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FRANKLIN DIXIE YOUTH BASEBALL LEAGUE held its Opening Day ceremonies Saturday at Caffery Park. On hand to throw out the ceremonial first pitch were Franklin Mayor Raymond Harris and St. Mary Parish President David Hanagriff.

Hanson Memorial’s Lady Tigers used a pair of six-run innings combined with a 3-run frame to topple the Lafayette Christian Academy Lady Knights 15-5 Saturday in District 7-1A action at the Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers Softball Complex.
Hanson scored six runs in the bottom half of both the first and third innings along with three runs in the fifth stanza for a 10-run rule 15-5 victory over LCA.
With the win, Hanson upped its record to 10-8 overall and 9-2 in Dis-trict 7-1A.
Ashlee Meyerholtz earned the win in the circle for the Hanson Memorial Lady Tigers. She went five complete innings, allowing five runs (all earned) while fanning two and walking one.
Leading hitters for the Lady Tigers were: Allyssa Young, 1 for 3, 2 runs, walk; Casey Fitzgerald, 1 for 4, run, RBI; Kaylee Broussard, 1 for 3, 3 runs, RBI; Lunden Verdin, 1 for 1, double, run, 3 RBI, walk; Baylee Young, 2 for 2, 3 runs, 3 RBI; Ashlee Meyerholtz, 1 for 4, 2 runs, RBI; Meagan LeBlanc, 2 for 3, double, run, 4 RBI and Camille Baker, 2 for 3, RBI.
The Hanson Lady Tigers blew open a scoreless game by plating six runs in the first and third frames for a 12-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the first frame, a one-out RBI-double by Lunden Verdin sparked a rally that ended in a 6-0 advantage for the Lady Tigers. Kaylee Broussard and Allyssa Young smacked back-to-back singles before Verdin belted an RBI-double which plated Broussard, giving Hanson a 1-0 lead. With Allyssa Young at third and Verdin at second, Baylee Young delivered Allyssa Young on an RBI-single as the Lady Tigers took a 2-0 lead. . Verdin later advanced to third and Baylee Young moved to second as Noel Baker was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Ashlee Meyerholtz lined a grounder which went for an error, scoring Verdin from third base to give Hanson a 3-0 lead. With Baylee Young on third, Noel Baker on second and Ashlee Meyerhotlz at first base, Meagan LeBlanc belted a 3-run double, sending Hanson Memorial to a 6-0 advantage at the end of the first frame.
Hanson Memorial added six more runs in the bottom of the third for a 12-0 lead. Baylee Young, who led off the inning by reaching first base after getting hit by a pitch, advanced to second base on a passed ball before moving to third base on another passed ball before tagging home plate on a wild pitch, lifting Hanson to a 7-0 lead. Noel Baker later walked to first base on a free pass before Ashlee Meyerholtz later singled and Meagan LeBlanc walked to load the bases. Camille Baker later singled home Noel Baker, giving Hanson an 8-0 advantage. Casey Fitzgerald singled home Meyerholtz for a 9-0 lead prior to LeBlanc scoring on an error, making it 10-0 after she touched home plate. Allyssa Young hit into a fielder’s choice, before Lunden Verdin scored Casey Fitzgerald on a bases-loaded walk as the Lady Tigers stretched their lead to 11-0. Kaylee Broussard closed out the scoring in the third stanza when she scored on Baylee Young’s sacrifice fly, giving Hanson a 12-0 lead
Hanson added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth frame when Kaylee Broussard, Allyssa Young and Baylee Young circled the bases to help the Lady Tigers posted the 10-run rule victory over LCA.
Broussard reached af-ter getting hit by a pitch before Allyssa Young strolled to first base on a walk. Both Broussard and Allyssa Young moved up on a wild pitch before Verdin delivered Broussard on a sacrifice fly. Baylee Young later drove home Allyssa Young before Noel Baker walked, setting up Meagan LeBlanc’s game-ending RBI-single up the middle with Baylee Young’s score giving the Lady Tigers the victory due to the 10-run rule.
The Lady Tigers will return to action Tuesday at home versus Highland Baptist in District 7-1A action.

Franklin Police Chief Sabria McGuire reported the following arrests:
Terrance Clark, 48, Seventh Street, Franklin, was arrested on Thursday, at 2:43 p.m., on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of driving a vehicle without a license. Clark was released on a $500 cash bond.
Eric Dennis, 32, Tiger Lane, Verdinville, was arrested on Thursday, at 4:35 p.m., on a warrant for the charge of nonconsensual disclosure of private areas. Dennis was released on a $5,000 bond.
Trevis Ruffin, 24, O’Neal Chube, Franklin, was arrested on Friday, at 3:12 a.m., for the charge of illegal possession of a stolen firearm. No bond is set.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported the following arrests:
Johnny Lejune Sr., 52, 138 Joseph Lane, Four Corners, was arrested on Friday at 12:38 p.m. for criminal trespass and disturbing the peace. Lejune was released on a summons.
Rebecca Freer, 33, 1163 La. 662, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested on Friday at 6:52 p.m. for improper lane usage and on a warrant for improper lane usage and possession of drug paraphernalia. Freer was released on a summons.
Jerry Favors, 52, 1457 Gabriel St., Patterson, was arrested on Friday at 8:46 p.m. for theft of goods and resisting an officer. Favors was released on a summons.
Lawanda Johnson, 40, 231 Happy Acres, Lot #9, Baldwin, was arrested on Saturday at 2:03 a.m. for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, speeding and possession of open alcoholic container in a motor vehicle. Johnson was released on a $3,250 bond.
Kenneth Dangerfield, 62, 1022 McCall Avenue, Conroe, Texas was arrested on Saturday at 1:33 p.m. on two warrants for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple assault. No bail is set.
Ronald Morgan, 52, 2366 Woodland Court, Port Allen, was arrested on Saturday at 10:08 p.m. for reckless operation of a motor vehicle, flight from an officer and possession of (open) alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles. Morgan was released on a $2,500 bond.
Jerry Cross, 60, 130 Natalie Lane #69, Patterson, was arrested on Saturday at 10:12 p.m. for operating a vehicle while intoxicated 2nd offense, speeding, and possession of (open) alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles. Cross was released on a $5,750 bond.
Christopher Hatcher Sr., 33, 405 Southeast Blvd., Bayou Vista, was arrested on Monday at 3:38 a.m. on a warrant for sexual battery. No bail is set.

COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — Seniors in the Heritage Academy Class of 2017 will leave a Literacy Legacy to benefit not only future classes but also youngsters in the community at large. Since the beginning of the academic year, the senior class project has weekly paired Heritage 12th-graders — Reading Buddies — with elementary students at Franklin Academy to strengthen youngsters’ reading skills.
Class members read to children at pediatric clinics as well, and volunteer with Friends of the Columbus-Lowndes Public Library monthly book sales. They also raised $11,000 to enhance the Heritage Academy high school library and make a donation to the Edwina Williams Endowment for Children’s Literature.
“First and foremost, the mission of our project is to expand and help emphasize the importance and fun of literacy throughout Columbus,” said senior Reed Hairston, project publicity co-chair. The result has proven positive for both the seniors and the children they are partnered with.
“I love what I’ve seen in the community,” said project sponsor Lynn Sneed, who teaches at Heritage. She also has a son in the Class of 2017. “They sit down one-on-one and read AR books with elementary students and help them on their AR goals. I’ve loved to see how they interact.”
Reading Buddies like senior Olivia Laws like being part of the outreach. “It’s been such a privilege to be able to read to the children at Franklin and watch them improve every week,” she said.
“They have been such a blessing,” Franklin Academy Librarian Rebecca Houston said of the seniors. “They’ve really gotten the kids excited about reading. The kids love it.” She noted the friendships that have formed and a willingness on the part of some of the older students to spend extra time working with their elementary buddies, including helping with reading fairs.
Literacy Legacy fundraising began in the fall with yard sales, bake sales and appeals to local businesses. Dollars raised have made possible updates underway at the Heritage library, to include technology upgrades, supplies, tables, books, shelving and a new mural. Funds collected also allowed the class to make a $1,000 contribution to the Edwina Williams Endowment in February.
Going out to speak with businesses gave seniors experience in presenting themselves in a professional setting, Hairston noted. It also demonstrated to the class that community businesses care enough to make a difference.
Seniors like that Literacy Legacy extends beyond the boundaries of the Heritage campus. It’s also a partnership between private and public schools, Sneed said.
Senior Class President Hollis Phillips said, “My favorite thing is that we aren’t just helping students at Heritage; we help students at other schools around the community as well.”