Another LSU baseball season has come to an end as Coastal Carolina completed a two-game sweep of the Tigers with a 4-3 win last night. LSU had plenty of chances to win and force a deciding game three in the Super Regional series. But the Tigers left eight runners on base in the final three innings and 12 for the game. Coach Paul Mainieri on the lack of clutch hitting…
cut 18 (14) “…you that”
Center fielder Jake Fraley says give credit to Coastal Carolina’s pitchers, they made some big pitches at critical times…
cut 19 (15) “….some balls’

The Shreveport Times reports that Louisiana Tech’s Phillip Diehl will forgo his senior season and sign with the Yankees. Diehl was selected in the 27th round by New York after striking out 90 hitters this past season. Bulldog pitchers Adam Atkins and Braden Bristo were also selected. Bristo went in the 23rd round to the Yankees, while the Mets took Atkins in the 18th round.

Big news out of the Southeastern Conference, Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley is stepping down after leading the Gators athletics program for 25 years. During those 25 years, Florida won 27 national championships.

LSU men’s basketball assistant Al Pinkins is leaving the Tigers to pursue another coachign opportunity. Pinkins spent just one season on Coach Johnny Jones’ staff.

Saints safety Roman Harper has posted a personal message on his facebook page. Harper says it was God’s plan for him to return to New Orleans and says he’ll smile and enjoy every second of this journey.

For the third time in five seasons, LSU baseball has seen its season come to an end on its home field. Coastal Carolina’s Michael Paez’s single into left field scored the game winning run in the bottom of the 9th inning handing the Tigers a tough four to three defeat. Coach Paul Mainieri’s team finishes with a record of 45-and-21…:
Cut 17 (18) “gut”
Center fielder Jake Fraley says give credit to Coastal Carolina’s pitchers, they made some big pitches at critical times…:
Cut 19 (15) “some balls”
A majority of this team will return next season.

In MLB draft news from around the state, the Toronto Blue Jays selected ULM baseball pitcher Brayden Bouchey in the 33rd round. Junior right-hander Reagan Bazar was the first UL_Lafayette player selected as he was taken in the 17th round by the San Francisco Giants. Also headed to the pros from the Ragin Cajuns str outfielder Todd Lott and catcher Handsome Monica. Three Louisiana Tech Pitchers were Selected. Seven LSU players were selected Saturday during Day 3 of the draft. Four SLSU pitchers were selected on the draft’s final day.

There’s been a lot of buzz over the weekend about the new policy at LSU saying that opponents’ bands’ can not perform at halftime for football games in Tiger Stadium. They cite safety issues, and say people were injured in separate situations two years ago, and it’s a liability concern. It’s reported that Alabama will only bring a pep band to Death Valley as a result of the new policy, and Jacksonville State, the Tigers’ home opening opponent, said they won’t bring a band at all to the game saying they can’t justify the expense of the travel if they can’t perform at halftime.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri has named Alex Lange as his starting pitcher for Saturday night’s Game one of the Super Regional Series against Coastal Carolina. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran says Lange will face a team that’s hit a whopping 91-home runs, but he says they are more than just a power hitting team…
cut 15 (05) “….pitching staff”
LSU shortstop Kramer Robertson says the Tigers know Coastal is a good team and more than capable of winning this series…
cut 19 (17) “…pretty phenomenal”
Maineri says he would like to start Jared Poche in Game Two on Sunday, but wants to make sure he feels okay after two extended outings in last weekend’s regional.

Southeastern Louisiana baseball star Jameson Fisher has been drafted by the Chicago White Sox. The All-American, who hit .424 this past season, was selected in the fourth round.

Joanna Hardin, who won 79 games as the head softball coach at McNeese State that leaves two years, is leaving the Lake Charles school, as she’s been named the new head coach at Virginia.

A fishing license is not required this weekend if you want to drop a line in a public waterway. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries holds a no fishing license weekend every year in the hopes of attracting new anglers. LDWF biologist Meghan Macmenamin says there’s also several events going on in conjunction with the free recreational fishing days….
cut 4 (09) “…in Cameron”
For more information, go to the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries website.

LSU and Coastal Carolina hold workouts at Alex Box Stadium this afternoon. Coastal is 47-16 on the year, while LSU is 45-and-19 and they’ve made a habit of coming from behind late in games this year. Tigers first baseman Greg Deichmann on why this team always believes it has a chance to win…
cut 18 (15) “…their best”
First pitch for game one is at 8 PM.

LSU center fielder Jake Fraley has been drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays. Fraley was the 77th pick overall. He’s hitting .324 on the year and leads the team with 28 stolen bases.

NFL teams do all they can to avoid offseason injuries, but they still happen. For the Saints it looks like they could be without defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha after he tore an ACL team during an organized team activity.

The Bishops of Louisiana, which oversee Catholic Schools in Louisiana, say they are forming a task force to study the future of high school athletics in this state now that LHSAA principals have voted to keep the expanded public-private championship split in place. The Bishops say this doesn’t mean they have closed the door on LHSAA membership and there’s been no commitment to any one future plan.

Former LSU basketball star Shaquille O’ Neal says he would like his son to play college basketball for Kentucky, not LSU. Shareef O’ Neal is a four-star prospect out of California and he’s six-foot-nine at the age of 16. Shaq told 24-7 sports that he would like his son to create his own path. LSU has offered a scholarship to Shareef who is in the Class of 2018.

Nicholls State basketball has announced they’ve signed a former five star prospect. His name is Roddy Peters and NCAA transfer rules will force him to sit out the upcoming season, but he’ll be eligible for the 2017-18 campaign.

Coastal Carolina has arrived in Baton Rouge for its Super Regional Series against LSU, which begins tomorrow night in Alex Box Stadium. Tigers Coach Paul Mainieri says the Chanticleers are second in the nation in home runs with 91 and they also have some good pitchers…:
Cut 17 (16) “really good”
Coastal Carolina is 47-16 on the year, while LSU is 45-and-19 and they’ve made a habit of coming from behind late in games this year. First pitch is 8pm.

Tiger junior outfielder Jake Fraley heard his name called by the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday in the MLB draft. He was the 77th overall pick coming in the final selection of the Lottery B round which followed the second round. More LSU Tigers are expected to be selected today in rounds 3 through 10.

The Saints defense was delivered another tough blow as it’s reported defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha (Ha-oo-lee kee-ha-ka) suffered a torn ACL during organized team activities. The former second round pick was expected to be one of the team’s pass rushers this season. This is the 3rd time Kikaha had to endure an ACL tear after having two in college.

The Saints held their final OTA of the off-season at their facility Thursday and the main buzz around the practice field was the return of veteran safety Roman Harper. The Saints will now have their biggest off season activity next week with their annual Mini-Camp.

Greg Jackney of Gonzales is dominating in the GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest at Lake Texoma as he weighed in a 20-pound, 2-ounce limit to take the lead. Bassmaster Elite Series competition will resume on Championship Sunday.

The university of Florida is renaming its football field after former coach Steve Spurrier. The change was approved Thursday, to name it Steve Spurrier Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

An up and coming player on the Saints defense could miss the 2016 season. It’s reported that defensive end Hau’oli Kikaha suffered a torn ACL during organized team activities. The former second round pick was expected to be one of the team’s pass rushers this season. Kikaha also suffered two torn ACLs at the University of Washington.

The LSU baseball team worked out today at Alex Box Stadium as they get ready for their Super Regional Series against Coastal Carolina. Coach Paul Mainieri says there’s no overlooking the Chanticleers, because they are not from a Power Five conference…
cut 30 (14) “…100-thousand people”
Mainieri has yet to decide on a starting pitcher for game one.

The LSU Baseball team returns to the practice field this afternoon as they’ll begin a Super Regional series against Coastal Carolina on Saturday night. If a third game is necessary, LSU will be the home team. Previously, a coin flip would determine who would bat last. But a new rule went into effect this year that says the host team will be the home team in a third and deciding game.

UL Lafayette’s Nick Lee has been selected as a Louisville Slugger All-American. The Sun Belt Freshman of the Year was 7-1 with a 3.31 ERA with 75 strikeouts. lt’s the fourth straight year the Cajuns had a member of its squad on the Louisville Slugger Fresman All-American Team.

Louisiana Tech athletics has announced they’ve partnered with a company called Now On that will provide a mobile app for Bulldog and Lady Techster fans. The app wil provide bios on athletes, scoring updates it can also support audio and video broadcasts. The Louisiana Tech app should be available for download in early August.

High school principals voted Wednesday to keep the private-public playoff championship format in place, but not everyone is happy about it and this could result in another association forming. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says it’s his job to make it work, but with five additional playoff brackets in basketball, schools will be in the postseason that didn’t have a very good year:
cut 24 (07) “damn game”
Most private schools are not happy with the LHSAA current playoff format. John Curtis football coach and athletic director, JT Curtis, anticipates the legislature getting involved in this controversy and talks will ramp up about forming another high school sports organization…:
CUT 7 (06) “into that”
Some say if select schools leave the LHSAA, it would be a big blow to the group.

Playoff teams with poor records and another association forming are potential results of the LHSAA principals vote that keeps the expanded public-private school playoff split that was first approved in January. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says it’s his job to make it work, but with five additional playoff brackets in basketball, schools will be in the postseason that didn’t have a very good year…:
cut 4 (07) “damn game”
Most private schools are not happy with the LHSAA current playoff format. John Curtis football coach and athletic director, JT Curtis, says there will only be seven teams in the highest classification bracket for girls basketball and softball…:
Cut 6 (07) “really disappointing”
The legislature will likely get involved in this dispute.

The LSU baseball team is looking at ways they have the best change to beat Coastal Carolina this weekend at The Box in the Baton Rouge Super Regional, with the winner of the best of three series heading to Omaha for the College World Series. The Chanticleers are 47-16 overall and 21-3 in the Big South Conference. The team has won 17 of their last 19 games. First pitch of game one is scheduled for Saturday at 8pm. The game will air on ESPNU.

The Major League baseball draft kick off today, and it’s likely many Louisiana players will be focused on that for the week. The draft ends Saturday and LSU coach Paul Maineri told reporters he’s glad it will be over before they play.

The Sun Belt Conference officially announced Wednesday that it approved a football conference championship game in 2018. They are the final of the FBS conferences to have one.

In the NBA: Former Cavaliers and Hawks General Manager, Danny Ferry, has been hired by the New Orleans Pelicans to be a special adviser.

Baton Rouge Police say it was Madison Prep baseball coach Marvin Mercer who left this 8 month old girl in a hot vehicle for 2 hours. The child died. Mercer is booked with negligent homicide.

The Louisiana High School Athletic Association has voted to keep the split playoffs, which means there will be nine champions crowned in football and starting in the upcoming school year, 12 champions in basketball, baseball and softball. John Curtis Football Coach JT Curtis is disappointed one of the other proposals that sought to cut down on the number of trophies handed out at the end of the season…
cut 30 (15) “…was my hope”
Curtis fears the state legislature will get involved and force the public and private schools to come together again and he believes talks will ramp up on forming a new association.

The Sun Belt Conference announces it will hold its first ever football championship game following the 2018 regular season.

LSU fans are still buzzing about the Greg Deichmann home run in the eighth inning yesterday to help the Tigers beat Rice five to two. Deichmann’s two run-shot went 417 feet, even longtime coach Paul Mainieri was impressed…
cut 20 (16) “…with your team”
Deichmann was named the MVP of the regional.

The Tigers are now getting ready for their super regional series against Coastal Carolina. It will begin Saturday night at 8 PM. The Chanticleers won the Raleigh Regional and the Big South school is 47-16 on the year.

The Pelicans have hired Danny Ferry as a Special Advisor. Ferry last served as the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks.

The LSU Tigers are heading to the Super Regionals after winning the Baton Rouge Regional by beating Rice 5-2. The Most Valuable Player of the Regional was Greg Deichmann, who had three hits on Tuesday, including a monster home run that put the Tigers up 3-2 in the seventh inning….
cut 19 (16) “…swing on it”
Deichmann’s blast went 417 feet.

The Tigers will now get ready to play Coastal Carolina. Coastal scored four runs in the ninth inning yesterday to beat North Carolina State seven to five and win the Raleigh Regional. The Chanticleers are 47-and-16 and out of the Big South Conference. The best of three series begins on Saturday night at 8 PM.

Safety Roman Harper is back with the Saints. The 33-year-old and member of the Saints only Super Bowl team is returning to the Crescent City after spending the last two seasons at Carolina. NFL analyst Mike Detillier says Harper can potentially help a defense that finished 31st in yards allowed per game, but Detillier does not expect him to have a full-time role at this stage in his career…
cut 17 (09) “…in the NFL”
Detillier says Harper will also provide some veteran leadership and help develop second round pick Vonn Bell.

The Sun Belt Conference is expected to announce this afternoon that they’ll hold a conference championshp game in football. They would be the last league in the FBS to do so. ESPN reports the first title game for the Sun Belt could be in 2018.

The Pelicans have hired Danny Ferry as a Special Advisor. Ferry last served as the President of Basketball Operations and General Manager of the Atlanta Hawks.