A Late Rally in Waco
The Southwest Regional Tournament opened its latest edition in Waco, Texas, where Louisiana’s Ascension Parish baseball squad stepped onto the diamond facing Arkansas’ Junior Deputy. The early going suggested a tightly contested match, but the Louisiana team quickly found themselves on the back foot.
A 2-0 hole loomed at the bottom of the fourth inning, yet the parish’s hitters refused to surrender. Cohen Leblanc ignited the comeback with a towering fly ball that cleared the center‑field fence, shifting momentum in their favor.
Moments later, Trace Haydel delivered an RBI single that halved the deficit, bringing the score to 2‑1 and sparking a surge of confidence among the Louisiana batters.
The decisive blow came when Cooper Suire executed a well‑placed bunt. The ensuing throw went awry, allowing two runs to cross the plate and giving Ascension Parish a 3‑2 lead that they would never relinquish.
From that point onward the parish’s defense tightened, and their offense kept the pressure on, eventually pulling away to an 8‑2 final tally. The victory not only secured the team’s first tournament win but also propelled them into the winner’s bracket.
Next up, Ascension Parish will meet the champion of the New Mexico‑Mississippi matchup on August 7 at 1 p.m., a contest that will be streamed live on ESPN+. The stakes are high, and the Louisiana fans are already buzzing with anticipation.