Louisiana Baseball Academy captured the Simply The Best State Championship last weekend in Zachary. In route to the title LBA won all four games and outscored their opponents 35-9. It was a dominating performance from the beginning by a very strong LBA group. LBA began the tournament with pool play wins over the Baton Rouge Red Sox 12-2 and the LA Tigers 9-4. In bracket play, the Pelicans continued to dominate their opponents with great pitching, defense and timely hitting. They defeated Bullet Baseball of Lake Charles 11-2 to advance to the finals where a rematch against the LA Tigers awaited them. Louisiana Baseball Academy responded playing their best game of the tournament and winning the state title 3-1. Austin Ourso pitched six complete innings giving up five hits, walking two and striking out five. Austin Lejeune a former player for the Tigers in 2004 was a key in both wins with great defensive plays and four hits and Blake Ballard scored all three runs for the Pelicans in the finals. ”

“Although there were some great individual efforts, it was an overall team effort that won the title. The kids executed everything that we have worked on for the past year. I am just excited to part of their development and it is rewarding to see them execute all the things we teach out on the playing field in pressure situations,” said Carey Ourso who is owner and coach of LBA. Louisiana Baseball Academy will represent Louisiana in July in the Simply the Best World Series in Panama City, Florida. For more info, visit www.louisianabaseballacademy.com

Pictured Top Row Left to Right: Coach Carey Ourso, Steven Bright, Austin LeJeune, Corey Merrill, Brett Courville and Coach Terry Ballard.

Bottom Row Left to Right: Austin Bain, James Brown, Blake Ballard, Paul Barrilleaux, and Austin Ourso