Advocate’s Star of Stars banquet set Tuesday

10/14/11. Advocate photo by JOHN OUBRE. 00027381A.   Port Allen vs. St. Charles Catholic football. St Charles Catholic RB Lazedrick Thompson(33) turns the corner for a nice gain as he attempts to elude port Allen defender Darian Claiborne.

The 28th Athlete of the Year/Star of Stars banquet is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at The Advocate’s administrative offices located at 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd. Twenty-four athletes in 15 high school sports from the Baton Rouge area will be honored during the annual event along with the Athlete of Year winners. The Advocate announced the Athlete … Continue reading →

State champs Florien, Hicks top Class B all-state teams

New state champions were crowned in Class B in 2013 as Florien claimed the softball title, while Forest returned to the top of the baseball heap after a one-year hiatus. The two teams were honored with multiple selections to the Class B All-State teams, as voted on by a panel from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association. Continue reading →

Six prep finalists highlight Star of Stars banquet

Darian Claiborne

Six high school athletes who excelled in a broad range of sports will be the headliners for the 28th Athlete of the Year/Star of Stars banquet Tuesday at The Advocate’s editorial offices at 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd. Many of the Baton Rouge area’s top high school athletes will be honored, starting at 6:30 p.m. The list includes the six Athlete … Continue reading →

Chauvin two-time MVP; Maurepas coach Gregoire recognized

Photo by Steven Iles, Beauregard Daily NewsFamily Christian's Ben Chauvin earned Class C baseball MVP for the second straight season. He posted a 10-2 record as a pitcher and batted .494.

Family Christian Academy and Hackberry won the Class C state titles in baseball and softball, respectively, for the second straight year. The fact the two powerhouses would dominate the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class C all-state teams is no surprise. Hackberry’s Sydney Broussard and Family Christian’s Ben Chauvin claimed the Outstanding Player awards. Not … Continue reading →

Doctors give Kenny Guillot, Kenny Almond good reports

The health-related news for Parkview Baptist football coach Kenny Guillot and East Ascension boys basketball coach Kenny Almond is good. Guillot, who was diagnosed with a form of lymphoma days before the Eagles won the Classs 3A title, was declared cancer free just more than a week ago. “At my last chemo, they did … Continue reading →

Class C All-State Baseball, Softball teams

Baseball Ben Chauvin Family Christian Sr. .494 M.J. Frazier Family Christian Sr. 10-0 Tyler Randall Family Christian Sr. .481 Richard Hopkins Family Christian Sr. 32 RBIs Mason Diaz Family Christian So. .480 Continue reading →

Fambrough: Bob Lemons excited about being all-star head coach

Advocate staff photo by LIZ CONDO. Photo shot on 03/15/11. Trax No. 00024906A /  St. Amant coach Bob Lemons directs his team during their game against Catholic High at St. Amant High School Tuesday March 15, 2011.

It was a different kind of year for former St. Amant High baseball coach Bob Lemons. Instead of being a head coach, Lemons was an assistant baseball coach at another Ascension Parish school, East Ascension. The chance to serve as the head coach of the East squad for this weekend’s Louisiana High School Coaches Association’s All-Star … Continue reading →

John Priola named Mandeville assistant principal

Mandeville High's John Priola is steps down as athletic director and after 17 years as school's basketball coach to become a full-time administrator at the school.

Mandeville — Come November, when the Mandeville High School basketball team takes the court for its opening game, a familiar face will be missing. John Priola, who has coached the Skippers for the past 17 years and also served as the school’s athletic director, is becoming a full-time administrator at Mandeville. At Thursday’s monthly St. … Continue reading →

West wins prep softball all-star game

PINEVILLE — The Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star softball game was anything but a Friday night pitcher’s duel. The East pounded out 10 hits, the West 14 hits, and the West team’s Hali Williams of Comeaux High hit a home run to left field on her first swing in the first inning, which … Continue reading →

Softball all-stars square off

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELD -- Live Oak's Hailey Freeman is welcomed to home plate after hitting a home run during a game against Mount Carmel Academy.

First, it was the regular season, and then it was the postseason. The 2013 season for Louisiana High School Athletic Association softball players concludes this weekend with the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star games at Louisiana College in Pineville. Players for the East and West squads report between 10 and 11 a.m. Friday for the … Continue reading →

Milestone time for LOHS’ Brooke Morris

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELDLive Oak shortstop Brooke Morris throws to first base in a Class 5A regional playoff game against Pineville last month.

Some players quit playing a sport because of an injury or because they no longer like it. For Live Oak High’s Brooke Morris, it was a practical decision. “I played a lot of basketball when I was younger,” Morris said. “But when I was in junior high and I was 5-foot-2, I figured out it might not … Continue reading →

Catholic tops Zachary for Class 5A baseball title

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD -- Catholic's Connor Whalen dives on top of the pile as players celebrate their 3-2 win over Zachary on Sunday, May 12, 2013, during the Class 5A championship at Tulane's Turchin Stadium.

NEW ORLEANS — It was fitting that Clay Moffitt ended the Class 5A state baseball title game at the bottom of Catholic’s scrum, yelling and hugging teammates as they crowded Sunday’s unlikely hero on the mound. Moffitt’s efforts during a 3-2 upset of Zachary in an all-Baton Rouge final served as a microcosm of … Continue reading →

Frank Bartley signs with BYU

Former Christian Life Academy standout Frank Bartley has signed to play basketball at Brigham Young University. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Bartley helped lead CLA to the Class 1A state title in 2011-2012. He spent the 2012-13 school year at a prep school, Future College Prep, located in Carson, Calif. “The coach from BYU was recruiting one … Continue reading →

Catholic tops Zachary for Class 5A baseball title

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD --   Catholic players and fans celebrate their 3-2 win over Zachary Sunday, May 12, 2013, during the Class 5A championship at Tulane's Turchin Stadium.

NEW ORLEANS — It was fitting that Clay Moffitt ended the Class 5A state baseball title game at the bottom of Catholic’s scrum, yelling and hugging teammates as they crowded Sunday’s unlikely hero on the mound. Moffitt’s efforts during a 3-2 upset of Zachary in an all-Baton Rouge final served as a microcosm of the … Continue reading →

Catholic advances to 5A title game

DO NOT RUN DO NOT RUN DO NOT RUN Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD --   Catholic's Austin Devillier steals second base as West Monroe's Dustin Mitchell leaps for the throw in the fourth inning Saturday, May 11, 2013, during a state 5A semifinal playoff at Tulane's Turchin Stadium. Catholic won 3-1 to advance to the championship game Sunday. MAGS OUT / INTERNET  OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS OUT/ MANDATORY CREDIT: SCOTT THRELKELD / THE ADVOCATE

NEW ORLEANS — The Catholic Bears are one win away from ending the season as the state’s best in Class 5A. Thanks to opportunistic base runners, a sharp sophomore on the mound and, a defense that has peaked in the postseason, 21st-seeded Catholic defeated ninth-seeded West Monroe 3-1 Saturday afternoon in a … Continue reading →

Sam Houston stops Brother Martin in 5A quarters, 8-6

NEW ORLEANS — Sam Houston baseball coach Brad Book told his team exactly what the Class 5A Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s State Tournament was going to be like. He told him it was going to rain, that they would have to sit through hours of delays, that they would be told to go back … Continue reading →

FCA repeats as Class C baseball champ, 7-2

SULPHUR — Family Christian definitely had that feeling of déjà vu. And the Flames can’t complain about the championship view. Ben Chauvin tossed a four-hitter and claimed Outstanding Player honors for the second straight season as Family Christian notched its second consecutive Class C crown with a 7-2 victory over Claiborne Christian at McMurry Park. Continue reading →

Lutcher wins 4A title; Poche throws one-hitter

SULPHUR — After teammate and Tulane signee Corey Merrill pitched a two-hitter in Friday’s semifinal, LSU signee Jared Poche knew what he had to do Saturday. And Poche did it with dominance, tossing a one-hitter and striking out 11, leading Lutcher High to a 4-0 victory over St. Thomas More in the Class 4A title … Continue reading →

Parkview romps to Class 3A baseball crown

Advocate staff photo by BRYAN TUCK -- Parkview Baptist players celebrate after beating E.D. White 9-5 to win the Class 3A championship game Saturday in Sulphur.

SULPHUR — The groundskeepers at McMurry Park are going to have to check the outfield walls for dents. Parkview Baptist banged the walls with a barrage of extra-base hits to return to the top of Class 3A baseball. The fifth-seeded Eagles beat second-seeded E.D. White 9-5 Saturday to win the Class 3A state baseball … Continue reading →

Evangel tops U-High, 2-0, wins Class 2A baseball title

Evangel Christian's Joey Usie leads his team to the mound after defeating University High in the Class 2A LHSAA championship baseball game in Monroe, La., Saturday, May 11, 2013. (AP Photo/The News-Star, Dacia Idom) NO SALES

MONROE — The rain affected every LHSAA state baseball tournament except the one for Classes 1A and 2A at the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Warhawk Field. All games were on time, but the wet outfield played a huge part in the Class 2A title game Saturday afternoon between University High and Evangel Christian. Continue reading →

Zachary tops Sam Houston, 4-1

NEW ORLEANS — The Masters of Small Ball are headed for the Class 5A state championship game. Zachary used two well-timed, well-placed bunts, plus a heads-up base running play to fashion all the runs they needed in the sixth inning of a 4-1 victory against Sam Houston in their semifinal game Saturday at Tulane’s … Continue reading →

Prep baseball report

Pairings and scores for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s state baseball tournaments. Class 5A At Tulane’s Turchin Stadium Quarterfinals Friday n Catholic 4, Sulphur … Continue reading →

Zachary tops St. Amant, 7-2, moves to 5A semis

NEW ORLEANS — For a closer, Zachary pitcher Travis Cliburn had a pretty good start. In his first appearance as a starter this season, the senior right-hander flirted with a no-hitter and kept St. Amant’s hitters off balance to help his team take a 7-2 victory in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A baseball tournament … Continue reading →

U-High’s Manny Miles throws no-hitter

Photo by Jim Jim Hudelson -- University Lab's pitcher (5) Manny Miles on the mound during their victory against Calvary in the Class 2A state baseball semifinals Friday, May 10, 2013, at Warhawk Field.

MONROE — University High pitcher Manny Miles said his father, LSU football coach Les Miles, only saw three of his games before Friday’s Class 2A semifinal against top-seeded Calvary Baptist. With spring football over, the LSU coach made the trip to Monroe, along with his wife, Kathy, and daughter, Macy, and Manny made sure to … Continue reading →

E.D. White blanks Brusly in 3A semis

Photo by KIRK MECHE/The (Lake Charles) American PressScott Szush of E.D. White pitches against Brusly on Friday in Sulphur.

SULPHUR — After years of knocking at the door, E.D. White is back in the state championship game. The second-seeded Cardinals beat 11th-seeded Brusly 4-0 Friday night in the semifinals of the Class 3A state baseball playoffs. “We’re not accepting anything less than being here,” E.D. White coach Shane Trosclair said. “We’re here and … Continue reading →

5A tournament to play two quarterfinals, semis Saturday

NEW ORLEANS — Rain, rain go away. Come back after Sunday. It’s a theme dozens of high school baseball players shared Friday afternoon as area showers transformed the LHSAA Class 5A baseball tournament at Tulane’s Turchin Stadium into a soggy situation. If the remaining teams are lucky, the nursery rhyme might allow the … Continue reading →

Two-of-three series coming to 5A tournament next season

Let’s play two. Heck, let’s play three. That’s the way it’s going to be next spring when the second and third rounds of the Class 5A baseball tournament become two-out-of-three affairs rather than single elimination as has been the case in all other classes and, for that matter, most other LHSAA … Continue reading →

Family Christian beats Maurepas in Class C semfinals

Photo by KIRK MECHE/The (Lake Charles) American Press.M.J. Frazier of Family Christian pitches against Maurepas on Friday in Sulphur.

SULPHUR — Top-seeded Family Christian set the tone early and never wavered despite a five-hour rain delay. The Flames notched a 10-0 five-inning victory over District 6C rival Maurepas in Friday’s Class C semifinal action at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s State Baseball Tournament at McMurry Park. M.J. Frazier tossed a one-hitter … Continue reading →

Catholic downs Sulphur

Advocate staff photo by SCOTT THRELKELD -- Catholic's Charles Soileau, left, celebrates a run scored by Bo Branch, center, on a two-run triple by Corey Free in the sixth inning against Sulphur in the Class 5A state baseball tournament Friday at Tulane's Turchin Stadium.

NEW ORLEANS — Two months ago, Catholic High had an 8-8 record, showcasing little resemblance to a high school baseball team two victories from a Class 5A state title. Those early wins and just as many losses, though, helped teammates get to know each other and later, learn to depend on each other. It showed during Friday … Continue reading →

Corey Merrill pitches Lutcher past Tioga

SULPHUR — A solo home run by Tioga’s Dylan Roy ended Corey Merrill’s bid for a no-hitter in the top of the seventh inning. But Merrill and Lutcher both got what they ultimately wanted — a berth in the Class 4A title game. Merrill, a Tulane signee, tossed a two-hitter and struck out nine … Continue reading →

Parkview, Brusly face intriguing options

Advocate staff photo by APRIL BUFFINGTON -- Parkview's Blake Ballard hits the ball as Walker's catcher Anthony Sunde prepares to catch during Tuesday's game held at Parkview.   Photo shot on Tuesday March 12, 2013, in Baton Rouge, La.. MAGS OUT / INTERNET OUT/ONLINE OUT/NO SALES/TV OUT/FOREIGN OUT/ LOUISIANA BUSINESS INC./GREATER BATON ROUGE BUSINESS REPORT/225/10/12/IN REGISTER/LBI CUSTOM PUBLICATIONS/  Full contract in place

Test your knowledge with this multiple choice question about Baton Rouge’s two Class 3A baseball semifinalists, Brusly High and Parkview Baptist. Which of the following statements is true? A. Brusly was the last school to beat Parkview to win a district baseball title. B. PBS designated hitter Chris Dupont is the nephew of BHS … Continue reading →

U-High facing defending champion

University High’s baseball team has assembled a glittering résumé with a District 7-2A championship and a school record for number of wins. In order to truly leave a legacy as the school’s most accomplished team, however, the Cubs must go where no other team in school history has gone before and that’s to win a Class 2A … Continue reading →

At Barbe, ‘B’ stands for bunting

As the 2012 Class 5A State Baseball Tournament gets underway Friday at Tulane’s Turchin Stadium, the state’s coaches are working on their strategies. Some are hoping to figure out a way to beat the rain that is predicted to drench some of the action. And they’re all trying to figure out how to beat Barbe. Continue reading →

Central Private looks to clinch MAIS title

Will it be one game or two? Central Private School’s quest for the Mississippi Association of Independent Schools’ Class 2A Overall baseball title continues at Marshall Academy located in Holly Springs, Miss. CPS (28-4) leads the best-of-three series 1-0 going into a 5 p.m. Friday game at Marshall (21-12). Another win would give the Rebels their … Continue reading →

Sulphur field of dreams for 4 classes

Sulphur’s Frasch Park has long been the destination for softball teams seeking state titles. But for 16 baseball teams, including six with ties to the Baton Rouge area, Sulphur’s McMurry Park and its artificial turf fields are the fields of dreams for Louisiana High School Athletic Association teams from four classifications. The LHSAA’s State Tournament for … Continue reading →

Zachary coach says 2013 team shattered mold of past teams

Advocate staff photo by JOHN OUBREZachary baseball coach Jesse Cassard: 'About two weeks ago I took them (Zachary players) to the side and told them I was sorry. I realized I spent most of the year trying to make them something they weren’t.'

Jesse Cassard has used plenty motivational ploys during his seven years as baseball coach at Zachary High. Cassard said the apology he gave the Broncos right before the Class 5A playoffs began was anything but a ploy. “About two weeks ago I took them (Zachary players) to the side and told them I was sorry,” Cassard said. … Continue reading →

More to Catholic, St. Amant than their rankings

Advocate staff photo by CATHERINE THRELKELDSt. Amant coach Troy Templet

Baseball coaches are notoriously famous for their devotion to numbers. Now that statistics are just an iPad click or a smart phone app away, it’s easier to access batting averages and any other percentage possible. There are exceptions, and two Baton Rouge area Class 5A high schools, Catholic High and St. Amant High, provide an excellent case … Continue reading →

Lutcher in state tourney for first time

Advocate staff photo by PATRICK DENNIS.  Lutcher pitcher Jared Poche (9) warms up in the second inning in a 3-2 win over St. Michael Thursday in Baton Rouge.

Over the past 20 years, baseball has become more of a specialized sport in which youngsters often chase individual goals and dreams. One dream — that of bringing an elusive state baseball title home — has united a Lutcher High team that will make history by appearing in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A State … Continue reading →