Louisiana

6-run rally not enough as LSU softball eliminated from Baton Rouge Regional by Louisiana

Published

2 years ago

May 21, 2023

6-run rally not enough as LSU softball eliminated from Baton Rouge Regional by Louisiana

An impressive rally from an early six-run deficit wasn’t enough for the Tigers to keep their season alive on Sunday night. LSU was eliminated from the Baton Rouge Regional with a 9-8 loss to Louisiana, which advances to its first super regional since 2016.

Coach Beth Torina’s team has now missed the super regional round in back-to-back seasons after previously reaching six in a row.

The game started out about as bad as it possibly could have for LSU. After a leadoff single, what should have been a fielder’s choice turned into an error as the Ragin’ Cajuns had runners at the corners.

A wild pitch from Sydney Berzon allowed a run to score, still with no outs on the board. Berzon then loaded up the bases after issuing back-to-back walks. She got an out on a sacrifice groundout, but a run scored to make the game 2-0.

Another walk reloaded the bases, and then things went from bad to worse as Berzon gave up a grand slam to make it 6-0, still in the first inning. That was all that UL was able to get, but LSU found itself in quite a hole before even coming to the plate.

Georgia Clark managed to get one of those runs back, leading off the bottom of the second with a solo home run. LSU was then able to get a rally going in the third.

Savannah Stewart and Ciara Briggs reached on errors, and a single from Taylor Pleasants brought a run home. Clark followed up with a single to score two more after a Louisiana pitching change.

UL walked Ali Newland, and a hard-hit double into the gap from McKenzie Redoutey scored two more runs and tied the game at six. That forced a pitching change, but even that couldn’t preserve the lead.

Karli Petty hit an RBI single, and the Tigers took a 7-6 advantage. A flyout ended the frame, but the damage was done. At least, for a time.

The Tigers kept the run going in the fourth after a two-out double from Briggs, and Pleasants followed with an RBI single. Louisiana wasn’t going away, though.

Karly Heath hit a solo shot in the top of the fifth to cut the lead to one run, and a single put the tying run aboard. Berzon worked her way out of trouble, though, as the freshman got a groundout to end the threat.

The 8-7 score carried into the top of the seventh with Berzon looking to close things out. She put herself in danger again early on, allowing back-to-back singles. A sacrifice groundout got her a third of the way there, but it also put the go-ahead run in scoring position.

Disaster struck after that. An intentional walk from Berzon veered into the strike zone. Newland wasn’t ready for it behind the plate, and the Ragin’ Cajuns tied the game on a passed ball.

The tie wouldn’t last long. A deep single in the next at-bat scored the go-ahead run. Suddenly, LSU came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh three outs from elimination.

A two-out single from Raeleen Gutierrez gave the team life and brought the winning run to the plate, but a flyout in foul territory from Stewart ended the game and LSU’s season.

Final from Baton Rouge
LSU – 8
ULL – 9#InOurElement
— LSU Softball (@LSUsoftball) May 22, 2023

The Tigers finish the year at 42-17.

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Louisiana

Council for a Better Louisiana praises approved tax reform package

Published

2 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Council for a Better Louisiana praises approved tax reform package

You can add the Council for a Better Louisiana to the groups hailing the tax reform package. CABL President Barry Erwin said the lowering of personal and corporate income taxes and the elimination of the franchise tax will make Louisiana a better place to live and to do business.

“All these things kind of help improve our competitiveness and I think send a message that Louisiana is trying to do some things that we can where we can to improve the environment for businesses and for people.”

Erwin said he hopes that the new tax structure will encourage people to consider moving to Louisiana.

“We need to do some things that send messages about what we’re doing, how we’re trying to improve ourselves, how we’re trying to make life better in our state, and I think this is one thing that does it.”

Erwin, however, said it’s unfortunate that sales taxes, which are already among the highest in the nation, are increasing even further, with the state rate going up to five-percent as of January 1st.

“I think a lot of people feel more comfortable in some ways with a sales tax than an income tax, but I think we can’t lose track that the highest in the country is not a great place to be, and it hurts our poorest citizens the most.”

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Louisiana

License plate readers popping up at Mall of Louisiana

Published

10 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

License plate readers popping up at Mall of Louisiana

BATON ROUGE – Ahead of the holiday shopping season, new technology is being used at shopping centers across Baton Rouge to track and combat crime.

License plate readers have been popping up all around the city, along the interstate, and now at the Mall of Louisiana due to the Page-Rice public safety initiative. So far, more than 100 cameras and license plate readers have been installed.

Clay Young is with the Law Enforcement Criminal Justice Foundation (LECJF), a group partnering with law enforcement to put up the license plate readers. He says the cameras can be pricey, ranging from $2,800 to $5,000 depending on the type of tech, and it’s up to law enforcement to decide where the cameras are most effective and monitor them.

“Hopefully, nothing happens. But if something does, we want to expedite justice as fast as possible,” Young said.

Earlier this year, law enforcement used license plate readers to track down the stolen car of a man who was murdered and dumped alongside a Tangipahoa Parish highway. TikTok personality Mr. Prada, whose legal name is Terryon Thomas, was identified as the person driving the car and he was arrested in the murder.

The cameras are also being used on the interstate to track shootings, where one has happened as recently as Sunday on Interstate 110.

“This time of the year, a lot of people are shopping, and kids are moving around,” Young said. “We just wanted to lend some assistance to law enforcement to make certain that they can keep eyes on everything.”

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Louisiana

Louisiana Christmas tree farm ready for holiday rush after drought recovery

Published

18 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Louisiana Christmas tree farm ready for holiday rush after drought recovery

ETHEL—A Christmas tree farm in Ethel is ready for the holiday rush and happy to keep Christmas traditions alive for families across the state.

Lisa Brabham and her husband Ricky Peairs own Windy Hills Farm and have been growing trees since the 1990s. Last year’s historic lack of rain spooked the couple.

“We had such a serious drought. Some of the trees we lost. They died and some had damaged limbs. We still had plenty to sell, but we were worried about the impact on this year,” Brabham said. “We’ve had calls this year saying, ‘Hey, do y’all have trees this year? Do you have a good selection?’ And I think we do.”

The couple waited anxiously to see if those young trees would come back. As they get ready for the Christmas season to begin, Brabham says she’s pleased with how the farm held up.

“We’ve had rain this year, so I would say the trees have recovered, so lots better than last year,” Brabham said.

Families can come to chop down their Christmas trees once again and carry on traditions.

“I remember going with the family to go get the tree. It’s a very good memory we have, and I think that’s what people are trying to do now is build memories and get traditions started,” Brabham said.

Windy Hills Farm will be open for business on Black Friday.

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