Bearcats named honorable mention
Justin Szymanski (left), JR Tollett (right), and Nick Robinson made all-state honorable mention after leading the Bearcats on the baseball field this spring. Photos by Bret H. McCormick
The Louisiana Sports Writers Association named a trio of Bearcats to the Class 5A All-State baseball team after productive seasons on the diamond.
Nick Robinson, Justin Szymanski, and JR Tollett were all named all- state honorable mention by the LSWA, sending off the graduating seniors into their collegiate baseball futures with one last honor.
Szymanski, a commit to South Arkansas Community College, hit .344 with a team-best 28 RBIs and team-leading 2 home runs for the Bearcats.
Tollett, a University of Louisiana- Lafayette commit, made the most of his opportunity by hitting .357 with 23 RBIs overall, including a .438 average in district play, as the Bearcats’ starting third baseman.
On the mound, Robinson turned into Ruston’s southpaw ace in his senior season with a 1.80 ERA and team-high 58 1/3 innings and 43 strikeouts.
Robinson will attend Grambling State University and will join the Tigers’ baseball team as a preferred walk-on.
Ruston baseball coach Zack Smith was pleased to see three seniors go out with one last award for their efforts.
“Very proud of those guys and this honor of being all-state honorable mention,” Smith said. “For all of them, it shows how much work they put in and how much they invested in the game. And now for all three of them, they will go on to play collegiately and I’m excited to watch them and see their success going forward.”
The LSWA named Barbe’s Donovan LaSalle Class 5A Outstanding Player of the Year after leading the Buccaneers to their 12th state championship. Lasalle, an Oklahoma State commit, hit .510 with 43 RBIs and 10 HRs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the Division I Non-select state championship game over West Monroe.
Kenny Goodlet of Jesuit won Class 5A Coach of the Year after leading the program to its second state title in the last three seasons.
St. Amant’s Addison Jackson was named LSWA Class 5A Outstanding Player of the Year for softball.
Jackson, a Boston College signee, went 32-2 with a 0.93 ERA and 288 strikeouts as a pitcher and hit .521 with 28 home runs and 75 RBIs at the plate.
Katie Prescott of Live Oak was named Class 5A Coach of the Year.
