By Chris Kinkaid

THE DAILY NEWS

The Bogalusa All-Stars 13-14 year olds advanced to the championship round of the state tournament held in Lake Charles Monday in comeback fashion with an 8-6 victory over Bossier City.

Bogalusa trailed, 3-0, after two innings but scored five runs in the top of the third to take a 5-3 advantage.

They never relinquished the lead after, as the team played seven innings.

Bogalusa led 8-4, as the teams prepared to play the bottom of the seventh.

Bossier scored a pair of unearned runs to make it 8-6.

With two outs in the seventh, Bogalusa had a passed ball.

Catcher Errol Varnado picked it up and threw to relief pitcher Jay Baham, and he made the tag to end the game.

Baham picked up the save after entering with two outs in the seventh.

Jaylan Jefferson pitched in middle relief and was solid. He threw five innings, allowing three runs (none earned) on just two hits.

He finished with five strikeouts and two walks.

He left after reaching the maximum pitch count of 95.

Varnado and Baham both did some great work on the offensive side, too.

Varnado recorded three hits and scored two runs, while Baham also tallied three hits, and he drove in a pair of runs.

Assistant coach Mike Sowell said Bogalusa did well as a team.

“They never hung their heads and continued to keep fighting,” Sowell said.

The All-Stars next game took place after Tuesday’s press time against South Lake Charles. Bogalusa had to win twice to win the title.

The winner of this tournament advances to regionals, which gets under way Aug. 1.