After a wild state title game between Barbe and West Monroe in 2023, the two powerhouses met again in Sulphur with the state title on the line.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
West Monroe got on the board with a pair of runs in the second inning after a triple from Isaiah Shivers scored Lytton Arledge for the rest run. Shortly after, Shivers scored on a sacrifice fly from Drew Anderson to make it a 2-0 lead.
In the third, John Pearson, an LSU commit and brother of LSU second baseman Josh Pearson, sent a towering blast to left field to increase the Rebels’ lead to 3-0.
West Monroe got insurance in the sixth, with a run scored on a Barbe error before scoring a second run on a groundout to make it 5-0.
Barbe got some offense going in the sixth with a single before a walk, hit by pitch, and a second walk scored the Bucs’ first run.
In the end, West Monroe overcame Barbe in Sulphur to win the state title one year after the Bucs won it over the Rebels.
BIG NUMBER: 2
In seven innings of work, West Monroe only allowed a pair of base hits to a talented Barbe offense.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Bradyn Cupit
Cupit was dominant on the mound, pitching 5.1 innings with just two hits and five strikeouts. His major flaw was four walks and the run allowed.