Tollett, three other Bearcats honored on LSWA Class 5A All-State team
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Ruston High sophomore JR Tollett was named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State first team after compiling a 9-2 record.
Barbe swept the LHSAA’s Class 5A baseball and softball Class 5A state championships, and completed another double play by producing the Most Valuable Player on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All State teams.
Pitchers Halie Pappion and Jack Walker are the softball and baseball Outstanding Player award winners, respectively.
Ruston High School was well-represented on the Class 5A team. Four players were honored by the LSWA, including sophomore right hander JR Tollett making the first team as a utility player. Tollett went 9-2 on the mound this past season. Also on the team are Bearcats Jack Whitaker, Josh Miller, and Isaac White on the honorable mention list.
Papillon, a junior, was a two-way star for the Bucs, leading the team to a 31-2 season with a 1.49 ERA and 192 strikeouts in 131 innings pitched the circle while batting .406 with nine home runs.
Walker, a senior and Mississippi State signee, was perfect on the mound for the Bucs, going 13-0 with a 0.48 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.
Coaches of the Year honorees are Jerry Godfrey of John Curtis for softball and Barbe’s Glenn Cecchini for baseball.
Godfrey led the Patriots to the Division I state championship. John Curtis finished their 24-4 season with a 7-0 win over Mt. Carmel in the state final, earning its 11th softball championship.
Patriot outfielder Seirra Sacco (.589) is a first team selection.
Joining Pappion from Barbe on the first team is outfielder Nyjah Fontenot (.535 BA, 11 HRs, 61 RBI, 53 runs, 32 steals).
Cecchini led Barbe to its 11th title as well, matching its best-ever season record at 39-2, including a No. 1 national ranking. Barbe beat West Monroe 5-0 in the state final, capping a playoff run that featured seven straight wins in which the Bucs allowed a total of five runs.
In a 1-0 semifinal win over Sam Houston, Walker and fellow first team selection Gavin Guidry of SHHS combined on an 11-inning no-hitter.
First baseball J.C. Vanek (.384, 18 RBI, 7 steals) is the third Barbe first team player.
Division I champion Jesuit produced a trio of first team picks in pitcher Holden Hess (6-1, 0.92 ERA), catcher Zach Casebonne (.391, 2 HR, 35 RBI) and outfielder Tripp Haddad (.431, 3 HR, 46 RBI).
