NEW ORLEANS – Dillon Braxton and Brock Laird had big impact on the great success of the Natchitoches Central baseball program over the past three years, and earned college scholarships as a result.
Now they’ve made significant contributions to the state’s best American Legion Baseball team, the Bossier Phillies.
Braxton started in left field and Laird was in front of him at shortstop for the Phillies, who are led by Benton High School coach Dane Peavy. Most of the players are from the Benton program with some coming from schools in Bossier City. Braxton and Laird were invited to join the team, which won the state championship and regional title in 2024 to reach the American Legion World Series.
Grambling-bound Braxton went 2-for-2 with an RBI Wednesday as Bossier completed an undefeated five-game run through the state tournament at Kirsch-Rooney Field with a 6-0 victory over the Southland Hogs. Laird had 3 RBI, driving in the Phillies’ first three runs on a ground out in the first inning and a two-RBI double two innings later.
Laird had two hits including a home run Tuesday night in a 9-0 win over New Orleans-based Retif Oil. The future Southeastern Louisiana infielder went 8-for-16 with a double, triple and home run while driving in 8 runs in the Phillies’ five games in the tournament as they outscored opponents 49-8 and committed only one error.
Bossier will pick up some tuneup games this month, said Peavy, before the Phillies go to Washington, Missouri, Aug. 7-11 hoping to defend their Mid-South Regional title in a double-elimination bracket including eight state champions. The regional winner moves on to the eight-team American Legion World Series Aug. 14-19 in Shelby, N.C.
