OMAHA, Neb. — Coming out of last season, LSU coach Jay Johnson couldn’t have foreseen the national championship this group of tenacious Tigers is taking back to Baton Rouge.

“It was probably a year ago today,” he said, “we had 12 players in our program that actually played on the field for us in 2024. Twelve.”

Then, quoting his mentor and LSU baseball patriarch Skip Bertman, Johnson said: “We ended up with some really good fortune.”

LSU knocked previously unbeaten Coastal Carolina ace Jacob Morrison out of the game with a four-run fourth inning and the Tigers won their second national title in three years Sunday with a 5-3 victory in the College World Series finals.

The Tigers (53-15) completed a two-game sweep of the Chanticleers (56-13), who entered the finals on a 26-game win streak and on Sunday saw coach Kevin Schnall and first base coach Matt Schilling ejected in the bottom of the first inning.

LSU gave the Southeastern Conference its sixth straight national title in baseball and 11th in 16 years. It was LSU’s eighth, all since 1991 and second most all-time behind Southern California’s 12.

Johnson became the first Division I coach to win two titles in his first four years at a school. No other coach had accomplished that feat in fewer than eight seasons.

“It’s not to be taken for granted, being here two years ago,” Johnson said. “That was special. Greatest night of my life. This is equal and maybe even tops in some ways.”

The 2023 team was led by Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, the top two picks in the MLB amateur draft that year, and slugger Tommy White. It was built to win a championship.

The good fortune Johnson referred to was mixing those 12 returning players from last season with a talented freshman class that mostly showed up intact after the draft and was rated No. 1 in college baseball, along with 10 transfers — including three ranked in the top 10 in the portal rankings. The team coalesced quickly.

“We went through probably the hardest schedule in college baseball and we had one hiccup — one. A little speed bump at Auburn,” Johnson said, referring to being swept in a three-game series in April. “But other than that, they dominated the season and they dominated the schedule.”

Coastal Carolina won the national title in 2016 and was trying to become the first team since 1962 (Michigan) and the fifth all-time to win the championship in its first two CWS appearances.

“To get us just back to Omaha after what we did in 2016, and then to come to Omaha and play the way we did and get us back to the World Series finals is really incredible,” Schnall said. “These two games won’t define what this team was.”

With five-time champion coach Bertman watching from the stands, LSU tied it at 1 in the third on Ethan Frey’s RBI double and went up 5-1 in the fourth on two-run singles by Chris Stanfield and Derek Curiel.

Coastal Carolina pulled within 5-3 in the seventh against LSU starter Anthony Eyanson when No. 9 batter Wells Sykes hit his fourth homer of the season.

That brought on Chase Shores for his fourth appearance of the CWS. The 6-foot-8 right-hander touched 100 mph with his fastball while retiring the first five batters he faced before Dean Mihos, who homered in the second, singled through the right side leading off the ninth.

With Tigers fans on their feet and chanting “L-S-U, L-S-U,” Shores struck out Ty Dooley and got Sykes to ground into a game-ending double play. The Tigers’ dugout emptied and the celebratory dogpile behind the mound ensued, and the players then walked around the warning track in a line high-fiving fans leaning over the wall.

The 87-year-old Bertman came onto the field in a wheelchair and walked with assistance to have pictures taken with coaches and players.

The Chanticleers had won 15 straight when Morrison (12-1) started. Morrison’s 3 2/3 innings marked his shortest start of the season and the five runs against him were the most he has allowed.

LSU entered having won 13 games in a row in which one of its top two pitchers — Kade Anderson and Eyanson — started.

Anderson, one of those 12 holdovers, was selected the Most Outstanding Player of the CWS after allowing one run and six hits and striking out 17 in 16 innings over two starts in Omaha.

Anderson threw a three-hit shutout in LSU’s 1-0 win in Game 1 of the finals, and Eyanson (12-2) was mostly sharp over his 6 1/3 innings. The three runs against him came on seven hits and a walk. He struck out nine.

“I remember hugging my parents right now with the natty hat and shirt on,” said Eyanson, a UC San Diego transfer. “Even on my (recruiting) visit, looking at all the history on the wall, this is what I dreamed literally — throwing pitches, starting the final game of the national championship.”

Schnall, in his first year as head coach after taking over for the retired Gary Gilmore, had not been ejected this season before Sunday.

Walker Mitchell was at bat with two outs and Sebastian Alexander had just stolen second base when Schnall went to the top steps of the dugout, gestured at plate umpire Angel Campos with three fingers and began shouting at him.

The NCAA said Schnall was arguing balls and strikes, was given a warning and thrown out when he did not leave immediately. Schilling was tossed for comments he made as the confrontation with umpires continued near the plate.

“And that’s why I feel a little gutted right now,” Schnall said, “because the talk is going to be about the ejection, not this team. And it’s not right. The front-row seat should be the 2025 Coastal Carolina baseball team, not what happened in the first inning.”

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AP college sports: https://apnews.com/hub/college-sports

North Central incoming freshman Maycee Walker (left) and Pettisville incoming freshman Miriam Richer pose for a photo after the duo helped the Team Pineapple Volleyball Club 14U team, based out of Angola, Indiana, finish second in the 14U Premier Division at the AAU Girls National Volleyball Championships from June 17-20 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The club went 8-4 on the week.

PENTA MODENA

10

POLICE CERTALDO

5

(1-1 3-1 2-2 1-1 – 3-0)

PENTA MODENA: Bertesi, Montante 1, Sorbini, Cojacetto, Rametta 1, Martelli 1, Prampolini, Andrè 2, Gavioli, Gandolfi, Rivhetti 2, Lorenzoni, Cavazzoni, Torri, coach: Selmi.

POL. CERTALDO: Desideri, Martini 1, Nesi 3, Toncelli, Lupi, Baldinelli D., Frosecchi 2, Ulivi, Matteucci 1, Lotta, Cocca, Spacone.

REFEREE: Bacelle M.

NOTE: Baldinelli D. and Righetti definitively ejected for temporary triple, Lorenzoni for brutality.

Penta chooses the most difficult path to bring Modena back to the water polo that counts, through the crazy lottery of penalties that, however, thanks to the potatoes of an unsurpassable Fabio Cavazzoni, turns into a wonderful parade with three penalties converted by the Modena team, compared to three penalties saved by the Tuscans, who still deserve the honor of arms for having tried until the end. Penta builds its advantage in the second half, tightening the defense, and resisting the assaults of the Tuscans who see their dreams shattered with two minutes to go, when Lorenzoni is sent off for brutality, and Modena is forced to play with one man less until the end, when the ‘rumba’ of penalties begins, where Cavazzoni takes the stage, crowning the team’s beautiful dream.

mc

The Southeastern Conference fined schools for field storming in 2004, it didn’t work then and is it really going to do anything now? The SEC has ramped up fines yet again for field storming but the college football tradition doesn’t seem to go down easily. 

The SEC flexed their muscles when they announced that rushing the field will now cost a home team a whopping $500,000. Commissioner Greg Sankey defended the decision, stating “…the motivation was ‘field rushing is field rushing, the first time or the 18th time.’”

Recently, there’s been a steady rising increase of posts that showcase students rushing the field. This newfound popularity has college students waiting for the opportunity to cause chaos themselves. Contributing to the excitement,Vanderbilt’s students tore out and actually carried around goalposts after their upset against No. 1 Alabama this year. 

In the past, the fines were issued on an escalating basis — first time offenders paid $100,000, the second fine was $200,000 and finally $500,000 on the third offense. 

Despite this widely unpopular new rule, there was one interesting caveat: the SEC can waive the fine if the visiting team is allowed to safely return to their locker room with no contact from the home team fans. 

This loophole was enforced during the most recent basketball season as multiple teams required fans to wait until the visiting team made it to the locker room before storming the court. Will this really  work in football, with the blood-pumping adrenaline of the students? Even if you could somehow get the fans to wait, it takes a lot longer to get roughly 80 players back through a tunnel. . 

Let’s be honest, this rule is only going to give college students a bigger adrenaline rush when attempting to rush the field, and give them more of an incentive to keep the tradition alive despite the consequences — which the students won’t even have to pay. 

Sure, colleges may have more security and barriers in their stadiums which might keep the students from rushing the field for some games, but with the rage of a rivalry game or an upset of a No. 1 seed, I doubt barriers will keep dedicated fans at bay.

After Arkansas beat Tennessee last year, it incurred a $250,000 fine for students rushing the field and Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said, “I think the AD’s going to be mad, or maybe he won’t be. I don’t know, but right now, I don’t care.” 

If this is the kind of attitude we have from coaches, imagine the energy of riled-up, drunk college students in the stands.

Field rushing is tradition, and tradition is what makes people keep coming back for college football. This new rule may reduce field rushing, but it will only increase the special and rebellious nature of the tradition, ultimately creating the exact opposite effect of what the SEC wants.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SHAWN THEODORE

Abington Heights

Outside hitter, Senior

Led Abington Heights to the Lackawanna League championship, the District 2 Class 3A championship and the program’s first win in the PIAA playoffs. … He had 242 kills, 28 aces, 10 blocks, 132 digs, 14 assists this season. … He had 13 games with more than 10 kills and had a season-high 26 in the PIAA playoff win over Bethlehem Freedom. … He had 77 kills in four postseason matches. … He finished with 360 kills, 33 aces, 30 blocks, 165 digs, 19 assists in his career.

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LUKE PEEREBOOM

Delaware Valley

Middle hitter, Senior

Helped Delaware Valley reach the District 2 Class 3A championship match. … He had 168 kills, 26 blocks, 99 service points with 23 aces, and four assists. … He had 25 kills and 12 service points in the District 2 Class 3A postseason. … He finished his career with 205 kills, 42 blocks, 225 service points, 31 aces and five assists.

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SHANE BROWER

Abington Heights

Middle hitter, Senior

Helped Abington Heights to the Lackawanna League championship, the District 2 Class 3A championship and the program’s first win in the PIAA playoffs. … He had 179 kills, 44 aces, 50 blocks, 45 digs, and 17 assists this season. … Had a season-high 20 kills against West Scranton and had 15 kills in PIAA playoff win over Bethlehem Freedom. … He finished with 221, 44 aces, 74 blocks, 62 digs, 22 assists.

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VINNY SILON

Western Wayne

Outside hitter, Senior

Led Western Wayne to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. … He had 314 kills, 121 service points, 35 aces, 17 blocks, and 147 digs this season. … He had a season-high 29 kills against West Scranton and 30 kills in the postseason. … He finished his career with 605 kills, 305 service points, 97 aces, 39 blocks, and 249 digs.

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RYAN HORUTZ

Abington Heights

Setter, Sophomore

Helped Abington Heights to the Lackawanna League championship, the District 2 Class 3A championship and the program’s first win in the PIAA playoffs. … He had 596 assists, 31 aces, 31 blocks, and 110 digs. … Had a season-high 54 assists in the PIAA playoff win over Freedom. … Finished career with 863 assists, 84 kills, 57 aces, 44 blocks, and 187 digs.

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GINO GUALANDI

Delaware Valley

Outside hitter, Senior

Helped Delaware Valley reach the District 2 Class 3A championship match. … He had 165 kills, four blocks, seven assists, 71 service points and 32 aces. … He had 25 kills and five aces in the District 2 Class 3A postseason. … He finished career with 303 kills, 26 blocks, 22 assists, 162 service points and 58 aces.

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LUKE STEVENS

Valley View

Outside hitter, Junior

Led Valley View to 10 wins and the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals in the second year for the program. … He had 145 kills to lead the team and added 46 blocks and 44 aces. … He had 10 kills and four blocks against District 2 Class 2A runner-up Crestwood. … Had 10 kills and three blocks against District 2 Class 3A champion Abington Heights.

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THEO BLACK

Western Wayne

Setter, Senior

Led Western Wayne to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. … He had 584 assists, 128 service points, 14 aces, 12 kills, and 87 digs this season. … He had a season-high 49 assists against West Scranton and had 70 assists in the postseason. … He finished his career with 1,087 assists, 320 service points, 40 aces, 19 kills, and 117 digs.

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JOHN PYATT

Western Wayne

Middle hitter, Senior

Led Western Wayne to the District 2 Class 2A semifinals. … He had 224 kills digs, 162 service points, 40 aces, 51 blocks, and 84 digs this season. … He had a season-high 17 kills in wins over West Scranton and Nanticoke Area. … He had 33 kills, 20 service points, five aces, five blocks and 19 digs in two postseason matches.

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JAMIE SPANGLER

Abington Heights

Guided the Comets to an undefeated season in the Lackawanna League, the program’s second District 2 Class 3A championship and its first PIAA victory in history. … Has a career record of 183-30 in 13 seasons. … Fourth Coach of the Year award.

The sites may change and the events may be different, but one thing remains the same — the Herbst sisters win.

Competing in the Nike National Championships under-20 division in Eugene, Ore., Makenna and Morgan Herbst of Carlsbad High School again proved unbeatable.

Morgan Herbst jumped up to the international distance of 400-meter hurdles and after taking the United States lead with a time of 55.89 seconds in the prelims and then improved to 55.78 while easily capturing the event over Jasmine Robinson of Georgia, who ran 57.49.

Twin sister Makenna even had an easier time, running away with the 800-meter U-20 title with a time of 2:02.48 — second only to her state-championship and section-record time of 2:02.28. She won her race by just under 5 seconds.

Makenna and Morgan Herbst graduated from Carlsbad earlier this month. Both are headed to the University of Arkansas. The twins will have an opportunity to qualify for the United States national team in 2026; the World U-20 Championships are held in even-numbered years.

The sister-brother team of Anisa Bowen-Fontenot and Jasir Fontenot also fared well over the weekend.

Bowen-Fontenot came within .004 seconds of winning the 100-meter hurdles as she and Joslyn Hamilton, who just finished her freshman season at the University of South Carolina, had to go to 1,000ths of a second after both ran 13.36 seconds into a 0.7 meters-per-second wind.

The San Diego High School graduate who is headed to a different USC — the University of Southern California — was the leading qualifier out of the prelims at 13.40.

Her brother Jasir, who is expected to move from San Diego High to Mater Dei Catholic in the fall — his father, Bazz, has been named the school’s boys basketball coach — placed fourth in a blanket finish in the 110-meter hurdles.

He clocked a time of 13.37 seconds in the prelims and came back to run a 13.39 in the finals.

Texas’ Ja’Shaun Lloyd won in 13.31, Virginia’s Joshua-Kai Smith was second in 13.32 and New Jersey’s Jamir Brown was third in 13.35. At 15, Fontenot was youngest in the field by an average of three years.

Elsewhere, Eastlake senior-to-be Jaelyn Williams placed second in the U-20 1,500 at 4:22.32 before coming back to finish fourth in the 3,000 at 9:36.11; 2024 La Jolla High graduate and current Michigan quarter-miler Payton Smith placed fourth in the 400 at 53.17 and Oceanside junior Jayden Gibbs had a big improvement in the shot with a PR of 54 feet, 3¾ inches to place fifth.

More than 3,000 miles way in Philadelphia, La Jolla senior-to-be Chiara Dailey was seventh in the mile run at Franklin Field, clocking a 4:41.53 in the New Balance Nationals. Two weeks earlier, in the HOKA Festival of Miles in St. Louis, she ran 4:39.14 for the mile while being clocked at a 4:37.08 for 1,600 meters.

Since the 4:37.08 was run after the state meet, it can’t count for record purposes. Still, Dailey’s time is the fastest-ever 1,600 among section girls athletes. Her official section record is 4:40.28 run at Arcadia.

Originally Published: June 22, 2025 at 2:07 PM PDT