By Kyle Roberts
It’s been nearly half a decade since the last Ruston High Bearcat made the LSWA 5A All-State team.
Not so anymore as junior Jackson Lee earned the honor after his role in the Bearcats’ turnaround season that saw Ruston compete for a district title and make it into the second round of the 2025 playoffs.
Lee started every game in centerfield for Ruston and batted .413 for the season with 16 extra-base hits.
“I’m really excited for Jackson getting first team honors,” Ruston High head coach Bryan Beck said. “It tells you a lot about that kid. He had an incredible year for us and for his team — he’s an incredible worker and an even better kid. When you’re able to be around kids like that, it makes your job really easy. Our team loves him, and he’s an incredible baseball player who plays the game the right way.
“It goes hand in hand with the year we had. He batted lead off for us and is the only player who started in every game we had this year. He deserves that award, and I’m extremely happy for his family and him to be able to celebrate this.”
Ruston also saw senior pitcher David Griep and sophomores Tyler Roach (pitcher) and J.P. Moak (OF) earn honorable mention honors.
“All three of those guys had an incredible year for us,” Beck said. “They were also instrumental for us to be able to have the season we did. We’re very, very happy to have them to be Ruston High Bearcats and to be able to showcase their talents for us.”
The last time Ruston had a first-team selection was J.R. Tollett in 2021 as a pitcher.
See the full team below.
P Will Andrade Holy Cross Sr. 14-2
P Bradyn Cupit West Monroe Jr. 5-3
P Drew Ferguson West Monroe Sr. 9-2
P Jarius Miller Barbe Sr. 13-1
C Andrew Clapinski Catholic-BR Sr. .409
IF Ryan Darrah Brother Martin Sr. .382
IF Casey McCoy Dutchtown Sr. .383
IF Dom Pellegrin Holy Cross Jr. .402
IF Jack Ruckert Catholic-BR Sr. .369
OF Jackson Lee Ruston Jr. .413
OF Cole Snell Benton Jr. .468
OF Christian Turner Haughton Sr. .405
UT Brayden Calamari Slidell Sr. .413
UT Cole Flanagan Sam Houston Sr. .381
UT Cole Navarro Brother Martin Sr. 11-2
UT Sawyer Pruitt Live Oak Sr. 9-2
UT Cooper Smith Live Oak Sr. .383
OUTSTANDING PLAYER: SAWYER PRUITT, LIVE OAK
COACH OF THE YEAR: CHAD HEBERT, SAM HOUSTON
Honorable Mention
Nate Alario, John Curtis; Thomas Allen, Benton; Lytton Arledge, West Monroe; Lenny Cline, Archbishop Rummel; Tanner Conley, Fontainebleau; Trey Davis, Higgins; Tristan Dehart, Terrebonne; Connor Donnelly, Jesuit; Davis Emonet, Catholic; Parker Franks, Neville; Troy Green, Slidell; Owen Galley, Sam Houston; Kanyon Griffin, Acadiana; Hunter Guillot, Thibodaux; Mason Hickman, Mandeville;
David Griep, Ruston
; Brock Laird, Natchitoches Central; Lucas Lawrence, Catholic; Noah Lewis, Catholic; Lawton Littleton, Barbe; Carson Malasovich, Northshore; Chase Marcotte, Destrehan;
JP Moak, Ruston
; Wes Oats, Pineville; Gavin Panks, Covington; Brayden Rachal, Alexandria; Tyler Roark, West Monroe;
Tyler Roach, Ruston
; Logan Rogers, H.L. Bourgeois; Koa Romero, Hahnville; Aidan Ryan, Covington; Andrew Sharp, Captain Shreve; Slade Shove-Knox, Sulphur; Connor Smith, Northshore; Austyn Taylor, Pineville; Abel Thetford, Parkway; Brody Trosclair, Thibodaux; Bryce Wilson, Chalmette; Zach Wilburn, Byrd.
