SULPHUR — Barbe couldn’t replicate the magic it used in last year’s Nonselect Division I baseball state championship game time around.

Last year, No. 1 Barbe (34-7) rallied with nine runs in the seventh inning to claim its 12th state championship. This year, No. 2 West Monroe (31-8) steadily built up a five-run lead and held on to beat the Bucs 5-1 to win its third state championship and second in three seasons.

It was the third time in four seasons that the teams met in the finals. Barbe won 5-0 in 2021 and 10-4 last year.

Senior West Monroe center fielder Isaiah Shivers was named the game MVP. He drove in the Rebels’ first run in the top of the second inning on a triple and that was followed by Drew Anderson’s sacrifice fly to give the Rebels an early 2-0 lead. He also had a defensive play that killed a big scoring opportunity for the Bucs in the fifth inning. Barbe had runners on second and third base with the Rebels leading 3-0. Presley Courville hit a line drive into center field that likely would have brought in two runs had Shivers not made a diving catch.

The Bucs only run came in the sixth inning on a bases-loaded walk. It was only the third time this season that the Bucs were held to a single run.

West Monroe’s Bradyn Cupit had a no-hitter until Myles Ledoux single with one out in the fifth inning. Cupit struck out five batters and walked four in five and one-third innings. Trey Hawsey got the final five outs to pick up the save.

John Pearson hit a solo home run in the third inning.

Diego Corrales scored the Bucs’ only run and went 1 for 2.