It will be several years before
Episcopal (Baton Rouge, La.) fifth-grader Brooke Dillon begins high school, but that fact didn’t stop Dillon from winning the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Division II (Classes 3A and below) individual golf title.
Dillon fired a two-day, 1-under-par 143 to outdistance the more experienced field at Copper Mill Golf Club in Zachary. Her second-day 71 included an eagle on the ninth hole and three birdies.
Dillon’s performance helped Episcopal to its third consecutive state team title.
St. Thomas More (Lafayette) won its second straight Division I (Classes 5A-4A) team title in Alexandria, with Mandeville sophomore Eiise Bradley claiming her second individual state championship in a row.
"I’m very pleased with how we played both days," said Episcopal coach Andrew Wyly, whose Lady Knights sported only one senior. "I’m proud for the team."
Dillon fired a 32 on the front nine each day in beating freshman runner-up Lana Hodge of
Ouachita Christian (Monroe) by nine strokes. Jamie Wright of Menard (Alexandria) placed third at 161.
Episcopal won the team title with a two-day score of 304.
McGehee (New Orleans) was second at 333 with Menard placing third at 385.
The Division I tournament at the Alexandria Golf and Country Club proved to be more competitive. Bradley’s two-day total of 3-over par 149 gave her a two-stroke victory over senior Allison Kippers of
Zachary, while St. Thomas More edged Mt. Carmel (New Orleans) by one stroke, 327-328, for the team title.
Softball: Johnson turns in perfect debut
Buckeye freshman pitcher Jessica Johnson made her first varsity softball game a memorable one by throwing a perfect game in beating visiting McDonogh (New Orleans), 15-0, in a Class 3A first-round playoff game. Johnson struck out nine during the course of the four-inning game, which ended early because of the 15-run mercy rule. Buckeye teammate Kelsea Wallace pitched a perfect game earlier this year in defeating District 3-3A rival Bunkie, 11-0.
Buckeye coach Darlene Wiley said she started Johnson "out of respect" for McDonogh, which finished with a 4-18 record but made the playoffs by placing third in District 11-3A. Buckeye improved to 27-4 behind Johnson, normally the Lady Panthers’ junior varsity pitcher.
"I thought my little freshman did a good job," Wiley said. "She kept her composure."
Not only did Johnson strike out all but three of the batters she faced, but she proved productive at the plate with a sacrifice fly in the first inning and a run-scoring single in the second. Buckeye scored six runs in each of the first two innings.
Baseball: Woodruff wins 600th game
In closing out his illustrious career in style, Parkview Baptist (Baton Rouge) coach M.L. Woodruff recorded his 600th career game in his final regular-season home game.
"It was a special night," said Woodruff, whose team left little doubt in routing Albany in six innings, 13-0. "A lot of kids that played, and a lot of parents, showed up. It was a fun night. I have a hard time enjoying nights like that, and I’m trying to as I grow older."
Parkview Baptist pitcher Brady Wilson tossed a one-hitter, while catcher Paxton Cook hit a grand slam.
Riverfield Academy reaches semifinals
In a series featuring two Louisiana teams, Riverfield Academy (Rayville) defeated Tensas Academy (St. Joseph), 11-0 and 6-2, to reach the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools South semifinals.
Riverfield Academy (23-1) will face Trinity Episcopal Day (Natchez, Miss.) next week in a best-of-three series for the right to play for the MAIS South championship. Riverfield blasted Tensas in the first game behind the three-hit pitching of Corbin Cater (7-1) and shortstop Logan Moore's pair of two-run homers.
Kyle King (6-0) threw a five-hitter for Riverfield in the second game while striking out eight. He also doubled twice and drove in two runs. Left fielder Justin Sullivan added a two-run homer and centerfielder Dakota Moss singled twice.
Football: Central’s Edwards changes jobs
Highly successful Sid Edwards, 47, unexpectedly stepped down as the Central (Baton Rouge) head football coach to become athletic director for the Central Community School System.
Edwards was 30-7 in three years at Central, with a state semifinal appearance in 2008 and a quarterfinals berth and an 11-2 record in 2009. He also was the head boys basketball coach this past season and served as Central’s athletic director for the 2009-10 school year.
Before coming to Central, Edwards led Redemptorist (Baton Rouge) to a pair of state football championships and a state basketball title. His career football record of 109-43 includes one-year stops at Menard (Alexandria) and Jesuit (New Orleans).
"I’ve never really thought of myself as an administrator," Edwards said. "And to be honest with you, I’m a little nervous about this, because I’ve been a coach since I was 16 years old.
"But with this job, I feel like I’ll be in a position to impact lives and do good things."
Central appointed defensive coordinator Doug Dotson as its new head football coach and named assistant coach Frank Fresina as its associate athletic director. Ron Lewis previously was named head boys basketball coach after serving as Edwards’ assistant this past season.
