Spring sports come to an end | Zechariah

It's late April and the time of year when Zachary High's spring sports are in the home stretch toward state tournaments and championship competition.

At the Division I Region II tennis tournament on April 15, junior Landrie Barr was a quarterfinalist in singles. Barr will compete in the LHSAA state tennis tournament April 25-26 at the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

On April 18, ZHS boys and girls track and field competed in the 4-5A district meet at Catholic High. Both the boys and girls teams placed third overall in the team standings.

Individual 4-5A girls district champions were Keari Stewart in the high jump (5-4) and Kai Richard in the discus (111-9). Richard also scored with a third-place finish in the shot put (31-6). For the boys, Keidrick Bail in the shot put (48-8), Logan McCarthy in the pole vault (13-6) and Vederek Matthews in the 300-meter hurdles (37.87) were among the 4-5A district champions.

Matthews also took second place in the 1,100-meter hurdles (13.96). The 5A Region II meet is Thursday in Denham Springs, followed by the state meet May 4 at LSU.

The ZHS baseball team finished the regular season with a record of 19-14 (5-4 in District 4-5A), which earned them the 23rd seed in the Division I nonselect baseball playoffs.

The first-round opponent was a familiar face as the Central Wildcats (22-8 overall and 8-2 in District 4-5A) edged out the 10th-seeded seed.

In addition to being District 4-5A rivals, the Wildcats are coached by Leo McClure, who has indicated this is the final year he will coach at Central. McClure had to look across the field during district games and the playoffs to see his grandson, Madden McClure, a Broncos sophomore.

During District 4-5A play in early April, the Wildcats were victorious twice (5-2 and 2-0). The best-of-three series began April 19 at Central, and the Wildcats' top pitcher Grayden Harris was great, throwing a no-hitter that led Central to an 8-0 season-opening win.

Harris' performance was similar to the 2023 playoffs, when he also held the Broncos scoreless. The Wildcats backed him up offensively with 10 goals in Game 1 and the Broncos simply couldn't respond offensively.

In the second game on April 20, the Broncos entered the seventh inning with a 6-5 lead and a chance to extend the series to three games. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the Wildcats' bases.

A subsequent grand slam would be too much for the Broncos, as they exited the playoffs with a 9-6 loss.

Central will face seventh-seeded Natchitoches Central in the regional round.

Leo McClure's retirement is extended for another week. Grandson Madden played first base on Saturday and was responsible for one of the Broncos' six runs.

In case you missed it

ZHS basketball players Tiarra McPipe and Ava Raymond received honorable mention All-State honors. Xavier Ferguson earned All-Metro honors for ZHS boys basketball.

Melissa Nolan was named to the first team All-Metro soccer team. Rylee Deignan and Trinity Spence received honorable mention All-Metro honors.

Tre'Dez Green was named the winner of the Warrick Dunn Louisiana Player of the Year Award for football, joining Lindsey Scott Jr. as the only Zachary High School athletes to win the prestigious award. Green bested local Catholic High quarterback Daniel Beale and seven other finalists from across the state of Louisiana.