We are now at the half way point of the 2021 high school season!  Our Games of the Week have not disappointed, as the 4 games have been decided by an average of 1.75 runs/game.  Needless to say, they have all been very entertaining, close, and hard fought baseball games.  We do not expect anything less from our Week 5 Game of the Week that features the Parkway Panthers traveling to take on the C.E. Byrd Yellow Jackets.  Below, we take a look at the keys to winning, for both teams, ahead of tomorrow night's District 1-5A matchup at 6 PM.  

 

Parkway High School

Record: 11-3

Current Ranking: #11 in Class 5A

Key Wins: Evangel, Ruston

Runs Scored: 115 (8.2 runs scored/game)

Runs Allowed: 60 (4.3 runs allowed/game)

 

Parkway and Head Coach David George came into the 2021 season as one of the favorites in Class 5A, especially from North Louisiana.  The Panthers scuffled a bit in the early part of the season, but have since rattled off 7 straight wins heading into tomorrow night's clash with district rival C.E. Byrd.  A lot of the preseason hype was centered around a couple of promising young arms in 2023 Trenton Lape (LSU Commit) and 2023 Brandon Levy (University of Louisiana Commit).  Lape is the state's 3rd ranked player in the 2023 class thanks to his electric FB that has been up to 93 mph.  This season he owns a 2-0 record across 21 IP, giving up 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, and 42 K.  Levy, the state's 9th ranked player in the 2023 class, took home our POTW honors last week.  Offensively, Lape and Levy are both instrumental to Parkway's success.  Lape is hitting .318, with 6 2B, 3B, HR, 12 RBI, and 15 R, while Levy is hitting at a .370 clip with 6 2B, 3B, 8 RBI, and 14 R.  2021 Hayden Knotts (Northwestern State University Signee) has been the power bat and run producer in the first half of this season, as he is hitting .370 with 3 HR, 6 2B, 13 RBI, and 23 R.  The Panthers also have a couple of other young guys having good seasons in 2023 OF Barrett Newman and 2023 C Zach Schoenborn.  Newman boasts a .290 average with 4 2B, while Schoenborn is at .296 with 2 2B.  

 

C.E. Byrd High School

Record: 12-2

Current Ranking: #2 in Divison I

Key Wins: West Monroe, Ouachita Christian

Runs Scored: 118 (8.4 runs scored/game)

Runs Allowed: 43 (3.1 runs allowed/game)

 

The Byrd baseball program has been successful under Head Coach Greg Williams and they look to be well on their way to another post-season run this spring.  On the mound, we believe the Yellow Jackets have two options to turn to for Tuesday night's matchup against Parkway.  2021 LHP Mason Langdon (Northwestern State University Signee) is off to a good start this season, compiling a 2-1 record across 17.2 IP, giving up 12 H, 10 R, 6 ER, 12 BB, and 25 K.  The Yellow Jackets could also look to 2021 RHP Sawyer Lacoste, who owns a 2-0 record so far this season with 7 K's across 9 IP.  The Byrd offense has put up some really good numbers so far this spring and Langdon is the guy leading the charge hitting at a .500 clip with 2 HR, 5 2B, 3B, 15 RBI, and 16 R.  2021 Slade Netterville (Louisiana Tech Signee) has also gotten off to a hot start hitting .356 with HR, 5 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBI, 14 R.  2021 C Cole Joyner (Panola College Signee) has been rock solid behind the plate for the Yellow Jackets and his hitting .286 on the year with 2 HR, 4 2B, 3B, 18 RBI, and 3 R. 

 

CREATE A FREE PBR PROFILE: https://www.prepbaseballreport.com/event/NATIONAL/create-a-free-pbr-player-profile