Latest news with #DeQuincy
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Poised champ, Lavergne locks up fourth consecutive state title with strong bounce-back ride
DeQuincy senior Wyatt Lavergne clinched his fourth consecutive saddle bronc riding state championship on Friday, May 30, 2025, with a 75-point ride in the second-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) The first-go round Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum was a rare miss for DeQuincy's Wyatt Lavergne, but the seasoned cowboy was unfazed. He turned in one of his best rides of the season Friday in the second-go round and locked up his fourth consecutive saddle bronco riding state championship. 'It is a blessing to say (I have won four state championships),' Lavergne said. 'I don't know how many people have done it. I am sure there are a few. I am definitely proud of what I have accomplished.' He scored a 75-point ride Friday morning in the first session of the second-go round. 'I thought I did everything I could do with the stock that I drew,' Lavergne said. 'It was fun, and I had a good time.' In four trips to the state finals, Thursday's miss was Lavergne's first at the state rodeo, but his experience showed Friday. It was the eighth time in 11 rounds at the state rodeo that he scored more than 70 points. 'I knew what I did wrong,' Lavergne said. 'I just needed to go full throttle (Friday) morning and give it everything I had, and it ended up working out. 'I knew what I could do. I knew it didn't set me back yesterday. It was just a mental thing. I just had to overcome that challenge and forget about it. If you keep looking at the rear view you are going to run into something.' Rosepine's Austin James was the lone saddle bronc rider scheduled for the evening session. Even if James tops Lavergne's 75-point ride, the eight points for second place would give Lavergne 97 points and an insurmountable 34-point lead. The top 15 in each event will compete in the short-go round at 5 p.m. Saturday. The top four in each event qualify for the National High School Finals Rodeo in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 13-19. First-go round Jeff Davis cowboy Cale Carpenter won the first round of steer wrestling with a stunning sub- 4-second time of 3.56 seconds on Thursday. Welsh High School's Wyatt Sonnier teamed up with Teddie Austin Guynn to win the opening round of team roping at 7.64 seconds and 0.15 seconds ahead of Stratton James and Gus Dorris. Sonnier and Guynn moved up to fourth place in the standings. In tie down roping on Thursday, Cougar Racca, the 2023 state champion, edged Cruz Melancon for the top time of the day at 8.41 seconds. Melancon posted a time of 8.57 seconds. The battle for the breakaway roping title remains tight after the first round. Kensley Mudge (Magnolia Bend Academy) and Jillian Fontenot (Beau Chene) lead with 41 points each, and Caroline Fontenot (Beau Chene, 36.1) and Saige (Sulphur, 36) Martin and Faith Dubois (34.5) were not far behind.
American Press
31-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
PHOTO GALLERY: Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo first-go round evening performance
Sulphur cowboy Bryer Prince won scored a 69 point ride in the second-go round of bareback riding at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) DeQuincy's Ty Lavergne had a 46 and 69 point ride in the first two rounds of the Louisiana High School FInals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. The LHSFR will close today with the short-go round at 5 p.m. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Welsh High School's Campbell Leblanc rounds the second barrel Thursday night during the second-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Cougar Racca won the first-go round on Thurday in tie down roping with a time of 8.41 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowboy Cale Carpenter won the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 3.56 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Kinder High School's Cheyanne Jennings placed eight in the first-go round of breakaway roping with a time of 11.49 seconds on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Ava Nunez rounds a barrel during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. Nunez's time was 15.828 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Barbe's Shelbi Barker rounds the second barrel during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Kenzie King placed seventh in the first-go round of barrel racing with a time of 15.664 seconds on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Cruz Melanson of Vinton had the second fastest time (8.57 seconds) during tie down roping first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Emma Nunez was fifth in the breakaway roping first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.55 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Alex Poole was fourth in the breakaway roping first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Sulphur's's Saige Martin ropes a calf first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Ava Nunez ropes a calf in the first-go round on Thursday with a time of 2.35 seconds at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Sulphur's Williams Gunter cowboy placed fourth the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 6.43 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bell City's Jadon Leonard placed second in the steer wrestling first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on THursday at the Burton Coliseum with a time of 4.03 seconds. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Barbe's Ella Kay gets ready to tie a goat during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Makayla Stelly chase down a goat during the first-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Kacey Prince ties up a goat during the first-go round of the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Cruz Melanson and Abbey Anderson chase after a calf during the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Bill Odell lides up the calf for heeler Tucker Wright during the team roping first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Trevor Trahan and K.J. Rideaux posted a time of 17.07 seconds on Thursday in the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Trevor Trahan and K.J. Rideaux posted a time of 17.07 seconds on Thursday in the team roping first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Jeff Davis Home School cowgirl Kenzie King placed fifth (20.998 seconds) in the pole bending first-go round at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo on Thursday at Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Lacssine cowgirl Lydia Touchet weaves through the poles during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Welsh cowgirl Campbell Leblanc weaves through the poles during the first-go round on Thursday at the Louisiana High School Finals Rodeo at the Burton Coliseum. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
American Press
15-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Oak Grove wins fifth consecutive title, blanks Welsh in finals
Welsh pitcher Ethan Beard tags Oak Grove's Jenson Hurley after he tried to score on a passed ball in the bottom of the third inning of the Non-select Division IV state championship game on Wednesday at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) SULPHUR – No. 2 Welsh had their chances Wednesday in the Non-select Division IV state championship game at McMurry Park but couldn't close the gap as No. 1 Oak Grove won 10-0 in six innings to win its fifth consecutive state championship. It was Welsh's first state championship game appearance since 2018 and third in program history. 'I am super proud of this group,' Hayes said. 'The seniors have been through a lot. 'They made it to three straight quarterfinals, and it had never been done before. This is tied for the best season in school history, the runner-up. They have a lot to be proud of.' Welsh (23-11) was coming off an emotional extra-inning win over No. 3 DeQuincy Tuesday night and got some base runners early. Nick Gillett and Grant Haydel hit back-to-back singles in the top of the second inning, and Ethan Beard and Dane Iguess opened the third inning with back-to-back hits. The Greyhounds were able to move the runners into scoring position, but failed to score each time. Welsh trailed just 3-0 at that point but couldn't get a runner past second in the final three innings. 'We competed against a very good Oak Grove team,' Hayes said. 'It didn't go our way. 'I feel like we hit the ball with them. The hits were six to seven. I think that we just ran out of some magic. Yesterday was a special game. We just ran out of juice today.' Oak Grove's (18-12) Jackson Bradley was named the game MVP after pitching a complete game and driving in two runs on a double in the third inning. Tanner Duff, who had the walk-off hit in the 12th inning to beat DeQuincy in the 2023 state championship game, opened the scoring with a towering solo home run to left-center field in the bottom of the first inning. Gaige Neal hit a two-run double in the second inning, and the Tigers added three runs on errors in the fifth inning.
American Press
14-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Iguess gets walk off hit, Greyhounds advance to finals
Welsh's Dane Iguess got a walk off hit Tuesday to give the Greyounds a 7-6 win over DeQuincy in eight innings in the Non-select Division IV semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) SULPHUR – Welsh senior Dane Iguess battled through illness on Tuesday in the Non-select Division IV semifinals, but he stayed in the game and got a walk-off hit to send the Greyhounds to the state championship game at the LHSAA state baseball tournament at McMurry Park. With one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, Iguess hit a line drive to center field to bring home Grant Haydel, and the No. 2 Greyhounds (23-10) defeated No. 3 DeQuincy (24-12) 7-6. Iguess started the mound and pitched six innings before being relieved. He had to be checked out more than once. He finished with three strikeouts and two walks and allowed three earned runs on seven hits. 'People that were here saw him throwing up his stuff, and he battled through it,' Welsh head coach Caleb Hayes said. 'I think adrenaline, just the moment, and he battled through it. 'He could hardly walk after the game. He's just the ultimate competitor. Just so proud of him and the team for the fight tonight.' Iguess came up big in the seventh inning as well. The Greyhounds were down 5-4 with one out when Iguess singled. He moved to second on Casey Cormier's sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored the tying run on Brecken Haydel's hit to right field. 'I mean, it's never over,' Hayes said. 'I feel like when they took the lead in the seventh, we were kind of hanging our heads. But we got six seniors that kind of took the fight and said, it's not over.' Welsh sophomore Cohen Fontenot's single tied the game at 6-6 with no outs. Welsh will play four-time defending state champion No. 1 Oak Grove in the finals at 2 p.m. today. It is the Greyhounds' first final since falling to Loreauville 12-5 in 2018. 'We're playing the juggernauts, Oak Grove, who are looking to win their fifth straight,' Hayes said. 'It's going to be another freaking battle. We're going to go to war and see what happens.' Welsh looked in control after scoring twice in the fifth inning on a walk and an error to take a 4-1 lead, but Grand Lake rallied twice to take a one-run lead. Andrew Dowden hit a two-run double for a 5-4 lead with two outs in the top of the seventh inning. Dowden went 2 for 4 with two doubles and three RBI. DeQuincy out hit Welsh 11-7, but committed three errors and gave the Greyhounds six extra base runners on walks. Carson Rainwater started on the mound for the Tigers and pitched 6 2/3 innings before being relieved by Grant Rainwater, who ended up taking the loss, with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Rainwater struck out six batters and walked four. DHS 000 012 21 – 6-11-3 WHS 020 020 12 – 7-7-2 PITCHING: W – Cohen Cormier (2ip, 4h, 3er, 0k, 2bb). L – Grant Rainwater (.1ip, 0h, 2er, 0k, 2bb). TOP HITTERS: DeQuincy – Noah Pettifield 2-4 (2 runs), Andrew Dowden 2-4 (3 RBI, 2 doubles). Welsh – Dane Iguess 2-5 (run, RBI), Brecken Haydel 1-3 (2 RBI). RECORDS: DeQuincy – 24-12. Welsh – 23-10. Baseball State tournament At McMurry Park in Sulphur Championship Best-of-3 series Non-select Division I No. 1 Live Oak (32-6) vs. No. 11 Sam Houston (35-7), Thursday 5:30 p.m., Friday 5:30 p.m., Saturday 5:30 p.m. (if necessary) Division II No. 1 Brusly (35-5) vs. No. 2 North DeSoto (27-13), 2 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division III No. 1 Sterlington (33-8) vs. No. 2 Erath (25-11), 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday (if necessary) Select Division I No. 1 Catholic-Baton Rouge (35-5) vs No. 3 Brother Martin (31-7), 5:30 p.m. Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division II No. 1 Teurlings Catholic (32-4) vs. No. 7 E.D. White (23-18), 2 p.m. Thursday, 2 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday (if necessary) Division III No. 2 University Lab (27-9) vs. No. 4 Catholic-New Iberia (24-11), 11 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. Saturday (if necessary) Single elimination Semifinals Non-select Division IV No. 1 Oak Grove 4, No. 4 Mangham 2 No. 2 Welsh 7, No. 3 DeQuincy 6, 8 inns. Select Division IV No. 12 Ouachita Christian 12, No. 1 Covenant Christian 7 No. 2 Vermilion Catholic 9, No. 11 Riverside Academy 8 Class B No. 1 Pitkin 4, No. 4 Hicks 1 No. 3 Family Community 6, No. 2 Weston 2 Class C No. 4 Ebarb 18, No. 1 Family Christian 8, 6 inns. No. 2 Harrisonburg 15, No. 3 Maurepas 10 Finals Non-select Division IV, No. 1 Oak Grove (17-12) vs. No. 2 Welsh (23-10), 2 p.m. Wednesday Select Division IV, No. 2 Vermilion Catholic (24-7) vs. No. 12 Ouachita Christian (18-15), 2 p.m. Wednesday Class B, No. 1 Pitkin (22-7) vs. No. 3 Family Community (23-12), 11 a.m. Wednesday Class C, No. 2 Harrisonburg (18-2) vs. No. 4 Ebarb (15-10), 11 a.m. Wednesday
American Press
13-05-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Title shot on line for Welsh, DeQuincy
DeQuincy's Turner Rodriguez drove in two runs on May 8, 2025, in the Tigers' 10-0 win over Vinton in the Non-select Division IV quarterfinals at DeQuincy High School. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press) Welsh and DeQuincy know a thing or two about each other. They have been district rivals off and on for years, met in the quarterfinals in 2023 and battled earlier this season. But today's matchup will be on the big stage of the state baseball tournament in Sulphur. 'It's kind of cool having two local teams battling out,' Welsh head coach Caleb Hayes said. 'We're familiar with each other, them being in our same district for a couple of years. 'They're familiar with us. We're familiar with them. It's going to be a battle, and that's what the semifinals are supposed to be.' No. 2 Welsh (22-10) and No. 3 DeQuincy (24-11) will play in the Non-select Division IV semifinals at 5:30 p.m. today. DeQuincy has won four of the last five meetings, including the 2023 quarterfinal game and earlier this season. It was a close game until the Tigers scored four runs in the sixth inning and won 7-3. In past years, teams usually got at least one day of rest before playing in the championship game. Now that the larger divisions (I, II, III) went to best-of-three series for championships, the schedule changed for the smaller schools with semifinals and finals on back-to-back days. Both coaches said they plan to hold nothing back as they try to advance to the title game at 2 p.m. Wednesday. No. 1 Oak Grove (16-12), the four-time defending state champion, plays No. 4 Mangham (14-15) in the other semifinal game. 'You have to play to win this game,' Carlson said. 'You can't really hold anybody back. 'There is no point in worrying about the next opponent unless you get there. You have to go all in on this game. That is why you play a lot of games. I think both teams have enough pitching to play back-to-back days.' Both teams have deep pitching staffs, but each has relied on its ace in the postseason. DeQuincy's Carson Rainwater has pitched two shutouts with 16 strikeouts and three walks, while Welsh's Dane Iguess has allowed three runs in 12 innings with 24 strikeouts and five walks. 'We're not going to save any pitching or anything like that,' Hayes said. 'We're going to put our best guys up there, try to get the semifinal win, and then if we have to, we'll piece together that final game with the rest of our staff, which I think we have a pretty good staff as far as just Division IV.' DeQuincy last played in the final in 2023 when it lost to Oak Grove 11-10 in 12 innings. Each team has a strong senior group, but the Tigers have the experience edge as Carson Rainwater, Andrew Dowden, Diron Valentine, Royer, Hext, Turner Rodrigues will play in their third consecutive semifinal game. 'Hopefully our experience will pay off,' Carlson said. 'This year, we are a little better at hitting the ball than we have been. 'Pitching is roughly the same, so that has been pretty consistent. It seems like this year, we are a little deeper in hitting and deeper at pitching.' Welsh lost to Loreauville 12-5 in the 2A final in 2018 and hasn't played at the state tournament since 2019. 'We're the new dogs,' Hayes said. 'All three teams, even on the other side of the bracket, they've all been there the last couple of years. 'It's going to be a challenge for us to handle that environment and just do the best we can with it, and just not make the moment too big. At the end of the day, it's just another game of baseball.'
