar Creek offensively with three hits and two RBIs. Doiron and Luker each added multiple hits as the Cougars collected eight in the game.
Cedar Creek also applied pressure on the basepaths, stealing five bases, including three by Luker.
Hudson Horn kept Evangel in the game with a solid start before Bennett Speers took the loss in relief.
Davis and Alexander each drove in a run for Evangel Christian.
Cedar Creek returns to action Saturday at home against Jena.
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Ruston drops pair despite strong pitching, late lead
RUSTON — Ruston High came up short in a pair of games this week, falling to Sterlington and Neville despite strong pitching performances and competitive efforts throughout.
On Tuesday, the Bearcats were defeated by Sterlington as Tyler Roach delivered a standout outing on the mound. Roach struck out 11 batters over six and two-thirds innings, allowing four runs on six hits while walking two.
Sterlington broke through in the third inning, using a run-scoring single from Devyn Downs and a two-run home run by Corbin Peacock to build a lead it would not relinquish. Ruston answered with a pair of runs but could not overcome the deficit.
Kenden Freeman and Jackson Lee each recorded two hits for the Bearcats, while Lee and JP Moak drove in runs. Ruston played clean defense without committing an error.
The Bearcats returned to action Thursday and suffered a walk-off loss to Neville in a tightly contested game.
Ruston took an early lead in the second inning when Moak drew a bases-loaded walk, and the teams traded runs through the middle innings. After Neville briefly moved ahead in the third, Ruston answered on a sacrifice fly by Lee to tie the game.
Freeman gave the Bearcats a late advantage with an RBI single in the sixth, but Neville responded in the bottom half of the inning to even the score.
In the final inning, Neville secured the win on a walk-off single, handing Ruston its second loss of the week.
“Tough loss again for us,” Ruston High Head Coach Bryan Beck said. “We will need to play better Friday to have a chance to split the district series.”
Freeman, Moak and Lee each drove in a run for Ruston, while Lander Smith added two hits from the bottom of the lineup.
Despite the results, Ruston received solid pitching efforts in both games and continued to show consistency defensively, committing no errors across the two contests.
Ruston will be back home tonight for Game 2 against Neville.
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Late Errors Cost Aggies in 8-4 Loss to D’Arbonne Woods
CHOUDRANT — Costly mistakes late overshadowed a strong night at the plate for Choudrant as the Aggies fell 8-4 to D’Arbonne Woods on Tuesday.
Despite outhitting the Timberwolves 8-7, the Aggies were undone by a pair of ninth-inning errors that allowed D’Arbonne Woods to break open a tie game.
The Timberwolves struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of an error to grab a 1-0 lead. Choudrant answered in the fourth, tying the game at 2-2 on an RBI single by Josh Sellers and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Corbin Watson.
D’Arbonne Woods regained control in the fifth, again capitalizing on an Aggies miscue to plate a run before Daltin Albritton followed with an RBI single to push the lead to 4-2.
Choudrant battled back in the seventh. Gavin Hall delivered a clutch single down the right-field line, driving in runs to even the score at 4-4 and set the stage for a tight finish.
But the ninth inning proved decisive.
D’Arbonne Woods plated four runs in the frame, stringing together a series of productive at-bats combined with defensive errors by the Aggies. Albritton’s RBI single started the rally before additional runs scored on a fielder’s choice and two errors.
Choudrant starter Braden Bagwell was solid in a no-decision, allowing four runs — none earned — on five hits over 6⅔ innings while striking out two and walking three.
At the plate, Cy Spatafora and Cash Camp each collected two hits to lead the Aggies. Hall drove in a team-high two runs.
Albritton paced D’Arbonne Woods offensively, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while the Timberwolves also showed patience at the plate with six walks.
Choudrant will look to bounce back Friday when it returns home to face Quitman.
