Ascension Athletics for June 1, 2017 – The Advocate

Kade Keowen selected head coach for Spartan baseball

The East Ascension High School Spartans have a new baseball coach, but hes far from new when it comes to playing and coaching the sport. Kade Keowen takes over the helm as head baseball coach for the 2017-18 season. He's currently the assistant baseball coach at LSU at Eunice.

East Ascensions Principal Traci McCorkle was more than pleased by the number of qualified applicants vying for the head coach position. I feel fortunate to have found Coach Keowen, who we believe will be a fantastic addition to our school and our baseball program. We welcome him and his wife to our Spartan family and to our community," McCorkle said. "We know he will have a tremendous amount of support from our Forever Spartans, and we are looking forward to future successes."

Keowen has spent the past four years on the diamond at LSU-E and helped lead the Bengals to their fifth National Junior College Athletic Association national championship. His role at LSU-E was instructing the hitting aspect, coaching the outfielders and developing base running skills. Keowen also had a hand in the recruiting program.

Before taking a role in the collegiate ranks with the Bengals, Keowen held assistant coach stints at Denham Springs and Central high schools. He also held the head coach position at False River Academy.

Keowen graduated from Central High School and played collegiate baseball at LSU and LSU-E. In 2007, he was picked in the ninth round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Boston Red Sox. Keowens stint lasted three seasons in the Red Sox organization, then he played one year with the Sussex Skyhawks, of the Can-Am Independent League.

Theres excitement in the air for both the Spartans and the Keowen family as a new journey begins. "My wife, Katelyn, and I are excited to be joining the Spartan Family. The rich baseball tradition, outstanding academics and tremendous community support were all factors in my wanting to become the next head baseball coach at East Ascension High School," Keowen said. "I look forward to meeting with the players and getting this train rolling!"

Keowen wont start officially until August, but he will begin working with the Spartans this summer.

St. Amants three-peat as a sports standout, Briggs Bourgeois took honors as the Boys Athlete of the Year award at The Advocates Athlete of the Year/Star of Stars banquet May 23.

Bourgeois signed with Southern Mississippi football as a kicker and punter while having the kind of year most athletes would dream about. He had a hand in leading the Gators to the quarterfinals in football. His abilities on the soccer field accomplished the same feat for the first time 2011. Bourgeois was chosen as the All-Metro MVP in soccer, and he earned all-state honors in football and soccer. Bourgeois also helped the baseball team make the playoffs.

As Boys Athlete of the Year, Bourgeois' stats were impressive. He helped St. Amants football team advance to the 5A quarterfinals for the first time since the 1990s with 66 catches for 836 yards and 13 touchdowns as a receiver. He averaged 40 yards per punt and made 13 of 15 field goals.

Bourgeois also earned All-Metro football honors as a receiver and a kicker and Class 5A all-state as a kicker. Bourgeois was the All-Metro MVP for Divisions I-II in soccer. He led the Gators to the soccer quarterfinals with 24 goals and 21 assists and was the MVP of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association all-star game. In baseball, Bourgeois played center field, batted .316 and scored 31 runs as a leadoff hitter.

The Gators Taylor Tidwell was a finalist in the Girls Athlete of the Year selections. The St. Amant junior doubled up in All-Metro honors in 2016-17. The LSU softball commitment was an All-Metro and Louisiana Volleyball Coaches Association all-state choice in volleyball with 417 kills, 23 aces, 380 assists, 197 digs and 64 blocks. She also was the Division I, District 4 MVP in volleyball, helping the Gators advance to the Division I semifinals.

Tidwells play on the diamond helped lead the Gators softball team to the Class 5A quarterfinals while playing shortstop. She batted .393 with nine home runs, 44 RBIs and 50 runs to earn All-Metro and 5A all-state honors from the LSWA.

In individual boys honors by sport, senior Sage Nugent took the crown in wrestling. In 2017, Nugent took double honors as the prolific wrestler won city and Division I state titles at 182 pounds for the Gators. Sage finished his senior season with a record of 48-3 and wrapped up his career with a 148-28 mark.

Bourgeois easily wrapped up the individual honor in soccer as he won All-Metro MVP honors for Divisions I-II. Bourgeois also helped to lead the Gators to the Division I quarterfinals with 24 goals and 21 assists. The four-time All-Metro choice earned all-state honors three times.

Ascension Catholic Highs junior Nick Milano took the honors in powerlifting. Milano lead the Bulldogs to a third place finish in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state championships by winning the Division V 132-pound weight class with a total lift of 925 pounds. That total included a Division V record-setting bench press of 230 pounds.

Senior Trey Kauffman, of the Dutchtown Griffins, took top honors in bowling. Kauffman won 27 of 31 matches in his senior year and helped the Griffins advance to the LHSAA semifinals with a season average of knocking down 217 pins per game.

In baseball, senior Blayne Enlow took top honors with his pitching for St. Amant High. The Gators ace pitched five complete games in 11 starts, giving up just 10 earned runs for an ERA of 1.01 and struck out 101 in 69.2 innings. Just to add a little icing on the cake, Enlow made the USA Baseball team and picked up a win in the Pan American Games that help the team on its way to winning the gold medal.

East Ascension High School senior Mackenzie Westmoreland took the top honor in gymnastics. Westmoreland placed third in all-around competition at the LHSAA state meet. As the Spartans' top gymnast all season long, Westmorelands 37.600 total for that meet included a first-place finish on the balance beam.

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Ascension Athletics for June 1, 2017 - The Advocate