Second-ranked Lake Charles Barbe returned to the scene of its Class 5A state baseball championship only to come away with a slightly different result.
Third-ranked Denham Springs scored a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to upset the defending state champions, 6-5, at the Yellow Jackets’ North Park. Barbe had tied the score with two runs in the top of the seventh before Tyler Caruthers delivered a one-out, game-winning single in the bottom of the inning
“Barbe arguably has the best program in the state year in and year out,” Denham Springs coach Mark Carroll said. “We knew coming in to expect a seven-inning battle up to the last out, and that’s what it was. This has to give our kids a boost of confidence. We’re excited about it.”
Barbe and Denham Springs could well collide later in the season at North Park, which will be the site of the state championship again in May. Barbe has won five state titles since 1998.
Jared Bond (3-2) earned the victory in relief after having retired the only batter he faced for the final out after Eric Cutrera’s game-tying, two-run double in the top of the seventh. Bond’s leadoff single began the Yellow Jackets’ game-winning rally. Bond also had a two-run single in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. He finished with two of Denham Springs’ eight hits.
“Jared is a ballplayer,” Carroll said. “He’s a good, strong kid who plays full tilt for us. Everybody filled their roles….They all passed with flying colors.”
With three hits apiece, Cutrera and Tanner Mathis combined for half of Barbe’s 12 hits.
Denham Springs improved to 13-5, while Barbe fell to 14-5-1.
The opportunistic Yellow Jackets picked three runners off base, threw another out trying to steal second and nabbed one at the plate on Brock LeBlanc’s throw from center field. It was LeBlanc’s sacrifice bunt that put courtesy runner Drew Forbes in position to score on Caruthers’ single.
Girls Basketball: Robinson, Grayson carry East
There was little Dominque Robinson didn’t do in the East’s 76-68 victory over the West in the Louisiana High School Basketball Coaches Association all-star game in Pineville.
After delivering the invocation, the Baton Rouge Capitol standout scored 15 points and earned Most Valuable Player honors. Metairie Archbishop Chapelle’s Olivia Grayson, a Tulane signee, added 13 points.
“To be honest, I was kind of shocked,” Robinson said of her MVP award. “I expected it to go to (Grayson). She did a great job….Everyone did.”
The East held a 31-30 halftime lead but quickly lost it on a 3-pointer from the West’s Elizabeth Kingham of Grand Lake. The East responded with a 7-0 run before the West went ahead again at 47-46.
The East regained the lead on Kirsti Bellock’s 3-pointer, and Grayson and Robinson combined to keep the West at bay.
“This team had a lot of continuity,” said Coach Travis Bourgeois of Baton Rouge Episcopal. “A lot of our girls knew each other, and played with or against each other at some point, so it was easy to get them into groups that would work well together.”
Shreveport Parkway's Brittney Dukes led the West with 15 points.
Boys Basketball: Miller’s strong second half lifts East
Kevin Miller scored 13 of his 17 points in the second half to help turn a four-point game into a 98-74 victory for the East in the LHSBCA all-star game.
“I'm just excited to be here,” said Miller a 6-foot-4 forward from Baton Rouge Catholic. “We had a lot of good guards on this team, and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. That’s really what it was all about. Anybody could have won this award….I just happened to get it.”
The East held a 45-35 halftime lead, but the West closed to within 55-51 thanks to some timely 3-pointers from DeRidder’s Jake Greene. The East quickly pulled away behind Miller and three other double-figure scorers.
Basketball: Markray, Bellock highlight Class 2A all-state team
Springhill’s Antonious Markray, and Kristi Bellock of River Ridge John Curtis, were named the Outstanding Players of the Year on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 2A boys and girls all-state teams, respectively.
It was the latest honor for the 6-foot-2, Markray, who was Most Valuable Player both of the state championship game and the Top 28 Tournament. Springhill, which was making its first state-tournament appearance, beat Many in the title game, 70-66. Markray averaged 26.8 points per game for the season.
Bellock, who has back-to-back state titles to her credit, is no stranger to accolades either. She made the all-state first team for the third time, while having landed on the second team as a sophomore. A Texas A&M signee, the 6-1 Bellock averaged 16.5 points per game. She was the MVP of John Curtis’ 51-41 victory over South Beauregard in the state-championship game.
Ludwig named best in Class 1A again
Eddie Ludwig of Metairie Park Country Day, and Baton Rouge Southern Lab’s Jean Spears, were named the Outstanding Players of the Year on the LSWA Class 1A boys and girls all-state teams, respectively.
Ludwig received the award for the second year in a row after helping Country Day to the state championship while averaging 19.8 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. The 6-foot-8 Ludwig has signed with LSU.
Spears averaged 24.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.1 steals and 4.5 assists per game for the Lady Kittens, who lost to eventual state champion Block in the semifinals.
“I’m happy and surprised,” Spears said. “This was a goal I’d thought about, but when we didn’t win a state title I figured it wouldn’t happen.”
Block first-year coach Kristy King was named the girls Coach of the Year, while Plain Dealing’s David Bryant won the same honor for the boys after leading his team to the state semifinals.
Dynasty coming to an end
Apparently Reserve Christian Academy won’t be winning any more Class C boys state championships, but it’s not because the opposition is too strong.
Officials have announced that declining enrollment and increased costs will force them to shut down the high school. This, too, although RCA recently won its seventh boys state championship since having joined the Louisiana High School Athletic Association in 1999.
RCA will continue to offer kindergarten through sixth grade.
