GONZALES - The St. Amant Gators are heading to their first state semifinals game since 2014, and the Gators have to do it on the road, beating 1-seeded Barbe in Lake Charles. 

"We told our guys to be fearless and we were the underdog and that was just something that they they were fearless in the great environment," St. Amant head coach Brandon Bravata said.

"We had a game against EA that we won by one run and after that game we just got a team meeting we just really challenged the seniors and the next day and really challenged each and every guy to give everything they got then everybody started working harder, put in extra work, everything started clicking, pitching and hitting," Gators senior Lee Amedee said.

"Nobody expected us going to be Barbe and you know, I don't know how many people give us a chance tomorrow. So we're just gonna go play fearless and lose and enjoy the moment and really appreciate the moment," Bravata said. 

St. Amant will face Sulpher at 6 p.m. Thursday.

BATON ROUGE - Episcopal baseball is looking for their first state title since 2004, and leading the way is the team's talented shortstop, Luke Hill.

"There's not a skill he doesn't have. He throws 93 off the mountain, probably similar across the infield. Ridiculous power. I mean, it's the strongest player I've seen. There's really nothing he can't do on the baseball field," Luke's teammate, Joshua Gregoire, said.

"The attribute that stands out the most for me is my hitting ability," Hill said. "You know, I feel like I adjust to anything. I can hit anything at any time."

Hill has put in the work, fully committing to baseball as a freshman. He now has a rigorous and consistent daily routine.

"I really realized I needed to work hard. I wake up at 4:45 a.m. and then work out and then go to all my classes, get all my work done. Come to practice. And after that, I'll head off to tee," Hill said.

"He's lifting weights in the morning, he's hitting in the cages before school, just really committed to his craft and putting the time. Everything that he gets is well-deserved," said head coach Travis Bourgeois.

This spring, Hill signed to play baseball at Arizona State—but he's also been getting some attention from the major leagues.

"He's definitely under a lot of pressure and most people may not see that. So many MLB scouts are at our games, every game I think he feels like he has to perform," Gregoire said.

"I've gotten used to it, you have to have fun while doing it. I don't play it for the attention," Hill said.

"I respect him a lot. And I told him this because he could overreact in certain situations but he really does a good job of blocking that out," Bourgeois said.

During game one of the Division II quarterfinals against rival Dunham, Hill hit his 10th home run and pitched the team to a 12-8 win. 

The Zachary Broncos have stormed into this post-season winners of 13 of their last 15 games, but that wasn't always the case.

The Broncos struggled during the middle part of the season, losing five in a row—including getting swept at Catholic.

"We were still trying to find our identity. We talked to the guys about you know, there's three parts to our season. We have our pre district season our district seasons and then the playoffs," said Jacob Fisher Zachary head coach. 

After the rough stretch coach Fisher decided to use this as a teaching moment, showing the team a memorable play in LSU history.

"Whenever Warren Morris hit the home run, nobody talks about who's the catcher I forget his name, but he struck out and then as you see him walking back to the dugout, you know, he tells more more as I pick me up here," Morris said.

"Trust and like every single guy we all have trust in every single gun lineup to get it done. Like in the LSU walk off game, the catcher before he didn't get the job done, but he told his teammate to pick them up. And so that's what we got to do. We just have to have confidence in our teammates to get the job done," Jordan Williams Zachary senior said.

Thanks to former LSU catcher Tim Lanier and the team's veteran leadership led by their 15 Seniors, the Broncos have turned it around.

"The guys have put in all the work throughout the fall and throughout the spring and our schedule has prepared us and we feel like we've played the toughest schedule in the state. So there was no reason to, you know, be nervous. or scared," said Fisher. 

With both the football and basketball programs a winning the state title. These diamond Broncos now believe it's their turn.

"I think it's time for it to come back to Zachary And I think this year has been had it's ups and downs but I think it's definitely paid off," said Will Romero Zachary senior. 

The Broncos will now face 4 seeded Sulphur in the quartefinals. 

METAIRIE - The Catholic Bears win their first state Lacrosse title in program history, winning the Division 1 final today 8-2. Grant Schliewe won the offensive MVP, scoring 3 goals in the win.

"If I can be nerdy for a second Isaac Newton said if I have seen further it's because I've stood on the shoulders of giants. There are a lot of people who have poured their, their blood, sweat and tears into this program for many, many years. And little by little, we've been edging closer and closer to this moment. the grit and the determination and the fight. I have not coached a team that has a greater will to win than the one this year," said Catholic head coach George Hopkins.