The past met the present on Monday when Weston High School opened their baseball season opener in grand style by dominating Downsville 21-0 at the Jackson Parish Recreation Department Sports Complex (JPRD) Before the contest head coach Joey Kemp and team recognized members of the 1977, ’82, ’83 and ’84 state championship teams by introducing them to the crowd and presenting them with a commemorative shirt and game ball. 

“We’re trying to bring a culture back inside the program, ” says Kemp. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been successful here. Back to back quarterfinals, that’s not the standard. The standard is trying to get to Sulphur. Bringing those guys back to interact with the new kids means a lot for our guys.”

To view the video clip shot by Chris Demirdjian of KTVE-10 and aired on the Monday, February 20th, 10:00 news edition and also posted on the myarklamiss.com website, click here.

Ranked #9 in the pre-season Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association Class B poll, The Wolves gave notice that they are ready for the 2023 campaign through the complete 2 1/2 inning dismantling of Downsville. The Wolves opened the contest by pounding out 15 hits, that included six doubles and two home runs, and plating 10 runs in the first inning followed by 11 more in the second. 

Drew Browning led the offensive onslaught with three hits, including a pair of doubles, knocking in four runs and scoring three. Braden Theriot (2B, RBI, 2RS), Cooper Delaney (2B, RBI, RS) and Blaine Graham (3RBI, 3RS) collected two hits apiece and both Colton Blundell and Sawyer Watkins slapped three run home runs. Beau Oliver, Cole Tolar, Tait Henderson and Layton Garrett also got hits for the Wolves while Bryce Zehr and Jacob Gill added an RBI each. Delaney and Garrett also combined to no-hit the Demons in the shortened contest, striking out 6 of the ten batters faced. 

Next up is an all Jackson Parish battle as the Wolves take on Jonesboro-Hodge in the Tigers season opener under the direction of first year head coach Zach Cheatwood. Game time is set for 5:00pm at the JPRD Sport Complex located at 5254 Hwy 4 , just east of Jonesboro. 

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
Downsville (0-1)	0	0	0	0	0	1
Weston (1-0)	10	11	x	21	15	0

Photos courtesy of Sasse Lynn Photography

DWC silences Wolverines bats 

In a pre season scrimmage and two jamboree games this past weekend, QHS had trouble scoring runs. That problem continued in the season opener on Monday at D’Arbonne Woods in Farmerville as the Wolverines managed only three singles in the 5-0 loss to the #4 ranked team in Division III among “non-select” schools. 

Over the first three innings Ian Tilley held the DWC offense in check allowing two hits and striking out two. Hayden Davis did the same in the fourth but a walk, triple and a sacrifice fly gave D’Arbonne a 2-0 advantage. Cam Deal came on in relief in the fifth but DWC added three more to the total after two hit batters and two singles and an error. Tilley, Deal and Jake Potts got the only hits for Quitman with Tilley, Kace West and Hudson Pullig drawing walks

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Quitman (0-1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	1
DWC (1-0)	0	0	0	0	2	3	x	5	5	3

Lady Wolves overwhelmed in opener

Ten hits that included back to back home runs, four walks and three errors led to 15 second inning runs, propelling Class 2A D’Arbonne Woods to a three inning, 22-0 skunking of Weston in the Lady Wolves season opener. Final stats showed D’Arbonne Woods collecting 14 hits and being recipient of 8 walks and 9 Weston errors. Carly Jo Griffin and Jacie Ledford got hits for Weston, with Faith Beamesderfer, Emma Kate McBride and Raelynn Shell reaching base after getting hit by pitches. Carlynn Waters was saddled with the loss. 

TEAM	1	2	3	R	H	E
D’Arbonne Woods (1-0)	3	15	4	22	14	0
Weston (0-1)	0	0	0	0	2	9

Quitman girls gang up on Glenbrook 

The preseason prognosis for Quitman was that they would feature one of the top pitchers in the state and be bolstered by a loaded offensive attack. It didn’t take long for the promise to come to fruition. With Cali Deal striking out 16 in six innings of one hit ball and the powerful offense pounding out 14 hits and seeing every batter reach base at least once, Quitman cruised to the 14-2 season opening victory over homestanding Glenbrook.

Deal was also impressive at the plate collecting three hits that included a home run and a double while knocking in a pair and scoring a run. Maggie Guyotte also swung a big bat with 3 hits,3 RBI and 3 runs scored as did Marley Bell who finished with 3 hits,3 runs scored and 2 RBI. Maggie “Big Bopper” Brymer drove in three with a double and single while scoring once and Madison Chaplin got a pair of singles, scored twice, drove in a run and stole a base. Averi Williams got the final hit and scored a run while Karlee Huckabee scored twice and stole two bases after drawing a walk and getting hit by a pitch. Madison Vail (RS, SB) and Skylar Hall (RBI) reached base twice each via walks to round out the attack that saw 23 batters reach base in all. 

TEAM	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Quitman (1-0)	0	3	2	0	0	4	5	14	14	1
Glenbrook (0-1)	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	2	1