South Beauregard takes out Doyle in semifinals, will face Sterlington in finals
Published 3:17 pm Wednesday, May 8, 2024
South Beauregard's Layden Sepulvado watches hit two-run double in the first inning of the Golden Knights' 6-1 win over Doyle on Wednesday in the nonselect Division III semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
South Beauregard's Gunner Courtney went 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI as the Golden Knights beat Doyle 6-1 on Wednesday in the nonselect Division III semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
South Beauregard's Christian Wold celebrates after scoring in the second inning of a nonselect Division III semifinal game at McMurry Park in Sulphur on Wednesday. South Beauregard beat Doyle 6-1 to advance to the state championship game on Friday. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
South Beauregard's Jace Duhon pitched a complete game May 8 to lead the Golden Knights to a 6-1 win over Doyle in the nonselect Division III semifinals at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
South Beauregard first baseman Christian Wold makes the catch for the first out in the top of the third inning of the Golden Knights nonselect Division III semifinal game against Doyle on Wednesday at McMurry Park in Sulphur. (Rodrick Anderson / American Press)
SULPHUR — South Beauregard finally has another shot at a state champion after getting some revenge Wednesday morning in the nonselect Division III semifinals at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament at McMurry Park.
The No. 1 Golden Knights jumped on No. 5 Doyle in the first two innings to win 6-1. Doyle beat the Golden Knights 3-1 in last year’s semifinals.
“I am so excited for this group of guys,” South Beauregard head coach Jeremy Deville said. “These seniors that has been their goal for four years to play in a state championship.
“They came out here today and played well and played with confidence. Usually, after the first pitch, I am nervous, but Bryce Deason came to me and said we got this. I had a feeling.”
South Beauregard (29-3) will play in a state championship game on Friday for the first time since 2019. They will play No. 2 Sterlington at 5:30 p.m. Sterlington beat No. 14 Berwick 10-0 in five innings on Wednesday.
Two seniors played big roles in the Golden Knights’ victory. Jace Duhon dominated the Tigers (20-14) on the mound, and Layden Sepulvado made big plays in centerfield and on offense.
Duhon pitched a complete-game three-hitter with four strikeouts and two walks. He has allowed two earned runs in three starts in the playoffs. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.
“Jace pitched his butt off,” Deville said. “Same thing, he filled it up, had confidence and pitched by pitch.
“He didn’t get frustrated, so he did well. Last year he was a little nervous, but you could tell this year he was different. He had a lot of experience from last year. He has been pitching good games for us since he was a freshman. He wanted the ball, and he wanted to finish. I am proud of him.”
Sepulvado smashed a two-run double to left field with one out in the bottom of the first inning to put pressure on the Tigers. Then in the top of the second inning, he laid out to make a diving catch on a line drive by Brody Stewart, and third baseman Jed Henry then snagged a hard-hit line drive by Easton Benesta.
“That was big,” Deville said. “Jed made a nice play at third, and Sepulvado had two great plays in the outfield. Those were doubles against most people. He is a special player. He dives and misses that ball early, and it’s an inside-the-park home run maybe. He is another senior who is confident in his ability to make that play.”
South Beauregard doubled its lead with three more runs in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on Gunner Courtney’s ground out, a bases-loaded walk and Luke Brister’s sacrifice fly.
Doyle 001 000 0 — 1-3-3
SBHS 330 000 x — 6-5-0
PITCHING: W — Jace Duhon. L — C Barcia.
TOP HITTERS: Doyle — P Jones 1-2 (run, triple). South Beauregard — Layden Sepulvado 1-2 (run, 3 RBI, double), Jed Henry 1-3 (2 runs).
RECORDS: Doyle — 20-14. South Beauregard — 30-3
