Through their demonstration of class and honor, despite losing their first two contests of the Dixie Boys 13U State Baseball Tournament, the Jackson Parish 13U All-Stars came home with the Sportsmanship Trophy. 

Were it not for Jefferson Parish West hitting three triples in four at bats in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-3 “walk-off” victory the locals would have had the chance to bring home more. 

The Sportmanship Award was well deserved. JP13U lost their first game against Jefferson Parish East in the worst way, a 15-0 skunking. Often times you see young teenagers respond badly to such a beating but the locals kept their heads up, refocused and returned to battle once again. And battle they did. 

With Gunner Fontenot throwing blanks over the first two innings, JP13U broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third by pushing three runs across with two outs. Brody Halbrook led off by getting hit by a pitch. The very next pitch it was Remi Upshaw doing the hitting as he hit a single over first base. A one-out single to left field by Zach Smudricks loaded the bases. Holbrook put the locals on top by stealing home while the two other baserunners also moved up a bag. Fontenot then followed by smashing a double to left field that scored both Upshaw and Smudricks.

Jackson Parish had a chance to add to what was now a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth fter JPW pitching allowed walks to Braydon Robinson, Halbrook and Upshaw but a double play and a ground out wiped out any possible threat.  

Smudricks led the seven hit offensive effort by JP13U with two hits and a run scored followed by Fontenot with one hit and two RBI. Upshaw reached twice with a single and a walk while also scoring a run as did Halbrook, who reached base via a walk. Cail King, Kyptin Caskey and Rodney Williams all got a hit each and Robinson walked twice. Will Dupree didn’t get a hit but contributed by making several nice defensive plays.