A pitcher in the transfer portal that many fans hoped would go to LSU, is instead is heading to Wake Forest. Chase Burns was a strikeout pitcher at Tennessee the last two seasons and has decided to join the Demon Deacons, who are known for developing pitchers.

Don’t listen to those rumors that former LSU Coach Ed Orgeron might be interested in coaching at Northwestern University. The Wildcats are looking for a new coach after firing Pat Fitzgerald because of a hazing scandal. Orgeron told the Advocate he’s enjoying his time away from coaching and doesn’t plan on coaching again.

The SEC has given Commissioner Greg Sankey a contract extension that will extend through 2028. Sankey helped lure Texas and Oklahoma to the SEC, but still needs to get the league to agree on a long-term scheduling format in football. He’ll discuss the future of the conference when he speaks at next week’s SEC Media Days.

LSU’s Angel Reese won the ESPY last night for Best Breakthrough Athlete. In her first season at LSU, Reese helped the Lady Tigers win their first national championship and she became an overnight sensation as a result of her play in the Final Four and she does not plan on stopping…
cut 16 (09) “…cheers”
Reese’s Instagram followers have gone from 100-thousand to over two million.

There is some sad news to report involving the LSU women’s basketball team. Former All-SEC women’s basketball player Danielle Ballard has died at the age of 29 after she was hit by a car at an intersection in Memphis during the overnight hours. The five-foot-nine guard averaged 12 points and seven rebounds during her career from 2012 to 2015.

LSU Women’s Basketball star Angel Reese has won yet another national award picking up an ESPY on Wednesday for Best Breakthrough athlete. Reese led LSU to its first national title and set the NCAA record for double-doubles in a season. She won the award over Caitlin Clark, Brock Purdy and Julio Rodriguez.

The LSU Baseball team had been chasing ace pitcher Chase Burns, but he announced on Wednesday that he’ll be transferring instead from Tennessee to Wake Forest. Burns, a likely top-10 pick in the 2024 MLB Draft, entered the transfer portal on June 27.

Right handed pitcher Christian Little said Wednesday he will delay the start of a professional career to return to the LSU Baseball Program.

The New Orleans Pelicans continue play tonight in the Summer League. They’ll be taking on the Charlotte Bobcats in Vegas with a 6:30pm tipoff. The Pels are 2-1.

The All State Sugar Bowl has come up with a creative way to kick off the college football season, in the form of a concert over Labor Day weekend. And it’s first headliner on September 2nd? Garth Brooks.
Cut 3 (32) “I’m Brooke Thorington”

The New Orleans Saints are getting ready to host one of the more anticipated training camp slates in some time, and fans now know when they’ll get their first look at the 2023 roster. The first open practice will be held on July 28, with Saints fans getting their first look at Derek Carr and several other key additions.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara agrees to a plea deal with prosecutors in Nevada and has pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of breach of peace for his involvement in a 2022 fight in Las Vegas.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

Pelicans star Zion Williamson opened up about his struggles in an interview on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast. The 23-year-old forward says he just wants to hoop as injuries have limited to 114 games in four NBA seasons. Williamson also admits it’s been difficult for him to eat healthy, but he’s putting people around him with wisdom.

LSU set a school record with 13 players drafted during the 20-round Major League Baseball Draft. Seven players went in the second round. The Orioles took pitchers Blake Money and Riley Cooper and the Dodgers took shortstop Jordan Thompson and left hander pitcher Javen Coleman. Nate Ackenhausen was not drafted and is expected to return to LSU.

Athletic events are now required to have an AED thanks to a bill from Baton Rouge Senator Cleo Fields. He says he’d been working on the “Jump Start Your Heart” legislation prior to the collapse of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin in January during the Cincinnati Bengals game. He says the incident only highlighted the need for AEDs and CPR training.
Cut 18 (10) “…nation.”
The state legislature also appropriated funding for schools to purchase the A-E-Ds and schools are also required to have an action plan.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara has pleaded no contest to misdemeanor charges stemming from a fight that took place in a Las Vegas hotel in 2022. As part of the plea deal, Kamara must perform community service and pay over $100,000 to the victim, Darnell Greene, for medical bills. Host of the Locked-On Saints Podcast Ross Jackson says Kamara avoided jail time…
Cut 10 (10) “…Alvin Kamara.”
Now we wait to see if the NFL will suspend Kamara for multiple games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. No timetable on when a ruling will be passed down. Jackson says if discipline is issued, Kamara can appeal…
cut 12 (09) “….even longer”
Training camp begins July 25th and the season opener is September 10th versus the Titans.

Thirteen, a school record number of LSU Tigers were taken in the Major League Baseball Draft that concluded yesterday. Garrett Edwards, Blake Money, Christian Little, Braden Jobert, Riley Cooper, Javen Coleman and Jordan Thompson were among the Tigers selected yesterday.

Alex Milazzo, Hayden Travinski and Nate Ackenhausen were not drafted. Ack is expected to pitch for the Tigers next season.

The state’s top overall prospect, Sulphur left-hander Jake Brown was drafted in the 16th round by the Texas Rangers, but he’s expected to go to college.

In the 14th round, the Houston Astros selected Cajuns right-hander Jackson Nezuh. He led the Sun Belt in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.

In the 11th round, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted McNeese All-American pitcher Grant Rogers. The two-time Southland Pitcher of the Year was 12 and 1 last season with an ERA of 1.82.

The Pelicans improved to 2-and-1 in Summer League action with an 82-73 win over the Phoenix Suns.

Saints running back Alvin Kamara pleaded no contest to a lesser misdemeanor charge of breach of peace for an incident that took place in Las Vegas in 2022. Kamara along with three others pleaded not guilty to initial felony and misdemeanor charges of conspiracy to commit battery and substantial bodily harm and faced a trial set for July 31st. With the amended plea deal, Kamara will have to complete 30 hours of community service and pay over $100,000 to the victim, Darnell Greene, for past due medical expenses. Kamara also will be fined $500. Greene’s attorney Tony Buzbee announced the civil suit Kamara faced in Louisiana has also been settled on confidential terms. The NFL is still investigating the incident and the running back is still subject to punishment under the league’s personal-conduct policy. Host of the locked-on Saints podcast Ross Jackson says Kamara will most likely face suspension

Cut 16

Tigers are flying off the board on the final day of the MLB draft. Right-hander Garret Edwards was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 11th round. 

Right-handed pitcher Blake Money was selected by the Orioles in the 12th round.

Outfielder Brayden Jobert was selected in the 12th round by the St. Louis Cardinals The Slidell native made an impact for the Tiger’s offense the past two years, leading the team with three home runs in the CWS.

Left-handed pitcher Riley Cooper will be joining Blake Money in Baltimore after being selected in the 13th round by the Orioles. 

Shortstop Jordan Thompson is homeward bound after being selected in the 15th round by the LA Dodgers. The Cali native has spent three seasons as the starting shortstop for the Tigers with a .260 career batting average. 

Left-hander Javen Coleman will be joining Thompson in LA after being selected in the 16th round with the 490th overall pick by the Dodgers.

McNeese junior starting pitcher Grant Rogers was selected in the 11th round by the Toronto Blue Jays. The 2023 consensus All-American becomes the 20th player to be drafted or signed under skipper Justin Hill.

Cajuns pitcher Jackson Nezuh was selected with the 343rd overall pick in the 14th round by Houston. He becomes the third Cajun to be picked in the MLB draft

Two more LSU Tigers were selected during the second day of the Major League Baseball Draft. In the third round, Tampa Bay took three-year starter Tre Morgan and in the sixth round, the Washington Nationals selected second baseman Gavin Dugas.

In other LSU baseball news, former assistant Terry Rooney is returning as Jay Johnson has hired Rooney as the director of recruiting and player development according to D-1 Baseball dot-com. Rooney was at LSU in 2007 and 2008 and helped build a team that won a national title in 2009.

And LSU is reportedly getting another arm from UCLA. D-1 Baseball reports left-hander Gage Jump is transferring to the Tigers after missing the 2023 season because of Tommy John Surgery. In 2022 Gage was 1-and-1 with two saves and a 3.86 ERA for the Bruins. Last year, Thatcher Hurd transferred from UCLA to LSU.

Ragin Cajuns catcher Julian Brock was selected in the eighth round by the Texas Rangers. Brock hit .315 with a team-high 11 home runs and 65 RBIs last season and was a second-team All Sun Belt pick.

Also in the eighth round, the New York Yankees took ULM pitcher Nicholas Judice. The Baton Rouge product had a 3-and-3 record and two saves with a 3.74 ERA over 53 innings. He struck out 66. Judice is the first Warhawk selected in the first ten rounds since Matt Green was taken in the second round in 2005.

And in the tenth round the Pirates picked Louisiana Tech right-hander Landon Tomkins. This past season, Tomkins was six and two with a 3.62 ERA and struck out 75 in 76.2 innings.

SEC Football Media Days are next week in Nashville. LSU says Coach Brian Kelly will be joined by quarterback Jayden Daniels, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and running back Josh Williams. They will talk with reporters on Monday.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes and his 100-mile-an-hour fastball. Skenes is surprised and humbled…:
CUT 04(09) “…in Pittsburgh.”
Skenes and teammate Dylan Crews are the first high school or college teammates to be selected 1 and 2 in the MLB draft. Crews was taken by the Washington Nationals. The Nats have also selected LSU second baseman Gavin Dugas. He was taken in the sixth round. Former LSU pitchers Cole Henry and Todd Petersen are also in the Nationals organization.

Also drafted today in the third round, the Tamp Bay Rays selected LSU star Tre Morgan.

Ragin Cajuns star outfielder Carson Roccarforte was selected in the second round by the Kansas City Royals.

SEC Football Media Days begin next Monday. LSU announced today that Coach Brian Kelly will be joined by quarterback Jayden Daniels, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and running back Josh Williams. LSU will be joined on day one by Missouri and Texas A-and-M. SEC Football Media Days this year will be held in Nashville.

Former Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon will be inducted into the Conference USA Hall of Fame. Dixon had 87 touchdowns during his career at Tech which spanned 2012 to 15. The 87 TDs are the second most in FBS history.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductee Lee Hedges has passed away at the age of 93. He coached NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport. Hedges also led Captain Shreve to its lone state championship in 1973.

The Pelicans are 1-and-1 in NBA Summer League Action after beating the Warriors 94-86 in Las Vegas last night. New Orleans next game is tomorrow against the Suns.

Paul Skenes is the first LSU player to be selected number one in the Major League Baseball draft since Ben McDonald in 1989. The Pittsburgh Pirates used their top overall pick on Skenes, who features a 100-mile per hour fastball and a wipe out slider
Cut 3 (11) “….this position”
The Washington Nationals selected LSU center fielder Dylan Crews with the second overall pick. Crews says he watched the Nats as a kid as he followed former number one overall pick Bryce Harper…
Cut 5 (11) “…as him.”
It’s the first time high school or college teammates were selected one-two in the Major League Baseball draft.

Rounds three through ten of the Major League Baseball Draft will get underway at 1 PM today. Last night in the second round, the Kansas City Royals took Ragin Cajuns outfielder Carson Roccaforte. Roccaforte had a .325 career batting average in three seasons at U-L Lafayette.

The Royals also took LSU’s top baseball signee, catcher Blake Mitchell, went in the first round with the eighth overall pick.

Legendary Louisiana high school football coach Lee Hedges has passed away at the age of 93. He coached NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport. Hedges also led Captain Shreve to its lone state championship in 1973.

Former Louisiana Tech running back Kenneth Dixon will be inducted into the Conference USA Hall of Fame.

SEC Football Media Days begin next Monday. LSU announced today that Coach Brian Kelly will be joined by quarterback Jayden Daniels, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo and running back Josh Williams.

History was made in last night’s Major League Baseball draft as for the first time two teammates were selected with the first two picks. Pittsburgh selected LSU pitcher Paul Skenes with the first pick and Washington took Tigers center fielder Dylan Crews with the second pick. Skenes 100-mile per hour fastball and wipe out slider could put him in the major leagues soon….
cut 20 (17) “…as soon as possible”
Four LSU Tigers were selected last night. The Cincinnati Reds used the 38th overall pick to take right-handed pitcher Ty Floyd and in the second round the Chicago White Sox selected right-handed pitcher Grant Taylor, who did not pitch this past season because of an injury.

Rounds three through ten of the Major League Baseball Draft will get underway at 1 PM today. Last night in the second round, the Kansas City Royals took Ragin Cajuns outfielder Carson Roccaforte. Roccaforte had a .325 career batting average in three seasons at U-L Lafayette.

The Royals also took LSU’s top baseball signee, catcher Blake Mitchell, went in the first round with the eighth overall pick.

Nicholls baseball coach Mike Silva has a received a contract extension that attempts to keep him in the Colonels dugout through 2029. Silvia just led the Colonels to their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1998.

Legendary Louisiana high school football coach Lee Hedges has passed away at the age of 93. He coached NFL Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport. Hedges also led Captain Shreve to its lone state championship in 1973.

The Pelicans beat the Warriors 94-86 in NBA Summer League Action in Las Vegas. Dyson Daniels had 17 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists. North Carolina State product Dereon Sebron had a team high 25 points. New Orleans is 1-and-1 in the Summer League and will play the Suns tomorrow night.

The Major League Baseball Draft begins Sunday night and two LSU Tigers could be the first two picks, Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes. The Pittsburgh Pirates have the first pick and D-1 Baseball-dot-com’s Kendall Rogers says he would take Crews….
Cut 12 (12) “…day one”
Baseball America Prospect writer Geoff Pontes says the Pirates could probably save some cash and draft high school prospect Max Clark an outfielder from Indiana…
cut 17 (19) “…this draft”
The draft gets underway at 6 PM on Sunday.

The state’s Wildlife and Fisheries Commission approves stricter catch limits on redfish in an effort to reverse the decline on stocks. The new state plan would reduce catch limits from five redfish per day, per angler to three. Also the minimum size allowed would increase from 16 to 18 inches while bull reds would be off limits to anglers. Commissioner Joe McPherson says the changes could go into effect in early December, if an oversight committee of the state legislature does not step in…
cut 8 (12) “…effect”
The plan will undergo a public comment period that will last until October 5th.

The Sun Belt announces that the NFL Network will televise ULM’s season opener against Army on September 2nd. The game is scheduled to kick off at six PM in Monroe.

Former Saints running back Mark Ingram has joined Fox Sports as a college football analyst.