Pitkin wins baseball program's 13th title after downing Anacoco, 8-4, for Division V non-select championship

By Alex Newell  

SULPHUR, La. - It was an all-Vernon Parish showdown for the Division V non-select baseball championship at McMurry Park in Sulphur.

Anacoco had beaten Pitkin twice already this season en route to a District 4-B title, but a third victory for the Indians was too much to ask as Pitkin defeated Anacoco, 8-4, to win the state championship.

"We knew we would probably see them when we saw they were on the other side of the bracket." said Pitkin head coach J.C. Holt about their district rival, Anacoco. "They beat us twice in district, and we knew it would be tough for them to beat us a third time."

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Pitkin opened up the scoring with four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 lead. Anacoco followed up by scoring two runs apiece in the top of the second and third innings to tie the game at 4-all.

The Tigers put up another big inning with four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-4 lead that they maintained for the remainder of the game to clinch the Division V non-select baseball championship.

"Our lineup got nine hits and we executed what we needed to." Holt said. "We made some uncharacteristic mistakes, having three errors when we usually have one or less. To make those mistakes and still win is pretty special."

Pitkin freshman Lincoln Stephens was named the MVP of the title game after hitting two singles and collecting four RBIs while striking out four batters and only allowing three hits on the mound in relief. Junior pitcher John Davis added two strikeouts on the mound and got the win for the game.

"My two pitchers did a heck of a job today." Holt said about Stephens and Davis. "I'm super proud of everyone."

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The Indians were led by sophomore Kyle Scott, who had a double and two RBIs at the plate while also pitching. They finished the season with a record of 23-12 with their first appearance in the state title game since 2009.

The Tigers will return every single player from this state championship team next season after having zero seniors on the roster this year.

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"A lot of people didn't give us a shot," Holt said about his youth-laden Tiger squad. "Our boys just kept proving everyone wrong."

The championship is the 13th state championship in program history for Pitkin (20-6), and their first since 2019, which puts them at third most in Louisiana history behind only Hicks (14) and Jesuit (21).

Jesuit will be looking for its 22nd state championship on Saturday against Archbishop Rummel in the Division I select championship.