Matt Vines
Local softball players flood respective coaches all-state teams
Four players each from North DeSoto, Logansport and Stanley high schools have been selected to their respective Louisiana Softball Coaches Association All-State teams.
North DeSoto was represented by infielders Maddy Stringer and Mia Norwood, pitcher Laney Johnson, and catcher Payton Miller on the Class 4A team.
For Logansport, pitcher Avery Creech, infielder Mack Smith, infielder Kennedi Smith and infielder Ainsley Morvan were picked to the Class 1A team.
Stanley put pitcher Paige Campbell, catcher Jade Jones and infielders Riley Palmer and Madeline Castillo on the Class B team.
North DeSoto played for its fourth straight state title, falling just short in the championship game.
Stanley put together a magical season for its first state championship appearance since 2017, ultimately falling to Quitman.
Logansport advanced to Sulphur and made it to the semifinals of the Division IV Non-Select playoffs, finishing with a 24-8 record.
Mansfield, Logansport participate in tri-team Spring Game
The Mansfield football program hosted a tri-team Spring Game with Logansport and Red River to put an exclamation mark on spring practice.
No scores were kept, but with Mansfield and Logansport each winning at least one playoff game with Red River appearing to be an up-and-coming program, the three teams challenged each other in the final on-field competition until fall scrimmages.
Logansport advanced to the semifinals of the Division IV Non-Select playoffs while Mansfield won a first-round playoff game in one of its best seasons in recent history.
Logansport football releases 2024 schedule
Logansport football has been synonymous with deep playoff runs in the past decade, and its tough regular-season schedule has been one foundation upon which those playoff runs are built.
The 2024 slate offers more of the same.
The Tigers kick off the regular season against Many before rolling through non-district play with Loyola, Bossier, Peabody and Kinder.
Logansport opens District 3-1A play with St. Mary’s before welcoming new member Lakeview.
The schedule finishes with Montgomery, LaSalle and Northwood-Lena.
Mansfield boys assistant takes Ruston girls assistant position
Mansfield boys basketball assistant coach Shalaya O’Neal has accepted an assistant position with the Ruston High girls.
O’Neal announced the move on her Facebook page, which Mansfield High head boys coach Reginald Williams echoed.
“When I first got hired at Mansfield, I already knew who I was calling FIRST,” Williams wrote. “This woman is one of the BEST coaches, on and off the court, that I’ve been around.”