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Hayden Robinson, the Berwick High pitcher who was selected by Milwaukee in the Major League Baseball draft, has agreed to terms with the Brewers, assistant Berwick coach Lud Henry said Tuesday.

Robinson was expected to sign a contract Tuesday, Henry said.

"Exciting and nervous time for the family," he said.

Robinson, who pitched a five-hit semifinal win on the way to Berwick's Non-Select Division III championship in May, flew Sunday night to Phoenix with his parents, Anne Marie and Seth Henry. Phoenix is the home of Milwaukee's spring training facility and the headquarters of the rookie-level Arizona League.

Robinson underwent a physical in Phoenix.

Robinson, who graduated in May, was drafted in the 14th round of the MLB draft July 9-11. He was the 422nd pick overall and the only Louisiana high school prospect to be chosen.

He had committed to Nicholls State in fall 2022 but remained draft-eligible because he had graduated high school and had not yet entered college.

Teams had until 4 p.m. CDT Tuesday to come to terms with their draftees or lose the rights to them.

Robinson, 6-feet and 180 pounds, turned 18 the day after the draft ended.

The Review the Brew fan website gave Robinson an indirect vote of confidence, noting that he was the last of eight consecutive draft choices the Brewers used to select pitchers.

"With the bevy of high school arms, the Brewers are likely throwing darts, hoping to negotiate and potentially sign one of them with some left over bonus pool money they might have," the site said. "They won't be able to bring all of them into the fold."

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

Area police agencies reported three drug-related arrests over the weekend, including one by parish deputies for failure to appear to answer a charge of possession with intent to distribute heroin.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 86 complaints and made these arrests:

--Peter Joel Little, 39, Gibson, was arrested at 1:46 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin; possession with intent to distribute marijuana; possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon; illegal use, possession or control of weapons; obstruction of justice (tampering with evidence); aggravated flight from an officer where human life is endangered; possession with intent to distribute fentanyl; and possession with intent to distribute alprazolam.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--Alan Michael Granger, 33, Franklin, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Friday on a charge of simple battery. Granger continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Theron Alexander, 43, Jeanerette, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of maximum speed limit, possession of marijuana and possession of Xanax.

Alexander was released on a $5,000 bond.

Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 147 calls for service and made these arrests:

--Amber B. Fendley, 38, Crenshaw Street, Berwick, was arrested at 9:46 a.m. Friday on charges of no tail lamps, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension and resisting an officer.

--Cedric B. Gant, 26, Grace Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:23 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging four counts of failure to appear (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Tre’ Deonte Delaune, 18, Garber Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:23 p.m. Friday on a charge of simple robbery.

--Giovanni Kayne, 22, Yoakum, Texas, was arrested at 11:36 p.m. Friday on a charge of reckless operation of a vehicle, no driver's license and no registration.

--Craig O. Robinson, 35, First Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:22 a.m. Saturday on a charge of resisting an officer (false information) and on a warrant alleging criminal neglect of family (16th Judicial District Court).

--Kelli A. Muirhead, 23, First Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jose G. Rosas-Rodriguez, 35, Laurel Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:13 a.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

--Christopher Thompson, 37, Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was arrested at 2:27 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging two counts of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Zoe E. Wilson, 19, Belanger Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:53 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving under suspension and no insurance and on a warrant alleging failure to appear (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Deanna D Pierre, 37, Bailey Street, Boutte, was arrested at 12:56 a.m. Monday on a charge of resisting an officer (false information) and on a warrant alleging failure to pay fine.

--Troy Rainy, 53, West Friendship Drive, Harvey, was arrested at 7:15 a.m. Monday on a charge of disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that over the weekend, the Franklin Police Department responded to 16 complaints and made these arrests:

--Ida Fine, 35, of Ninth St., Franklin, was arrested at 1:24 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana.
Fine was booked, processed and released to appear in 3rd Ward City Court.

--Shawn Jenkins, 46, Morris Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:43 a.m. Saturday on a charge of simple battery. Jenkins was booked, processed and held on a $1,500 bond.

Chitimacha

Chief B.C. Trahan reported this arrest:

--Ladante J Tabor, 26, Martin Luther King Road, Charenton; was arrested for reckless operation of off-road vehicle (dirt bike) and compulsory motor vehicle liability security. Tabor's off-road vehicle was seized and towed and he was released on a summons.

Jennifer Ann Orlando Ludwig, 48, a native of Morgan City and resident of Bayou Vista, died Friday, July 21, 2023, at Passages Hospice in New Orleans.

She is survived by her husband, Mark Ludwig; son, Caleb Ludwig; daughter, Hannah Ludwig; father, Joseph Orlando; brother, Brandon Orlando; sister, Sarah Grizzaffi; and maternal grandmother, Beverly Picou.

She was preceded in death by her mother, paternal grandparents and maternal grandfather.

Visitation will be Monday from 9 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.

Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Looking for the secret for great barbecue?

A couple of competitors came up with the same answer at Saturday's conclusion of the 2023 Bayou BBQ Bash: Texture is king.

That's for the cooking. In the bash's Barbeque Competitors Alliance-sanctioned competition, Justin Barnett of Springfield, Louisiana, was the king, winning the Grand Champion trophy as well as first in the Ribs competition.

He won a $600 and $500 checks from Smokin' With Smithfield, a meat producer's effort to promote barbecue, which added $3,000 to the Bayou BBQ Bash's $5,000 prize fund this year. Master Electric Service donated a championship belt buckle.

And D.a.T. Sauce donated a "Golden Ticket" to the World Food Championships in November in Dallas.

Master Electric also won the Best Local Team competition. James Cruse was another double winner, taking Reserve Champion and first in the Brisket category.
In the new dessert competition, held in memory of bash co-founder Mata Tellman, Daryl Walker took first place.

The taste of the barbecue can be bold, but the difference between good and great can be subtle.

Benjy Lewis of Monroe was among the 44 entrants in this year's Bayou BBQ Bash. He has been in barbecue competitions since 2009.

"I thought I made a good rib," Lewis said. "I got humbled when I got into my first one."

But Lewis continued to compete, winning some top prizes along the way. The crowning accomplishment was an eighth-place finish in the 2022 World Food Championships Ribs competition.

"The reason I stay in it," Lewis said, "is the people."

He has picked up some tips. Odd though it is to hear in south Louisiana, he warns against making the sauce too spicy. And the most important thing is to make sure the meat has a pleasing texture.

"You've got make sure you mind your texture," Lewis said. "Texture is king."

Chris Bridge of the Master Electric corporate team said much the same thing in different words. The Bayou BBQ Bash is his second competition this year.

"What I learned is to create feel rather than temperature," Bridge said.

"It tells you everything you want to know. You have to feel it."

Here's a list of the first-place winners at the 2023 Bayou BBQ Bash:

Grand Champion
Justin Barnett

Reserve Champion
James Cruse

Best Local Team
Master Electric Services

Corporate
Sewart Supply Gear-B-Que
(Pau A. Cheramie, Paul E. Cheramie, Carl Beecher and Billy Waguespack)

Chicken
Jason Pettis

Ribs
Justin Barnett

Brisket
James Cruse

Mata Tellman
Dessert Competition
Daryl Walker

Cannata's Kids Q
Under 13
Noah Lindsey
14-17
Kerigan Allemond

Click here to see photos of the winners.