Weston High School continued to prove they are one of the better “small school” powers in baseball this season by winning two of three contests played in the prestigious Trey Altick LA Prep Classic. 

Named after the former Neville High School baseball player who tragically lost his life in a jet ski accident in 2008, the top early season tourney in north Louisiana pitted dozens of teams from all over the state and all classifications in eight different venues over three days. 

For the Wolves, now 5-4 on the year, the challenge of playing three games in three days against schools from a higher classification was a continuation of the incredibly tough early season schedule gauntlet orchestrated by head coach Joey Kemp. In the nine games played so far, Weston has taken on 3 Division I schools, 3 Division II schools and one each from Division III, IV and V who have a combined 35-22 record. 

To be able to put together a winning record under such circumstances is a strong testament to the depth and quality of team the Wolves have in their attempt to return to the Division V state tournament, where they were a semi-finalist last year. 

Weston 7 Franklin Parish 3 (Thursday): The Wolves jumped out to a 3-0 first inning lead on the strength of singles buy Bryce Zehr, Drew Browning, Colton Blundell and Jase Borders and never looked back in the tourney opener. Weston pounded out 11 hits, with Zehr, Browning, Blundell and Sawyer Watkins getting two hits each and Jacob Gill, Borders, and Ty Henderson each collecting singles. 

Central Private 8 Weston 4 (Friday) Once again, Weston took a 3-0 first inning lead but undefeated Central Private (8-0), out of Baker, LA proved why they are the #2 ranked team in Division IV among “select” schools by rallying to tie the game at 3-3 after four innings and then exploding for five runs in the 5th and 6th inning. The Wolves staggered the premier team in the first when Bryce Zehr coaxed a walk and then scored on what was ruled as double by Drew Browning who hit a smash to left field and then advanced to third on the throw to the plate in an attempt to get Zehr. Cole Tolar then hit a sacrifice fly to right field on the next pitch that scored Browning. Colton Blundell followed with another double, advanced to third on a Jacob Gill groundout and then scored on an error by the catcher. The Wolves scored another run in the top of the 7th when Zehr reached on a fielders choice after Beau Oliver got hit by a pitch to open the frame, took third on Browning’s third hit of the game and scored for the second time on Tolar’s second sac fly RBI.

Weston 5 St. Charles Catholic 4 (Saturday) After seeing a 5-1 lead nearly evaporate and the tying run on base, Drew Browning struck out the SCC batter on a 3-2 count to secure the Wolves second victory of the tourney. Walks to Liam Weaver and Colton Blundell along with  singles by Bryce Zehr and Drew Browning gave the Wolves a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. The lead would grow to 5-0 on at bat later as Weaver and Blundell reached on errors and Zehr, Cole Tolar, and Jacob Gill hit singles. Zehr and Browning led the offense with two hits each while Tolar collected the other Weston rap of the contest.