NOTE: On October 4th, the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame will enshrine four new members as the Class of 2025 during their annual Induction Banquet that will be held in the Family Life Center of the First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Over the next couple of weeks, the Jackson Parish Journal will celebrate their legacy with a special feature on each. Today’s Edition: Scott Carter

Before retiring last year, Scott Carter, who graduated from Weston High School in 1980, won 643 games over 37 years as a head baseball coach in Louisiana and Texas. Twenty-seven (27) times Carter led his team to the playoffs, with 16 times entering the postseason as a district champion. Four times his squad made the final four in the state tournament, and three times, including twice in Louisiana and once in Texas, his teams won a state title.  

In 27 of his 34 years on the diamond, Carter ended the season being named as District Coach of the Year. Three times he was voted the state Coach of the Year, earning the designation at Sacred Heart High School (Ville Platte) in Louisiana in 1992 and 1993 after winning Class 2A back-to-back state titles and again in Texas in 2017 after leading Class 5A Port Neches-Grove to the school’s first-ever state championship in baseball. A total of 53 players he coached moved on to play college baseball, and 11 more were drafted by Major League Baseball teams.

Yet none of those gaudy statistics had anything to do with Carter being selected to be inducted into the Jackson Parish Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2025, as the by-laws for induction into the local “hallowed hall” are based on what was accomplished while an athlete or coach in Jackson Parish. 

Had Carter never coached a single game, the statistics he compiled while helping Weston High School to a Class C state championship and two runner-up finishes during his five-year playing career were plenty good enough to have him enshrined. 

Carter’s illustrious career at Weston High School began in the 8th grade when after Weston’s All State Catcher, Leaman “Peanut” Stewart, broke his hand catching Class C MVP pitcher Mark Hale, the youthful “backstop” was suddenly thrust into action.

“I was just trying not to get hit by one of his pitches,” reflected Carter laughingly. “he threw the ball so hard that even though I put extra padding in my mitt, I had to soak my hand after every game.”

Despite his youth, Carter was prepared for his opportunity and helped Weston win the state championship in 1977. He credits his father, Sammy Carter, for helping him be ready when his chance came. 

“My dad coached me in Little League from the time I was old enough to play ball,” said Carter. “He taught me how to play the game correctly at an early age, so that when I had my chance in high school, I was ready.” 

By the time Carter was a junior in high school, he had become a most competent catcher, who was not only a stalwart defensively but had developed a cannon arm from behind the dish. More importantly, he had become like a coach on the field. 

“I had a great coach in Mike Staples, who constantly worked with me to understand situations during the game and plan for what could happen,” recalled Carter. “He taught us to think while we were on the field.”

Carter helped Weston be Class C runner-up in 1979 while also earning first team All-District honors as a Catcher and being named to the Class C All-State first team as a Designated Hitter. 

Weston lost to Pineview in the Class C championship game for the second year in a row in 1980, with Carter once again being named first team All-District and earning Class C first team All-State honors, this time as a Catcher after compiling a .441 batting average. 

There is no question over his 37-year career; the “Coach” on the sidelines garnered unquestionably Hall of Fame credentials, but there is also no doubt the “Coach” on the field, as Carter was during his playing days, deserves to be a member of the Class of 2025.