LSU has won 14 in a row heading into Saturday night’s Super Regional series match-up with Mississippi State. The Tigers have scored 10 or more runs in half of those games. Former LSU-All American and ESPN college baseball analyst Ben McDonald says the key for Mississippi State is no free passes to LSU hitters…
cut 19 (13) “….kinds of things”
Alex Lange will start game one for LSU, Jared Poche will start game two and Eric Walker is the game three starter. Sophomore lefty Konnor Pilkington starts for State on Saturday night and Coach Paul Mainieri says the Tigers have great respect for him….
cut 20 (15) “….of him”
First pitch is at 8 PM.

Tickets for the general public to the Baton Rouge Super Regional between LSU and Mississippi State sold out in less than 30 minutes Friday morning, but fans still have the option of using the secondary ticket market. StubHub spokesperson Johnna Hoff says normally they don’t see this kind of interest for college baseball…:
CUT 13 (10) “grabbing up those tickets”

Anyone can fish without a license Saturday and Sunday. State Wildlife and Fisheries Outreach Biologist Alayna McGarry says Free Fishing Weekend is about encouraging folks to get hooked on fishing…:
cut 4 (10) “the public”
Visit wlf.la.gov for more information on where to fish.

LSU and Mississippi State practice this afternoon at Alex Box Stadium in advance of their Super Regional Series that starts tomorrow night at 8 PM. State has one of the best hitters in college baseball. Brent Rooker is hitting .395 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs. Former Tigers All-American and ESPN college baseball analyst Ben McDonald says LSU pitchers will have to make some quality pitches against him….
cut 18 (21) “…kind of mistakes”
Rooker had seven hits in three games against LSU earlier this season. LSU brings a 14-game winning streak into play this weekend, while the Bulldogs have won four in a row.

Saints defensive tackle Nick Fairley is seeking a third opinion from a doctor after one heart specialist said he should end his football career. Fairley has been playing with an enlarged heart during his entire NFL career, which began in 2011. A doctor who evaluated him this offseason, saw that his condition has worsened. Coach Sean Payton says Fairely had a third examination this week and they are  waiting on the results.

The Saints will have a three-day minicamp beginning on Tuesday. And weather permitting the practices will be open to the public at the team’s training facility. And it’s also been announced that the Saints will have joint preseason practices with the Los Angeles Chargers in California before their August 20th preseason game. New Orleans will also practice with the Texans in Metairie prior to their August 26th exhibition game.

Back to college baseball…Former Louisiana Tech head coach Greg Goff has interviewed for the vacant ULM head coaching job. That’s according to the News-Star. The Monroe newspaper also reports Louisiana Tech hitting coach Jerry Zulli is leaving for the same job at Alabama.

We’ll find out today who LSU plans to pitch in Game One of the Super Regional Series against Mississippi State. The Bulldogs have already announced a starter. Sophomore left-hander Konner Pilkington will pitch on Saturday. Former LSU pitcher and now college baseball analyst Ben McDonald says Pilkington is the real deal…:
Cut 17 (17) “can do”
The first two games of the best of three will start at 8pm tomorrow and Sunday.

The All-America honors have begun rolling in for LSU ahead of the Baton Rouge Super Regional. Outfielder Greg Deichmann was named a first team All-American by Baseball America. Pitcher Alex Lange was named to the publication’s second team.

Elsewhere, Ragin’ Cajun relief pitcher Wyatt Marks was named a first team All-American. Louisiana Tech pitcher Nate Harris rounded out the state’s representatives on the All-America teams.

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton confirmed Thursday that defensive tackle Nick Fairley is dealing with a heart issue that threatens his NFL career. The DT is awaiting a third medical opinion. Payton told NewOrleansSaints.com that’s what they are waiting on…:
CUT 25 (12) “talkin about”
He says Fairley has to have full confidence that continuing to play won’t make matters worse.

Meanwhile The Black and Gold are expected to hold joint practices with the Los Angeles Chargers before their August 20th preseason match up in L.A. New Orleans is also expected to hold joint practices in Metairie with the Houston Texans prior to the their preseason contest of the season on August 26th.

The Monroe News-Star is reporting that Greg Goff, formerly of Louisiana Tech and Alabama, has interviewed for the vacant baseball job at ULM. Goff was fired by The Crimson Tide amid allegations he violated NCAA rules.

Andy Cannizaro returns to Baton Rouge this weekend as he leads Mississippi State in the Super Regional series against LSU. Cannizaro was Tigers hitting coach and recruiting coordinator for two seasons, before taking the head coaching job at Mississippi State. He wishes the LSU players the best, but it’s his job to beat them this weekend…
cut 18 (18) “….sometime”
Game one of the Super Regional series is Saturday night.

The Monroe-News Star reports former Louisiana Tech head coach Greg Goff has interviewed for the vacant head coaching job at ULM. Goff was fired at Alabama after just one season in Tuscaloosa.

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton says defensive tackle Nick Fairley is waiting on a third opinion from a heart specialist. One physician told the 29-year-old to stop playing football, because of a heart condition he’s had throughout his six-year professional career. Payton says he’s hopeful that Fairly will be with the Saints in 2017, but the d-lineman has to have full confidence that continuing to play won’t make matters worse.

24-7 sports says LSU’s 2018 football recruiting class is the third best in the nation. The Tigers added a 17th commitment last night when East Ascension offensive tackle Cameron Wire gave his verbal pledge to the Tigers. Wire is the third offensive lineman that’s committed for the 2018 class.

Former LSU golfer David Toms would like to see a Champions Tour event in Louisiana. Toms says a tournament for pro golfers over the age of 50 could rotate around to several different courses like University Club in Baton Rouge or Squire Creek in Choudrant.

Mississippi State is considered the underdog in this weekend’s Super Regional Series against the LSU Tigers. But the Bulldogs are confident after winning the Hattiesburg Regional. Head Coach Andy Cannizaro….
cut 17 (20) “…like our chances”
Cannizaro says sophomore left-hander Konnor Pilkington will start on the mound for the Bulldogs. Pilkington is 8-5 with a 3.56 ERA. LSU Coach Paul Mainieri has not named a starting pitcher for Game 1. That will likely happen tomorrow after Mainieri meets with reporters following the team’s Friday afternoon workout.

The numbers are out on Saints rookie cornerback Marshon Lattimore’s contract. The 11th overall pick signed a four-year deal worth 15-million dollars and he gets a nine-million dollar signing bonus. The contract also calls for a fifth-year option, which is standard for first-round picks. Offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk remains the only draft pick that has yet to sign.

Saints running back Adrian Peterson believes he can play until he’s 37 or 38 years old. He’s 32-years-old now.

Former LSU assistant and current Mississippi State Head Coach Andy Cannizaro says his team knows what it will take to beat the Tigers in this weekend’s Super Regional series. LSU swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series last month and Cannziaro believes his club has more confidence this time around..:
Cut 16 (25) “of play”
The action begins at The Box Saturday night at 8pm.

LSU pitcher Eric Walker, third baseman Josh Smith and centerfielder Zach Watson received Freshman All-America recognition Wednesday from Collegiate Baseball magazine.

Fans can buy ticket books for the Super Regional beginning at 8am this morning, though they are limited and a sell out is anticipated quickly.

Big surprise out of Oklahoma. Bob Stoops has announced he is retiring as head football coach. He said in a statement that after 18 years as the leader of the Sooners program, this decision is not health related but he just felt the timing was perfect to hand over the reins. Stoops will leave as the winningest coach in OU Sooner history with 190 wins. Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley is set to take over as head coach.

The LSU football team landed a big verbal commitment from an offensive tackle Wednesday. East Ascension High’s Cameron Wire pledged to the Tigers in a Tweet. In the 2017 class, Wire is ranked as the 23rd-best player in the state, according to 247Sports.com.

Former Airline High School star O.J. Smith announced he plans to transfer from Alabama. The redshirt junior defensive tackle out of Bossier City said he decided to open up recruiting.

The Saints announce their minicamp practices from June 13th to 15th will be open to the public at the team’s training facility in Metairie.

In the NBA Finals, the Warriors rallied last night to beat the Cavs 118-113 and Golden State is now 3-0.

For the second time this season, LSU and Mississippi State will take on each other with a lot on the line. The Tigers swept the Bulldogs in a three-game series to finish off the regular season. During the weekend in Starkville, the Tigers clinched an SEC West championship and an SEC Title. Coach Paul Mainieri says what happened in May shouldn’t impact what happens this weekend….
Cut 18 (18) “trophy case”
1998 was the only other time that these two teams have met in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers beat the Bulldogs in the College World Series 10 to 8 that year. Game one of the Super Regional series is Saturday at 8 PM.

Some shocking news in college football today, at the age of 56, Oklahoma Head Coach Bob Stoops announced his retirment effectively and 33-year-old offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley will take over. Stoops says health is not the reason he’s stepping down. He just believes the timing was right for Riley to take over the program.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron says outside linebacker Arden Key has returned to the football program, but he’s not yet healthy after undergoing surgery on his shoulder last week. Coach Ed Orgeron says it’s too early to tell if Key will be ready for fall camp.

Game times have been set for three more Louisiana Tech football games this season. Tech’s conference opener at Western Kentucky will kickoff at 6 PM on September 16th. The Bulldogs-Southern Miss game in Ruston will kick-off at 6 PM on October 21st and Tech’s home contest versus Lane Kiffin and Florida Atlantic on November 11th will begin at 2:30 PM.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri says there is no ill will towards Mississippi State and Andy Cannizaro. Cannizaro was the Tigers hitting coach the last two seasons, but bolted for the Bulldogs head coaching job last November….
cut 17 (10) “…Mississippi State”
LSU and Mississippi State begin their Super Regional Series on Saturday night at Alex Box Stadium. First baseman Nick Coomes status for the series remains a question mark. The junior injured his thumb in last weekend’s Regional and missed two games.

Elsewhere…South Carolina baseball coach Chad Holbrook has resigned after the Gamecocks failed to make the NCAA Tournament this past season with a record of 35-25. 38-year-old Tony Vitello (VIE-tell-oh) is the new head coach at Tennessee. The St. Louis native has spent the past four seasons as the top assistant at Arkansas.

Oklahoma is once again champions in college softball. The Sooners completed a sweep of the Florida Gators to claim their second straight Women’s College World Series title.

One of the best rivalries in college baseball writes an exciting new chapter this weekend as LSU meets Mississippi State in the Super Regionals. There’s added intrigue, because former Tigers hitting coach and recruiting coordinator Andy Cannizaro is the head coach of the Bulldogs. But LSU skipper Paul Mainieri says all eyes are on Omaha:
Cut 16 (15) “to win”
Members of the team showed reporters Tuesday the wallpaper on their phones which feature pictures of the Coastal Carolina team dog piling at The Box during of sweep of the Tigers in the Super Regionals last year. Shortstop Kramer Robertson says those losses are big motivator in getting to Omaha this year…:
Cut 19 (12) “happen again”

After a disappointing showing from its offense last season, New Orleans Pelicans announced Tuesday that a new assistant to Alvin Gentry has joined the staff. Chris Finch helped the Nuggets garner the league’s best offensive rating after the All-Star break.

The LSU football team has picked up a a huge commitment from 2019 receiver Kenyon Jackson of Georgia, who tweeted the news himself. Though not yet ranked by major recruiting sites, Jackson already had offers from major schools like Florida, Florida State and Georgia.

Tigers Coach Ed Orgeron says Arden Key’s health is now the obstacle that the All-American is back with the team. Coach O said Key had shoulder surgery last week, and his status for the summer and preseason camp isn’t clear.

ESPN reports Cincinnati Bengals rookie Joe Mixon plans to work out with Saints running back Adrian Peterson in Houston this summer. The two both played their college ball at Oklahoma, and became acquainted while Mixon was in school.

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, a Sulpher native, told the Talk of Fame Sports Network that he plans to pursue a PhD in psychology. He already has a master’s in workforce leadership from Mississippi State.

It will be LSU versus Mississippi State in the Super Regionals this weekend in Baton Rouge. The winner advances to the College World Series. Just over two weeks ago, the Tigers swept the Bulldogs in the final regular season series of the year. Coach Paul Mainieri does not believe those games will have an impact on what will happen in the Super Regionals….
cut 30 (21) “…this weekend”
The Super Regional will begin on Saturday at 8 PM in Alex Box Stadium. Game Two is set for 8 PM on Sunday and Game 3 will be played on Monday at a to be determined time. Mainieri said he is not ready to discuss his pitching plans.

The Pelicans have announced the hiring of Chris Finch. He was previously an assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets last season. And before that, he spent five seasons with the Houston Rockets coaching staff. Finch will have a big role in trying to help the Pelicans offense flourish with two big men who demand the ball in Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins.