Barbe High’s 12th state baseball championship was one of its most dramatic, with the Bucs rallying from a three-run deficit in the last inning of its 10-4 win over West Monroe Saturday in the Division I nonselect title game.

The nine-run, final-inning outburst was highlighted by a grand slam by outfielder Donovan LaSalle, which gave the Bucs a 6-4 lead. Barbe added four insurance runs and freshman J.D. Alexander held the Rebels scoreless in the bottom of the inning.

The win capped a historic season for the Bucs, who finished with a 39-1 record. The Bucs won their final 20 games and were the outright champions of District 3-5A, which produced three of the four semifinalists.

Every team in the semifinals was also ranked in the MaxPreps national rankings. The Bucs are at No. 3. They beat No. 7 West Monroe and No. 16 Sulphur to claim the state crown. Sam Houston is ranked No. 15.

LaSalle’s grand slam was a moment of redemption for him after popping up in a bases-loaded situation in last year’s playoffs.

“He asked me if I wanted him to take,” Barbe head coach Glenn Cecchini explained. “I told him to do whatever he wanted. That was last year, this is this year.

“He’s been one of our top guys all year. That’s his 10th home run. He’s hit over .500 all year. Anyone can hit a home run when it’s 10-0. He’s our hardest worker and the epitome of a great teammate. He’s a Barbe legend and one of the best to ever play here.”

Cecchini said this year’s title run was one of the most rewarding, with this team ranking as one of the best.

“I just love our guys and I’m so lucky, so blessed to be able to coach them,” he said. “We coach them hard but they buy in and sell out. I know they know that we love them. We had one loss this year, no one has ever done that in Class 5A. We beat West Monroe, the No. 1 seed.”