Former LSU shortstop Alex Bregman signed with the Houston Astros today. Houston selected Bregman with the second overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. His signing bonus is reportedly around six million dollars. The Astros have also announced the signing of left-hander pitcher Zac Person. The former LSU reliever was picked in the ninth round by Houston.

LSU’s 2016 baseball schedule has become public. The Tigers will have weekend non conference series against Cincinnati, Sacramento State, Fordham and Ball State. They’ll host Vanderbilt during the second weekend of April and they have a two-game road trip to Notre Dame planned in may. Coach Paul Mainieri used to coach in South Bend.

And work is underway to install netting underneath the grandstand overhang at Alex Box Stadium. Officials hope the netting will keep the birds away and stop them from pooping on the fans during the game. The project is expected to take four months to compelte.

The estranged heirs to Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson have announced they will appeal last week’s ruling by a judge, who determined the 87-year-old is not mentally competent to run his professional franchises. According to an attorney for the heirs, Benson is in a foggy state and his condition will only continue to get worse.

A bad situation is developing for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The referees are threatening a walk-out, if they don’t see an increase in pay for the games they work. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says if the impasse is not resolved, they could have problems finding officials for high school atheltic events when school begins in August. Bonine hopes it doesn’t come to that…
cut 28 (05) “…suffer here”
The Louisiana High School Officials Association says they’ve only received two pay raises over the last 25 years. The referees say they are tired of promises, which is why they’ve rejected a proposal for any increase in pay to begin in 2016.