Ascension Athletics for July 27, 2017 – The Advocate

LA Empire 10-and-under purple wins USSSA World Series

To say that congratulations go out to the LA Empire 10-and-under purple team for winning the USSSA World Series is a bit of an understatement.

The boys competed in Alabama to claim the top bracket championship and won the top bracket of the series featuring 53 other teams.

Coaches Branson Bowen and Clint Ponvelle led the group of 10 boys to a 7-0 record in the tournament. It did it with spectacular defense and incredible hitting. This is how it went down: The team outscored their competition 67-7, had a combined batting average of .458 that included four home runs, and a pitching effort of a combined ERA of 1.3.

The boys competed against teams from Louisiana, Georgia, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Mississippi to win this World Series. The boys persevered and demonstrated the meaning of teamwork by bringing home the gold, even though they have only been playing ball together for six months.

The Empire organization thanked the coaches, family and friends who supported them throughout the season and look forward to their continued support.

The team includes Lawson Bourgeois, Wyatt Buratt, Wyatt Ford, Caleb Gautreau, Easton Humphrey, Easton Jarreau, Mason Leblanc, Reid Mayers, Ryder Molea and Carson Sheets.

Earlier in the tournament, the Gauthier & Amedee Wombats ended the Southland Hogs season by taking a 4-3 victory in an elimination game in the American Legion Baseball state championship tournament played at Mike Miley Stadium in Metairie.

St. Amant starter Dwain Guice pitched six innings to earn the win and gave the mound to Dutchtown right-hander Jack Merrifield in a scoreless seventh. Merrifield capped a two-run sixth by scoring the decisive run on a Southland throwing error to propel the Wombats into a second straight elimination game July 18.

Gauthier & Amedee started things off in the elimination game against Pedal Valve by jumping out to a 4-0 lead. It scored one run in the first and second innings and added two more in the third. The Wombats scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning to take a 5-3 lead into the top of the seventh.

The rally for Pedal started off with a single by right-fielder Evan Keller and a walk to shortstop Justin Ory that was followed by an RBI single to center field with none out.

Zach Cook tied the score by driving in Ory with a run-scoring groundout before a strikeout and a walk to designated hitter Austin Haensel set up Morrow for the game-winner.

The Wombats were retired in order in the bottom half of the seventh on a called third strike, a groundout and fly ball to short. Gauthier & Amedee ended its season 24-6-1.

Schools start is just around the corner and summer is coming to a close, but there is time for the kids to get in some fishing. Two of our long-standing sportsmens organizations hold their annual kids fishing rodeos on the same weekend.

The first, hosted by the East Ascension Sportsmans League, will be held Aug. 5 at Twin Lakes Park in Dutchtown (where La. 74 crosses Interstate 10). The 57th annual Kids Fishing Rodeo is not only the highlight of the year for the well-known conservation group its a highlight for our area.

The kids rodeo is free to all ages 2-14. Everyone is invited and parents or adults who bring kids do not have to be EASL members for their kids to fish. The look of excitement on the faces of kids as they register is worth the price of admission.

Shrieks of excitement will be heard all around the two ponds as a few lucky kids will catch their first fish ever. If someone ever took you fishing or a trip in the outdoors when you were a youngster, this would be a great time to return the favor. We all know a kid or two we could bring for a few hours and create a memory that will last for a lifetime.

You might even know a single mom or two who might enjoy a Saturday off after a long work week. Give her a break for half a day that would be worth a million bucks to her as well as make a world of difference to her kid. It will only cost you a few hours.

Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., and the fishing is from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. You can usually keep a kids attention for two hours. EASL will serve free hot dogs, drinks and jambalaya during the weigh-in while the judges tally the results. Trophies will be awarded immediately after the tally of results to the respective age groups.

After the trophies are awarded, the East Ascension Sportsmans League gives out door prizes, including two bicycles, to several age groups and prize categories so even the little ones can win.

Kids must bring their own rod and reel or cane pole and must use live bait (crickets, worms, etc.) No artificial lures are allowed. EASL will have some crickets available that morning. Kids are allowed to fish with only one rod and reel or cane pole at a time. Parents may help bait the hook and cast, but the kids must land the fish.

Young anglers should keep all fish that are caught, no matter how small (sorry, no turtles or eels). Families should bring a bucket for the fish and a couple of chairs. We also recommend bringing a small ice chest with drinking water for use during rodeo hours. Children must never be left unattended.

The East Ascension Sportsmans League is a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving and properly managing our natural resources for future generations. For more information, call Betty Lambert at (225) 571-4588.

I encourage anyone involved in the outdoors in any way to join the East Ascension Sportsmans League (easlonline.org). The $15 per year is really inexpensive to take part in preserving our outdoor heritage.

The second event of the weekend is the St. James Boat Club annual Junior Choupique Rodeo on Aug. 6 on the Blind River Point and Boat Launch Areas. The Boat Club is located on the corner of U.S. 61 at Scenic Blind River, in St. James Parish just outside Gramercy.

All participants up to age 15, male or female, are eligible to compete in this fishing rodeo, but must be accompanied by an adult or guardian. Fishing starts at 9 a.m. and ends at noon. The registration fee is still only 25 cents. Be sure to get registered before fishing and to get your copy of the rules.

Fishing is limited to the banks of the Blind River Point Area and Boat Launch Areas. At the close of the rodeo, awards will be given to the winners. Ribbons will be given to all participants. Random drawings will be held in each age group for rod and reels at the awards time (winners must be present).

Refreshments will be sold at the Point Area. For more information, call the St. James Boat Club in the morning at (225)869-8966 or Craig Calcagno at (225) 206-2476.

Fishing is from the bank only, in the designated areas, and no boats are allowed. Registered children must weigh in their fish themselves, wearing their ID tag, at the weigh-in station.

The contest is open to fish only. Each child must furnish his or her own tackle and bait (live or artificial) and pole. Everyone practices catch and release after weigh-in, with the weighmaster releasing the fish. Only fish caught by the children may be weighed in. Adults may assist the children fishing only in the 0- to 5-year-old age group.

Adults also may assist children only when having fishing difficulties such as hang-ups, replacing hooks or baits, casting, etc.

Awards will be given for the largest fish and most fish caught in three age groups: 0 to 5, 6 to 10 and 11 to 15. Ribbons will be given to all children registered. Door prizes will be drawn for each age group and winners must be present. Failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification of the participant.

Lyle Johnson, a writer and host of the Ascension Outdoors cable TV show, covers sports and the outdoors for The Ascension Advocate. He can be contacted at reelman@eatel.net or ascension@theadvocate.com.

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Ascension Athletics for July 27, 2017 - The Advocate