The Bossier Phillies captured their first win in the Louisiana American Legion Baseball state championship tournament on Tuesday, defeating Gulf Coast Bank 29er’s 11‑1 at Fabacher Field in Lafayette. The eight‑team, double‑elimination event will continue through Wednesday, with the championship game scheduled for later in the week.
Every member of the Bossier lineup contributed a hit, underscoring the team’s depth. Starting pitcher Slade Stephens, a rising senior from Benton, limited the opposition to a single hit while striking out two and walking three in three innings. Reliever Bryson Gates followed with two solid innings, surrendering three hits and two walks. Offensively, Northwood’s Nate Cervantes went 2‑for‑4 with a double and an RBI, while Jackson Waller, a 2025 graduate of Glenbrook, smashed a triple and drove in two runs. Cooper Holmes, Cole Snell and Griffin Sibley each added doubles, and Case Jorden, a 2026 Benton graduate, went 1‑for‑1 with three walks.
A Test Against the Saturday Night Winner
Bossier will next face the winner of Saturday night’s showdown between Retief Oil and Crowley Millers on Sunday at 7 p.m., a matchup that could shape the tournament bracket. The team, already two‑time defending Mid‑South champions and last year’s World Series semifinalists, is aiming for a third straight state title. With a deep roster that also includes Landon Martin, Connor Yates and Kennon Greer, the Phillies enter the next round confident in their ability to sustain momentum.
The tournament’s winner will advance to the Mid‑South Regional in Cherryville, North Carolina, scheduled for August 5‑9, where the eight regional champions will ultimately qualify for the national World Series. For Bossier, the path forward is clear: keep the hits coming, protect the mound, and maintain the aggressive approach that has defined their early season.