Four Baseball Champions Crowned On Final Day of LHSAA Championships

NON-SELECT DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 2 Barbe 10, No. 1 West Monroe 4

Donovan LaSalle launched the grand slam heard around southwest Louisiana Saturday night to help Barbe rally back from three runs down to clinch the Non-Select Division I state title over West Monroe, 10-4.

The victory gave Barbe its 12th state baseball championship in school history and third title in five seasons.

“Each player contributed immensely tonight,” said Barbe head coach Glenn Cecchini. “Despite rotating through three pitchers, they all executed flawlessly, showcasing the depth of our team.

The No. 1 Rebels looked to have the game in hand up until the top of the final inning as starting pitcher Drew Ferguson was relieved with one out and the bases loaded. The Buccaneers took advantage of the reliever as a hit-by-pitch brought the No. 2 seed to within two runs of the lead.

On the next at-bat LaSalle lifted the four-bagger over the left field sending the Barbe fanbase into a frenzy as the lead was regained by a 6-4 margin. From there, the Bucs piled it on with four additional runs to make it a six-run ballgame.

“We stuck to our mantra: play the game, not the score,” said Cecchini. “It paid off and in the final inning, we demonstrated our offensive prowess, scoring an impressive nine runs.”

Closing pitcher John Alexander took the win as he finished out the game for Barbe by tossing the final 2.2 frames and allowing no runs on three hits with one strikeout. Starting pitcher Jon Vanek worked the first 3.1 innings with three runs allowed on four hits while Seth Hebert tossed an inning in relief.

West Monroe’s Brennan Eager took the loss after surrendering four runs off of three hits during the Buccaneers’ comeback. Ferguson’s final numbers were 6.1 innings of work with two earned runs scored off of seven hits with two strikeouts.

Barbe tallied 12 hits with LaSalle, Vanek, Kasen Bellard and Owen Galt all turning in multi-hit efforts. LaSalle’s four-RBIs were the most by a Barbe Buc in the game.

NON-SELECT DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 7 Iowa 4, No. 8 Lakeshore 0

Tyler Dartez’s complete game and a hot-hitting offense delivered the one-two punch that Iowa High School needed to deliver the school its first state baseball championship since 2007.

It’s the second time in program history that the Yellow Jackets have won a championship after having lost in their prior two appearances in 2012 and 2017.

Cole Corbello heated the bats early with a two-out single in the bottom of the first frame that plated two runs. The third inning saw the Yellow Jacket score two more runs highlighted by Tyler Dartez’s RBI-single to make it a four-run lead that eventually held until the final out.

Dartez took the win for Iowa after completing the complete game shutout, allowing only four hits and two walks. The Yellow Jackets scattered eight hits with three different batters collecting multiple-hit efforts.

Owen Guth took the loss for Lakeshore after working the first 1.2 frames and allowing two unearned runs to score off of two hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Four different Titan batters were credited with a hit.

SELECT DIVISION I STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 2 Jesuit 1, No. 13 Archbishop Rummel 0

Jesuit added to a state-best championship collection Saturday afternoon after pitching a 1-0 shutout over Archbishop Rummel for the Select Division I state title.

The Blue Jays earned their 22nd championship, the most in Louisiana history, and second since 2021.

Both teams endured a pitcher’s duel but it was Jesuit who received the eventual game-winning run from Patrick Berrigan’s RBI-single.

William Good pitched six innings of scoreless baseball to pick up the victory Saturday afternoon allowing no runs and just four hits while striking out six batters. Gates Barre closed the game in relief with no runs and no hits in the final frame.

Despite an excellent effort on the mound, Rummel’s Brady Schmidt was charged the loss after surrendering one run on five hits along with six strikeouts in six innings of work.

Jesuit led the game with five total hits and was led by Hunter Oufnac’s 2-for-2 batting performance along with a walk.

SELECT DIVISION II STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 2 E.D. White 6, No. 5 Vandebilt Catholic 2

For the first time in 22 years, E.D. White laid claimed to a state baseball championship with a 6-2 victory over Vandebilt Catholic in Saturday’s Select Division II title game.

The Cardinals collected their sixth overall state championship in school history and first since 2001 after taking a 1-0 lead in the first followed by a four-run barrage that cushioned the score.

Brendan Gaubert’s single in the bottom of the fifth helped to snap the tie but it was Tyler Weimer’s two-RBI double that upped the lead to a 4-1 score. An additional run was plated to close out the frame all but putting away the win. E.D. White score an insurance run in the sixth inning that would eventually lead to a 6-2 final score.

Luke Falgoust earned the victory on the hill after lasting four innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out three. Gaubert finished the game in relief with there innings worked and only one run allowed while leading the team with two hits, two RBIs and a run scored.

Vandebilt Catholic’s John Wade was charged with the loss having surrendered four runs on two hits in four innings, striking out two.