The LA Lightning 12U team out of Natchitoches captured the championship at the USSSA MLB Opening Day Classic held in Bossier.

The team secured the tournament title and received commemorative No. 22 Juan Soto-themed championship rings as part of the event.

Team members include Jax Errington, Murphy Linebaugh, Liam Mahloch, Hendrix Johnson, Adam Todtenbier, RJ Braden, Luke Fair, Archer Johnson, Gavin Key, and Carter Hough. The team is coached by Luke Mahloch and Evan Gandy.

The tournament brought together youth teams from across the region to compete in an opening season event celebrating Major League Baseball.

Sometimes one inning can make all the difference in a game, and that was the case for the Northwestern State softball team in Saturday’s Southland Conference series finale against Incarnate Word.

Trailing 2-0 after three innings of weak contact and just one hit, the Demons (21-21, 10-8) strung together five hits and had six straight batters reach, all with two outs, to push across three runs in a 3-2 win.

The victory avoided a series sweep by UIW, second in the SLC standings. The Cardinals posted wins of 11-1 and 3-1 in Friday’s doubleheader, and started Saturday’s game with a quick lead and silencing NSU’s bats.

“It is frustrating to stay patient, but they did a good job of not letting it get to them, staying the course and trusting the process, the game plan and ultimately getting the job done,” head coach Jenny Fuller said.

Making her second start of the series, UIW (27-15, 12-6) pitcher Bella Mitchell was dominant the first time through the Demon order. She retired the first eight batters she faced before Britt Bourgoyne reached on an infield single with two outs in the third. Through the first 3 2/3 innings, NSU put just one ball into the outfield and trailed 2-0.

UIW scored first for the third time during the weekend, using a one-out double down the left field line and a ground ball to short in the top of the third to take a two-run lead, the only blemishes on Demon ace Mattison Buster’s line.

After a bounce-back shutout inning in the top of the fourth, the Demon bats received the jolt they were looking for in the bottom half.

“We came in from defense after the top of the inning and Coach Brad (Fuller) challenged us to compete at the plate and tried to light a fire under us,” Aly Delafield said. “I took that as needing to do something different but not to stress, stay calm and do what you know how to do. After Brynn (Daniel) got that hit, I said this is it, it’s go time.”

Following two quick groundouts to the right side, Daniel lined NSU’s hardest-hit ball to that point into left field for a base hit, just the team’s second hit of the day, and sparked the rally.

Delafield doubled to the left-centerfield wall three pitches later, bringing Daniel all the way around to score. Delafield came home on a Sister Arnold single up the middle to tie the game and chase Mitchell.

Riley Schwisow followed with a sharp single to left and Sara Kate Booker worked a walk to load the bases. On an 0-2 count, Bourgoyne delivered her second hit of the game, driving in Arnold to give NSU a 3-2 lead.

The Demons sent all nine batters to the plate in the inning, and although they left the bases loaded, the three-run rally was all Buster needed over the final three innings.

The ace worked quickly in the fifth, needing just five pitches to get through the top of the Cardinal order and engaging her patented shutdown status when the Demons have the lead.

Buster allowed just one hit and a walk to Victoria Altamirano, the Southland Conference’s top hitter over the past three seasons, across the final three innings, retiring every other batter she faced to earn her 18th win of the season.

“Her confidence is through the roof and it kind of spreads through the whole team,” Delafield said. “I have all the confidence in the world in her. I know she’s going to go out there, compete and do her absolute best to get us out of any situation. She’s such a competitor, and it’s really fun playing with her.”

Buster held UIW, the conference’s top offensive team, to five hits, its fewest in a Southland game this season, and two runs, matching its lowest output in league play.

She is now tied for the eighth-most wins in a single season by a Demon pitcher and has the most since Amanda Glenn in 2007.

Good pitching performances often have marked the Northwestern State baseball team’s most successful portions of the 2026 season. Saturday, Dylan Marionneaux threw a complete-game six-hitter for the Demons in a 2-1 win over Houston Christian.

The Demons were unable to find that type of success Sunday as HCU jumped to an early seven-run lead and had enough responses to hand Northwestern an 11-5 Southland Conference defeat at Brown-Stroud Field. The loss narrowed NSU’s lead in the conference standings with three weekend series remaining.

HCU opened the series Friday with a 5-2 victory when NSU could not deliver key hits to cut into the deficit.

“It’s a day where we are to be accountable for not playing well in any of the three phases of the game,” third-year head coach Chris Bertrand said. “When you give up 11 runs – and some of those runs in the manner we did – when you make three errors and more mistakes on top of that, we were not good enough today in any of the three phases to expect a different result.”

The Demons (23-13, 14-7) delivered constant pressure on six HCU pitchers but could not deliver a big hit that led to a crooked number.

On the other side, HCU (16-19, 8-10) created a pair of three-run innings to build a 7-0 lead through three and a half innings. The first big swing for the Huskies came from Levi Castelleja, whose three-run home run opened the scoring against Trent Hillen (2-2).

The Huskies chased Hillen after 3 1-3 innings, doing so with another three-run inning in the fourth.

Down 7-0, the Demons began to solve HCU right-hander Ben Smith (4-4), who worked four innings in relief of opener Trent Barnes.

JT Simonelli tripled and scored on Noah McNeil’s fourth-inning sacrifice fly before a two-out, fifth-inning rally produced an RBI triple by Joe Siervo and an RBI single from Thomas Marsala III.

The Huskies had an answer, however, in the sixth.

After a couple of Demon errors helped load the bases with no outs, Carter White nearly wiggled out of the jam, getting a pair of strikeouts before Katcher Halligan grounded a two-run single through the left side of the infield.

The same scenario played out across the eighth and ninth innings.

Northwestern took advantage of HCU’s lone error of the game to pull back within four runs in the eighth before Kyler Mentzel got a strikeout to strand the bases loaded before a two-run wild pitch in the top of the ninth allowed HCU to re-establish its six-run lead.

“They continue to fight, and they continue to battle,” Bertrand said. “It’s obvious we’re going through some things that we need find solutions for, and we need to find ways to overcome. No matter what, you have to be good in all three phases of the game, and today, the Demons were 0-for-3.”

The Demons return to action Tuesday when they open a four-game road trip at LSU. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.

The City of Natchitoches Main Street Program invites local organizations, camps, and community groups to take part in this year’s Summer Splash, returning on Tuesday, April 28 from 4-6 p.m. at the Natchitoches Events Center. This annual event is free and open to the public and serves as a one-stop opportunity for families to explore summer programs and activities available throughout the community.

Summer Splash, organized by the Natchitoches Main Street Program, is designed to connect families with local organizations offering summer camps, educational programs, recreational activities, and youth opportunities. Attendees will have the chance to gather information, meet program representatives, and register for upcoming summer offerings.

The Main Street Program is currently seeking vendors and participants for the event. Local businesses, nonprofits, camps, and organizations that host summer programs or provide services for youth and families are encouraged to participate. This is a great opportunity to promote programs, share information, and engage directly with the community as families plan their summer schedules.

For more information or to request a participation form, please contact the City of Natchitoches Main Street Office at (318) 357-3822 or email ewhitlow@natchitochesla.gov 

The Glam Dolls Majorette Team of Natchitoches earned top honors at the “Put On For Your City” competition held April 11 in Saint Martinville, taking home the title of Grand Champions Overall.

Competing against eight teams from across the region, the group secured multiple awards, including first place in Mini Stands and Creative, second place in Walk Through and Combined Stands, and fourth place in Trio.

Founded in 2023, the Glam Dolls Majorette Team is a Natchitoches-based organization that serves girls ages 5-17. The program focuses on building confidence, discipline, and self-expression through dance, while also emphasizing mentorship and personal development.

The team is led by Coach Clarissa Brown, with assistant coaches Precious Sellers and Edward Hellen. Team leadership includes Captain Alease Smith, Co-Captain Kylee Riser, Lieutenant Zariyah Calhoun, Mini Captain Christiana Hardy, and Mini Co-Captain Chy’Na Tousant.

The Glam Dolls are scheduled to compete next at the Buck N Bootz competition in Houston on May 2.

Team officials also credited parents and supporters for their continued encouragement throughout the season as the group continues to represent Natchitoches in regional competitions.

Eternal Peace Funeral Home is reassuring the public that it remains open after false information circulated online claiming the business had permanently closed.

According to the funeral home, its social media and Google accounts were recently compromised, leading to an inaccurate post published April 8, 2026.

Management said the claim that the funeral home had closed was incorrect and emphasized that the business continues to operate and serve families in the community.

Officials also issued an apology for any confusion caused by the post and reiterated their commitment to providing compassionate care.

The funeral home is located at 726 Third Street in Natchitoches and remains open to assist families.

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The Natchitoches Parish School Board continued its monthly recognition of outstanding employees, honoring two staff members from NSU Elementary Lab School as April All-Stars.

Each month, principals across the district nominate one teacher and one support staff member who demonstrate exceptional dedication to their students and school community.

At NSU Elementary Lab School, Melanie Smith, a second-grade teacher, was selected for her impact in the classroom and leadership among faculty. With 24 years of teaching experience, she serves as a TAP Mentor Teacher and is a member of the school’s Instructional Leadership Team. School officials noted her contributions to student achievement and teacher development, as well as her recognition as Teacher of the Year.

Also recognized was Sharon Holland, cafeteria manager, who has more than three decades of experience in food service, including 22 years at the school. Officials said she plays a key role in creating a welcoming environment for students while ensuring meals are prepared and served each day.

School leaders said both employees exemplify the dedication and commitment that define Natchitoches Parish Schools.

The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum will host its next Lunchtime Lagniappe program on Friday, April 17 highlighting the impact of Louisiana women during World War I and World War II.

Titled “Going to miss this Navy life… Louisiana Women in WWI & WWII,” the program will feature local historian Kevin Shannahan, who will present on the lives of several Louisiana women whose service during the wars helped shape both their futures and broader societal change.

Organizers note that the World Wars brought significant transformation to American society, influencing movements such as civil rights and women’s rights, with many modern-day freedoms tracing their roots to that era.

The event is free and open to the public and will take place from 12:15 to 1 p.m. at the museum, located at 800 Front Street in Natchitoches.

For more information, the public can visit the museum’s Facebook page or call 318-357-2492.

The Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts seeks applications for Full-Time Director of Finance, Operations, and Information Technology

The Director of Finance, Operations, and IT (DFO) administers all aspects of the financial, operational, physical plant, and construction operations of LSMSA. The DFO is also responsible for information technology and human resources. Financial operations include developing the annual budget request and making day-to-day decisions on that budget. Physical plant operations encompass the development of the annual capital outlays request and oversight and management of all construction, repair, and maintenance projects and daily operations. Information technology includes decisions and oversight of the school’s computer resources, both software and hardware as well as communications and connectivity. Human resources involves the policy-making decisions regarding salaries and benefits, position control, etc. The DFO directly supervises three assistant directors.

The DFO indirectly supervises all purchasing, personnel, maintenance, and other business systems and operations at LSMSA and serves as liaison between LSMSA and various state and federal offices, agencies, institutions, and departments.

Applicants should be dedicated to an environment that is highly focused on student development and support. Further, applicants should have a commitment to their own personal and professional development and have a desire to be a member of a team.

The job description, duties, responsibilities, and required/preferred qualifications can be found here. The salary range for this 12-month position is $100,000 – $120,000. Starting date to be determined.

Application Process

Application review begins immediately and remains open until the position is filled. Please complete our standard application form and send with a cover letter, resume, contact information for three references, and an official transcript from your final degree-granting institution, to: employment@lsmsa.edu. Please submit your application as one PDF file that includes all the above.

LSMSA is a selective admission, public residential high school located in Natchitoches, LA. LSMSA has a 40-year legacy as a preeminent college-level living/learning experience for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. LSMSA, located adjacent to the Northwestern State University campus, is a National Blue Ribbon School which, in 2023 and 2024, was rated No 1 for Best Public High School Teachers in Louisiana according to Niche.com and was named a World’s Leading Boarding School by Fortune Magazine in 2023.

LSMSA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or age and prohibits such discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates. Individuals may report concerns or questions online at www.lsmsa.edu/nondiscrimination

Winner of six of its last seven games, the Northwestern State softball team enters one of its most pivotal stretches of the season at home this weekend, opening a six-game run against the very teams it’s battling in the Southland Conference standings.

The Lady Demons (20-19 overall, 9-6 in the SLC) welcome UIW (25-14, 10-5) to town for a three-game series beginning today with a doubleheader at 4 p.m. and concluding Saturday at 12 p.m. All three games will stream on ESPN+, with Friday’s opener and Saturday’s finale also airing locally on 100.7 FM KZBL.

The matchup carries added weight as NSU and UIW sit among a tightly packed group chasing second place in the conference standings, and the opportunity to host one of the first-round tournament brackets the first weekend of May.

“This is the time of year where you want to be playing your best softball,” head coach Jenny Fuller said. “We talk a lot about peaking at the right time and hopefully that is what we’re doing. Winning that last game on the road and taking the series at Stephen F. Austin is a huge momentum boost that hopefully we can carry into this weekend.”

Northwestern returns home riding that momentum after taking two of three at SFA, marking the first time since 2021 it has won two of its first three conference road series. The Demons also boast their best conference win total through five series since 2022 and their first winning record at this point in the season since 2023.

The series anchors a full weekend at the Demon Diamond. Today’s doubleheader carries the tag of Military Appreciation Night, with free admission for all military personnel with valid ID.

The series is the program’s annual Alumni Weekend. Following Saturday’s finale, the rescheduled Softball Mardi Gras Auction will take place at Flying Heart Brewery, with doors opening at 6 p.m.

NSU leans on a lineup that continues to heat up, led by the recent surge from Peyton Young. The junior transfer carries a team-best nine-game hitting streak into the weekend and has reached base in 12 straight contests.

Young is batting .467 during that stretch with a 1.314 OPS, raising her season average to .338. She also delivered key moments in last weekend’s series win, both at the plate and defensively.

“More than anything I think she’s just playing with a lot of confidence,” Fuller said. “We knew that she was capable of what she’s doing and now she’s showing it and getting in a groove. She’s come through in key situations offensively and defensively and has been a spark that we needed in our lineup.”

In the circle, Mattison Buster continues to anchor the Demons with one of the most dominant seasons in the conference. The junior earned her third SLC Pitcher of the Week honor after going 3-0 with two shutouts and a 0.33 ERA across 21 innings last week.

Buster leads the Southland in wins (17), complete games (15), innings pitched (142.1), shutouts (6) and appearances (29), while holding opponents to a .222 batting average. Her 17 wins are tied for the most by a Demon pitcher since 2013.

UIW presents one of the toughest offensive tests in the league. The Cardinals lead the conference in batting average (.340), home runs (46) and runs scored (270), with six players hitting above .300.

“They’re really good hitters,” Fuller said. “So it’s going to come down to our pitchers doing what they do best and making them hit our best pitches and then going after their weaknesses at the right time.”

The centerpiece of the Cardinals’ lineup is two-time defending SLC Player of the Year Victoria Altamirano, who leads the league with a .440 average, 17 home runs and 51 RBIs. Her 1.560 OPS ranks among the nation’s best, and she enters the weekend on an 11-game hitting streak while reaching base in 23 straight games.

UIW comes to Natchitoches fresh off a dominant sweep of Houston Christian, outscoring the Huskies 32-0 in three run-rule victories.

With postseason positioning on the line and two of the conference’s hottest teams squaring off, the weekend sets up as a measuring stick series for a Northwestern squad looking to continue its late-season push.

When Chris Bertrand took over the reins of the Northwestern State baseball team three years ago, he was determined to sustain a proud program and enhance it to make its stakeholders proud.

As the Demons welcome home their former lettermen for an Alumni Weekend series against Southland Conference rival Houston Christian that begins at 6:30 p.m. today at Brown-Stroud Field, Betrand and his squad have done just that. The series also includes a 2 p.m. Saturday game and a 1 p.m. Sunday matinee finale. All three games will air on ESPN+.

“When we were given the opportunity, we said this is what we wanted to get done,” Bertrand said. “Now that we’re seeing the fruits of that labor, there’s an immense amount of pride. We talk a lot about how things get done on and off the field. I think this team we have is one that is about what they say they want to be about. They are who they say they are. They do what they need to do.

“There’s a seamless look to it in that we are surrounding ourselves with good people – people who believe in what’s going on – and we want to do our part to uphold what’s been laid so far.”

The Demons (22-11 overall, 13-5 in the 30-game Southland schedule) enter their seventh SLC series of the season sitting atop the league.

They have done so with a revolving cast of contributors that has touched every part of the roster and will do so again today as junior right-hander Kevin Robinson steps into his first Southland Conference start.

“We say we’re going to be gritty and we’re going to be punchers and it’s a next-man-up attitude and it’s a family and it takes everybody, you want to show that you believe in it,” Bertrand said. “That’s why you have seen guys succeed. That’s why we have all the confidence in the world moving forward. We’re going to deal with the adversity and storms as they come as a group.

“Kevin is no different than anyone who has stepped up – I’m so proud of the position players who are doing it right now. We don’t know how it’s going to turn out, but what we do know is what we’re getting from K. Rob. You know what you’re getting when he toes the rubber. You know what you’re getting when the Demons take the field. As long as we go be that, I like where it is that we are.”

Northwestern’s three-game road sweep of UT-Rio Grande Valley this past weekend helped open some room for the Demons in the conference standings as the season hits its home stretch.

Sitting atop the table, however, brings with it a different set of challenges, even for a team that has won five straight series in league play.

“It’s high-stakes baseball,” Bertrand said. “With every good thing that comes to you, more responsibility comes with it. That target gets a little bit bigger with each one. The want you have to carve out an identity and a brand and go play well, when you’re able to accomplish that, to a small degree, what comes with it is the accountability for what’s moving forward.”

The visiting Huskies (14-18, 6-9) can commiserate with wearing a target.

HCU won the 2025 Southland Conference Tournament championship in their first season under head coach Clay VanderLaan. The Huskies jumped to a 4-2 start in conference play, including a road series win at McNeese.

“They’re going to be three absolute dogfight baseball games,” Bertrand said. “We share very similar characteristics. They are tough and gritty. They throw strikes. Whether it be this year or last year, they play a brand of baseball that is very similar to ours. We expect to get every best bullet in an absolute battle from good people. Clay’s done an unbelievable job. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in that environment.”

Phonetic: /puh-NAHSH/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

• flamboyant confidence of style or manner.
  “he entertained Palm Springs society with great panache”

Motorists traveling along Interstate 49 northbound near Derry were advised to use caution following a vehicle fire reported late Wednesday afternoon. According to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched around 5:25 p.m. to a minor commercial vehicle fire near mile marker 117, just south of Derry.

Responding agencies included Natchitoches Parish Fire Protection District No. 1, which assisted at the scene. Authorities said traffic in the area was reduced to one lane as crews worked to manage the situation. Deputy Sgt. K. Padilla was on scene representing the sheriff’s office.