WASHINGTON, Missouri – Natchitoches Central products Dillon Braxton and Brock Laird are key figures this weekend as the state champion Bossier Phillies defend their American Legion Baseball Mid-South Regional championship and aim for a second straight World Series berth.
Also playing a prime time role is Northwestern State second baseman Hudson Brignac, who was a freshman starter this spring for the Demons.
The Phillies (21-2) swept through last month’s Legion state tournament, outscoring five opponents 49-7. They pounded Pontotoc, the Mississippi state champ, 21-8 Wednesday, then knocked off the host team, Washington, 11-5 Thursday night. They hope to make Sunday’s championship game in the eight-team, double-elimination regional.
In the opening win Wednesday, Braxton, Bossier’s left fielder, went 3-for-4 with a team-high four runs scored from the cleanup spot. He had four of the Phillies’ eight stolen bases. Thursday night he had a three-run triple and added another run-scoring groundout.
Laird, who anchors the Phillies defense at shortstop, drove in a run in each game, scored three times in the opener, and is 2-for-5 in the regional.
“Dillon has done a really good job the last two nights,” said Dane Peavy, the Bossier head coach, who is Benton High’s coach in the spring. “Both of those guys, I can’t say enough about them. They’re total team guys, they go out and do their jobs, what’s asked of them. They are great teammates, and very respectful young men. I’ve had nothing but pleasure coaching those guys.”
Brignac had two hits Wednesday, added two more Thursday, and moved from his second base slot to provide three innings of one-hit shutout relief Thursday night. It was his first pitching outing since last year.
“We know that guy’s going to come in and throw strikes,” said Peavy. “Last year we threw him 8 1/3 innings and he didn’t allow a run. I know he’s got it in him. We just wait until we need him to come in and throw strikes, and he pretty much did exactly what we needed him to do.
“He’s just a winner. A tough kid and a very fine ballplayer, which I know the Demon fans saw this spring,” said Peavy, who coached Brignac at Benton.
The Phillies hope to return to the American Legion World Series Aug. 14-19 in Shelby, N.C.
