A pair of south Louisiana districts dominated the Class 5A baseball and softball tournaments this year.

Both state title games pitted league foes against each. District 2-5A rivals Barbe and Sulphur met in the baseball title game, while St. Amant and Denham Springs of 3-5A squared off for the softball championship.

The two districts are also heavily represented on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association all-state teams — taking three of the four top honors.

Sulphur's Andy Riché was voted as the baseball Player of the Year, while Thibodaux coach Wayne Grenfell was chosen Coach of the Year. St. Amant swept the softball awards with catcher Starla Guffey selected the Player of the Year and Scott Nielson the Coach of the Year.

Eight baseball players from District 2-5A and five softball players from District 3-5A were voted to the squads. Riché, a shortstop, made the team as a utility player and batted .452 with 53 RBIs. Defensively, he had a fielding percentage of .941.

Grenfell won by a narrow margin over Barbe coach Glenn Cecchini and Sulphur coach Ron Riley. Riley guided Sulphur to the school's first championship appearance where the Tors lost to a Barbe team that set a single-season school record with 37 wins. Grenfell's Thibodaux squad finished 26-9 and made it to the state tournament for the second time in school history. The previous time was in 1998.

Guffey, a junior, batted .432 with 44 RBIs and 15 home runs. The LSU commitment also had a perfect fielding average and threw out 16 of 21 base runners.

Along with Riché, Sulphur pitcher Jonathan Conrad (14-2) and catcher Tony Coniglio (.405) were selected to the baseball team while Barbe pitcher Todd Fontenot (12-1), third baseman Carmen Angelini (.411) and utility player Josh Prince (.417) were all chosen.

Also from District 2-5A were Lafayette shortstop Richie Falgout (.479) and Westgate outfielder Jared Mitchell (.414).

Completing the pitching staff were Archbishop Rummel's Robby Broach (9-1) and Thibodaux's Drew Granier (10-2).

The rest of the infielders are West Monroe first baseman Matt Gardner (.354) and St. Paul second baseman Ryan Schimpf. Joining Mitchell in the outfield are Rummel's Ryan Scott (.484) and Thibodaux's Ren Oncale (.397).

Rounding out the utility players are Jesuit pitcher Michael LeBreton (9-3), Dutchtown pitcher Jordy Poche (8-2) and Ruston pitcher Jordan Nicholson (8-3).

St. Amant, which has won five consecutive state softball titles, landed three players on the team with pitcher Lindsay Kelleher (28-4-1) and third baseman Lindsey Hope (.418) joining Guffey.Filling out the pitching staff are Denham Springs' Linzee Sumrall (30-5), Mount Carmel's Hillary Hymel (22-4) and Barbe's Brittany Abate (28-2-1).

Joining Guffey and Hope in the infield are first baseman Kelsey Bastion (.435) of West Monroe, second baseman Allison Mader (.357) of Archbishop Chapelle and Comeaux shortstop Carol Viznia (.453).

The outfielders are Barbe's Lauren Lewis (.346), Ruston's Jodi Albritton (.537) and Comeaux's Ashley Parr (.318).Sulphur catcher Stacey Woods (.366) made the team as a utility player, as did Jesica Mehl (.435) of Dutchtown, Thibodaux's Leah Bland (.580), Mount Carmel's Christi Orgeron (.404) and Grace King pitcher Brittany Ricker (13-6).

OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Andy Riche, Sulphur

COACH OF THE YEAR: Wayne Grenfell, Thibodaux

Honorable mention: Brandon Theriot, Grace King; Zach Chauvin, Thibodaux; SanDaniel Ramos, Thibodaux; Matt Simon, Sulphur; Myrio Richard, Barbe; Mike Liberto, Rummel; Lance Lacoste, Holy Cross; Zack Von Rosenberg, Barbe; Dakota Robinson, Airline; Devin Pourciau, Denham Springs; Shelby Aulds, West Monroe; Josh Beckham, Ruston; Walt Foran, Central Lafourche; Andre Trahan, Terrebonne; Wayne Murphy Terrebonne; Matt Champagne, Ellender; Austin Nola, Catholic; Nick Wade, West Monroe; Aaron Loup, Hahnville; Brent Brignac, Rummel; Brian Arceneaux, H.L. Bourgeois; John Faciane, Jesuit; Brad Byrd, Southwood; Alex Hilliard, Lafayette; Lucas LeBlanc, Central Lafourche; Cody Reine, Walker; Rhett Cruthirds, Dutchtown; Jake Buratt, Dutchtown; Jerrod Roden, Dutchtown; Brett Brooks, Central; Tyler Edmiston, Ruston.

OUTSTANDING PLAYER: Starla Guffey, St. Amant

COACHES OF THE YEAR: Scott Nielson, St. Amant

Honorable mention: Krystle Reyes, Covington; Chelsea Flores, Hahnville; Whitney Harrell, Airline; Kelly Williams, West Monroe; Lindsey Babin, Central Lafourche; Kasey Thibodaux, Comeaux; Haley Bassett, Airline; Jolee Belflower, Barbe; Katie Smith, Ruston; LaQuisha Woods, Ruston; Brittany Brasell, West Monroe; Nicole Smith, Central Lafourche; Courtney Maxwell, St. Amant; Lauren Capello, St. Amant; Laketa Davis, Higgins.