LSU will play Cal State Fullerton tomorrow in an elimination game at the College World Series. The Titans were stunned by Vanderbilt, who scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Cal State in a game that was started yesterday, but completed today, because of rain. Jeren Kendall hit a walk-off two-run home run to give the Commodores the victory. It’s the first walk-off home run at the College World Series since 2009.

LSU had one of its worst College World Series performances in a 10 to 3 loss to TCU yesterday.
cut 30 (08) “…describe it”
That’s Coach Paul Mainieri, who will send freshman right-hander Alex Lange to the mound tomorrow. LSU is 10-and-0 on the season following a loss. Cal State will send freshman righthander Connor Seabod to the hill. Thsi will be the third ever meeting in the College World Series against the Titans, with Cal-State winning the first two previous meetings.

Former NFL player Darren Sharper pleaded guilty today in an Orleans Parish courtroom to two counts of forcible rape and one count of simple rape. This was the final step in Sharper’s “global plea deal” resolving criminal charges in four states. Legal analyst Tim Meche says it appears Sharper has sealed the deal with authorities…:
CUT 12 (10) “in 10 years”
Sharper has admitted to raping at least nine women in Louisiana, California, Arizona, and Nevada.

The Saints begin a three-day minicamp tomorrow at the team’s training facility in Metairie. Each practice begins at 11 AM and they are open to the public, weather permitting.

And Louisiana Tech announces all 12 of its football games will be televised in 2015, a first for the Bulldog football program. The American Sports Network has decided to televise the four games that were not televised, including the season opener against Southern.

LSU’s first game in the College World Series since 2013 was just plain ugly as the Tigers fell to TCU 10-3 on Sunday. Coach Paul Mainieri says two throwing errors in the fourth inning by starting pitcher Jared Poche was the turning point…
cut 8 (13) “….fourth inning”
LSU ended up committing four errors on the day, had a runner thrown out at the plate and didn’t make much contact against TCU’s starting pitcher Preston Morrison. The Tigers will play an elimination game tomorrow afternoon.

Former NFL player Darren Sharper, who was on the Saints Super Bowl team, admitted in court today to drugging and raping three women in New Orleans in 2013. It’s part of global deal that involved similar charges in California, Arizona and Nevada.

LSU’s latest football commitment comes from a linebacker out of Texas. Erick Fowler is considered a four-star prospect by 24-7 sports as he’s listed at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds. Fowler also had scholarship offers from Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas. The Tigers need linebackers, they’ll only have eight for this upcoming season, because the highly recruited Clifton Garrett has decided to leave the program.

Also, St. Thomas Aquinas defensive back Cameron Dantzler has committed to Mississippi State.

Sulphur High pitcher Kale Breaux has been named Mr. Baseball by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association and Louisiana Farm Bureau. Breaux was 9-and-1 with a 0.75 ERA and had two saves. He has signed to play for Mississippi State.

Mr Baseball in 2011, Aaron Nola, has been promoted to Triple-A by the Philadelphia Phillies. Nola was 7-and-3 with a 1.88 ERA for Double-A Reading.

The LSU Tigers played their worst game of the season in a 10-3 loss to TCU on Sunday in the College World Series. The Bayou Bengals committed four errors, two of them by starting pitcher Jared Poche, who misfired on two throws to first base in the fourth inning that started the rout for TCU…

cut 7 (10) “my fault”

The loss sends LSU into an elimination game on Tuesday afternoon at 2PM where they’ll face the loser between Cal State-Fullerton and Vanderbilt.

Former LSU pitching ace, Aaron Nola, has been promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies’ Triple-A team. Nola made 12 starts for Double-A Reading where he compiled a 7-3 record with an ERA of 1.88. Nola’s first start with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs is likely to come this Thursday.

Nicholls State catcher Christian Correa has signed a deal with the Houston Astros. Correa is the fourth Colonel to join a Major League Baseball team since Tuesday. Senior pitcher Ryan Deemes, junior pitcher Grant Borne, and senior relief pitcher Stuart Holmes were all selected in this year’s Major League Baseball draft.

The Saints have released their training camp schedule. New ORleans will have two joint practices with the New England Patriots on August 19th and 20th in Greenbrier, West Virginia. The Black & Gold will have also a handful of open practices at their training facility in Metairie between August 23rd and the 28th.

LeBron James had another triple-double for the Cavaliers, 40 points, 14 rebounds, and 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough as Golden State took Game 5 of the NBA Championship series 104-91. NBA MVP Stephan Curry poured in 37 as the Warriors take a 3 games to 2 lead. A win in Game 6 tomorrow in Cleveland and Golden State would take home their first NBA title since 1975.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri announces that sophomore left-hander Jared Poche will start on the mound for the Tigers when they take on TCU Sunday afternoon in the College World Series. Poche is nine-and-one with a 2.91 ERA. Mainieri on why Poche and not Alex Lange, who is the National Freshman Pitcher of the Year, will start the C-W-S opener…
cut 20 (20) “…moxy”
TCU will counter with senior right-hander Preston Morrison, who 11-3 with a 2.55 ERA.

The Saints announce they’ve signed veteran defensive tackle Kevin Williams. The former Oklahoma State product was a first round pick by the Vikings in 2003 and spent 11 seasons in Minnesota. Last year, Williams play for the Seahawks and appeared in all 16 games, recording 29 tackles, three sacks and two passes defensed.

The Saints have released their training camp schedule. They’ll have two joint practices with the Patriots on August 19th and 20th in Greenbrier, West Virginia. New Orleans will have a handful of open practices at their training facility in Metairie from August 23rd to the 28th.

Testimony has concluded in the mental competency hearing invovling Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson. The 87 year-old told reports as he left the courthouse that it’s no fun to have your kids turn against you…that’s for the birds.

And Conference USA has decided the men’s and womens’ basketball championships should be played again in Birmingham in 2016, despite a bid to have the tournament in Shreveport-Bossier City.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri has decided to start Jared Poche against TCU on Sunday in the College World Series. Mainieri could have gone with freshman Alex Lange and even though he’s not going with the freshman, the coach says he has all of the confidence in the world in Lange…
cut 19 (09) “…as he can”
Preston Morrison will start for the TCU. He’s 11-and-3 with a 2.55 ERA.

The Times-Picayune reports that Eric Gordon is leaning towards opting-in on the final year of his contract with the New Orleans Pelicans. If Gordon opts-in, he’ll make 15.5 million dollars next season. Gordon missed 21 games last season, but shot 45-percent from three-point land and averaged 13 points and four assists a game.

The LSU football program has received a verbal commitment from Edna Karr defensive end Andre Anthony. He is six-foot-three, 225 pounds and chose the Tigers over alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia and Texas A-and-M. 24-7 sports rates Anthony as the 30th best defensive end in the country.

Louisiana Tech and Ruston High School are mourning the death of Billy Laird. He passed away on Thursday at the age of 71, after suffering multiple strokes in May. Laird was an honorable mention All-American in 1965 at Louisiana Tech and played one season for the New England Patriots. Laird also coached at Tech, Tulane and Northwestern State and spent eleven seasons as the head coach at Ruston, before stepping down after the 2012 season.

Former LSU Tiger Matt Flynn has reportedly inked a deal with the New England Patriots. New England is in need of another quarterback as Tom Brady is facing a four-game suspension because of the deflate-gate scandal.

A major story line for this College World Series will be whether we’ll see an increase in home runs in Omaha this year. Last there were only three long balls. This season college baseball is using a flat-seam ball, but Coach Paul Mainieri still doesn’t expect to see many home runs in the spacious TD Ameritrade Park…

cut 18 (13) “first base”

Mainieri has yet to unveil his pitching plans, but freshman Alex Lange is expected to start on Sunday against TCU. That game will begin at 2PM and you can watch live on ESPN.

League MVP Stephen Curry and Andre Igudala each scored 22 to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 103-82 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The Series is now tied at two games apiece. LeBron James had a double-double for the Cavs: 20 points and 12 rebounds. Game 5 is Sunday night in Oakland.

In recruiting news…Edna Karr defensive end Andre Anthony has committed to LSU. At six-foot-three, 214 pounds, Anthony is considered one of the top defensive linemen in the state.

Former LSU Tiger Matt Flynn has reportedly inked a deal with the New England Patriots. New England is in need of another quarterback as Tom Brady is facing a four-game suspension because of the deflate-gate scandal.

Former Ruston football coach and Louisiana Tech quarterback Billy Laird has passed away. Laird suffered multiple strokes on May 12th and had been in poor health since. He was 71-years-old.

UL-Lafayette has added former North Caddo High School guard Kadavion Evans to the 2015-16 Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball roster. Evans is five-foot-eleven and averaged nearly 25 points a game last season and he was named to the LHSAA Class Two-A Academic All-State team.

The LSU Tigers have arrived in Omaha as they get ready to play TCU on Sunday afternoon in the first round of the College World Series. Shortstop Alex Bregman is making his second trip to the College World Series in an LSU uniform…
cut 30 (10) “…really is”
LSU is seeking its first national championship since 2009.

In recruiting news…Edna Karr defensive end Andre Anthony has committed to LSU. He’s considered one of the top defensive linemen in the state. He’s six-foot-three, 214 pounds.

Former LSU Tiger Matt Flynn has reportedly signed with New England. The Patriots need another quarterback with Tom Brady facing a four-game suspension for deflate-gate.

Former Ruston football coach and Louisiana Tech quarterback Billy Laird has passed away. Laird suffered a significant stroke on May 8th and has been in bad health since. He was 71-years-old.

Former North Caddo High guard Kadavion Evans has been added to the 2015-16 Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball roster. Evans is five-foot-eleven and averaged nearly 25 points a game last season and he was named to the LHSAA Class Two-A Academic All-State team.

The Saints go into the upcoming season without tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills. Both were traded earlier this year. But Coach Sean Payton says that doesn’t mean they’ll become a more run-oriented team….
cut 20 (14) “…the truth”
The Saints will have a mandatory mini-camp next week.

The LSU Baseball team left for the College World Series today and the fans won’t be far behind. Michelle Southern reports Omaha can’t wait for Tiger Nation to make its way back to the Midwest…
cut 1 (30) “…Michelle Southern’

Chris Chinea was the last player from LSU to go in the Major League Baseball Draft. St. Louis selected Chinea in the 17th round. Southeastern had three pitchers drafted, Jake Johnson to Cincinnati, Kyle Keller to Miami and Tate Scioneaux to Pittsburgh.

The Saints go into the upcoming season without tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills. Both were traded earlier this year. But Coach Sean Payton says that doesn’t mean they’ll become a more run-oriented team….
cut 30 (14) “…the truth”
The Saints will have a mandatory mini-camp next week.

Former North Caddo High guard Kadavion Evans has been added to the 2015-16 Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball roster. Evans is five-foot-eleven and averaged nearly 25 points a game last season and eh was named to the LHSAA Class Two-A Academic All-State team.

The LSU baseball team leaves for Omaha today and the fans won’t be far behind as preparations begin for the Tigers 17th College World Series appearance. LSU will play TCU on Sunday at 2pm. Omaha Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman Deborah Ward says they love it when the Purple and Gold Nation is in town…

cut 4 (07) “the country”

Ward says if you’re still planning a trip, you can go to visitomaha.com to check on hotel availability.

In Major League Baseball Draft yesterday, LSU first baseman Chris Chinea was selected in the 17th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres selected ULM and West Ouachita product Kodie Tidwell in the 26th round. San Diego also picked former Louisiana Tech pitcher Phil Maton in the 20th round.

Three Southeastern Louisiana pitchers were drafted in the final day of the Major League Baseball Draft. The Cincinnati Reds selected junior right-hander Jake Johnson in the 16th round. Johnson compiled a 10-2 record and a 3.42 ERA for the Lions last season.

Senior right-hander Kyle Keller was picked up by the Miami Marlins in round 18. The New Orleans native appeared in 15 games last season and turned in a 2.75 ERA.

And in the 39th round, the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted junior Tate Scioneaux. The right-hander from Reserve has racked up a total of 260 strikeouts for the Lions.

A couple of NIcholls State Colonels were in the draft yesterday. Left-handed relief pitcher Stuart Holmes got tabbed by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 35th round. Holmes was named Southland Conference Relief Pitcher of the Year. Right-hander Ryan Deemes was selected by the Houston Astros in the 36th round. Holmes lead the Southland Conference and set a school record with 15 saves last season.

McNeese State senior outfielder Andrew Guillotte was taken in the 32nd round by the Toronto Blue Jays.

LSU heads for Omaha tomorrow where they’ll play TCU on Sunday afternoon. Since the College World Series has moved to the new TD Ameritrade Park, runs have been at premium at the spacious park, where the win blows in. Reliever Zac Person says the pitchers have confidence their fielders can track balls down in the gaps…
cut 18 (17) “….we’ll be fine”
Coach Paul Mainieri doesn’t expect many home runs in Omaha, even though home runs were up in the regular season, because of a lower seamed baseball that college baseball is using this year.

In major league baseball draft today, LSU first baseman Chris Chinea was selected in the 17th round by the St. Louis Cardinals. The Padres selected ULM and West Ouachita product Kodie Tidwell in the 26th round. San Diego also picked former Louisiana Tech pitcher Phil Maton in the 20th round.

Saints Coach Sean Payton has confirmed that pass rusher Junior Galette has a pectoral injury. Payton says they are still waiting on a final opinion on whether Galette should undergo surgery. If he does undergo the knife, he’ll miss much of the 2015 campaign. Galette has 22 sacks over the last two seasons.

The UL Lafayette basketball team has announced Frank Bartley the Fourth has transferred in from BYU. He’s six-foot-three and averaged three points and two rebounds a game at BYU. Bartley led Christian Life in Baton Rouge to a pair of Class One-A state titles and his father, Frank Bartley the Third, was an all-conference football player at USL. He’ll be eligible to play at the start of the 2016-17 season.

New Louisiana Tech head coach Eric Konkol has hired a new assistant coach to replace Matt McMahon who was named the head coach at Murray State. Corey Barker takes McMahon’s place on the staff. Barker was an assistant coach at Bowling Green State last season.