We're heading up to North Louisiana for our Week 8 Game of the Week between Neville HS and Benton HS.  The Neville Tigers currently sit at #3 in the Class 4A rankings, while the Benton Tigers sit at #8 in the Class 5A rankings.  Below, we take a look at the key players for each team, ahead of Friday's matchup at 6 PM.

 

Neville High School

Record: 13-12

Current Ranking: #3 in Class 4A

Key Wins: Haughton, Airline

Runs Scored: 182 (7.3 runs scored/game)

Runs Allowed: 144 (5.8 runs allowed/game)

 

Neville has shaken off some early season struggles to rattle of wins in four of their last five games.  Offensively, the Tigers are led by a trio of juniors.  2022 Zeb Ruddell (LSU Commit), the state's #2 player in the 2022 class is hitting .364 on the season with 6 HR, 8 2B, 3B, 29 R, 24 RBI, and 19 BB.  2022 Brett Batteford (Neville HS) owns a .345 average with 5 2B, 5 3B, 14 R, 12 RBI, and 7 BB, while 2022 Brennan Surlese (Neville HS) is hitting .264 with 8 2B, 20 R, and 9 RBI out of the leadoff spot.  The Tigers have struggled to find consistency on the mound this spring and was a big reason for their early season scuffles.  We believe that they'll turn to 2021 Wes Robinson (Neville HS) for this contest, as he currently has a 3-1 record. 

 

Benton High School

Record: 24-4

Current Ranking: #8 in Class 5A

Key Wins: Byrd, Parkway

Runs Scored: 234 (8.4 runs scored/game)

Runs Allowed: 993 (3.5 runs allowed/game)

 

Benton was a program that many expected to make some noise this spring and they've certainly done that with a 24-4 record.  There is offense galore when you look up and down the Benton lineup, but it all starts with 2021 Clint Lasiter (University of Louisiana Signee).  For the season, he is hitting .472 with 5 HR, 12 2B, 3 3B, with 38 R and 27 RBI.  The eye-popping numbers don't stop there, as 2021 Grayson Gates (Northwestern State University Signee) is having an impressive year as well.  Gates is hitting .549 with 3 HR and 12 2B and on the mound he owns a 7-0 record with 56 K's.  2021 Dane Stearns (Benton HS) is hitting .397 with 5 2B, 3B, and 20 RBI, while 2021 Brock Van Hoy (Benton HS) is hitting .424 with 7 2B, 15 R and 15 RBI.  Gates seems like the obvious choice for this game, but with the playoffs beginning the following week, we could see Benton go in another direction.  They have plenty of arms to choose from if they do, with Stearns owning a 5-0 record and Van Hoy a 2-1 record.