Today is the start of SEC play in baseball, but it’s a somber mood around the LSU baseball program. That’s because the wife of legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman, Sandy Bertman, has passed away at the age of 87. Skip and Sandy were married for 63 years and she right there with him when he led LSU to five national championships in the 1990s.

Tiger Rag Editor Glen Guilbau wrote the official biography of Skip Bertman called “Everything Matters in Baseball, and Guilbeau says Sandy took after her husband in many ways….

Cut 8 (10) “…to be around”

Skip and Sandy met in Miami in 1961 as they were both teaching at the same school. After a short courtship, the couple got married in 1962 and they went on to raise four daughters and they have four grandchildren.

Sunday is Selection Sunday and ESPN Women’s college basketball bracketologist Charlie Crème has LSU as a three-seed, which means the Lady Tigers will host the first two rounds in Baton Rouge. They were a three-seed when they won the national championship two years ago. Crème says LSU’s top three players are as good as anyone in the country…

Cut 14 (11) “…rest of the roster”

The women’s bracket will be released at 7 PM on Sunday. The men’s bracket will be released at 6 PM on Sunday. ESPN projects McNeese as a 12-seed in the Indianapolis Regional, playing Ole Miss.

At the boys basketball tournament…Plainview won its first state championship since 1964 by beating Pleasant Hill 58 to 54.

Tonight…Vinton seeks its first state title as the Lions face the Franklin Hornets. The Hornets are trying to repeat as division four non-select state champs. Tip off is at 6 pM.