Last week, we went to the Lake Charles, LA area to see a mega matchup between District 3-5A rivals Sam Houston and Barbe.  The game turned out to be a pitcher's duel between two stellar sophomore arms with the Bucs beating the Broncos by a score of 1-0.  The two teams will meet again this week on Tuesday night, in what should be another thrilling matchup that we're excited to see.

Another week means we have another game to choose and we're headed back up north for our Week 8 Game of the Week between West Monroe and Benton.  The Rebels and the Tigers are arguably the top two teams in the northern part of the state this season and this non-district matchup will likely have serious playoff implications.  Stay connected with us on all our social media platforms for real-time updates, exclusive highlights, and comprehensive coverage of what promises to be an epic Week 8 Game of the Week!

 

West Monroe HS vs. Benton HS 

-Date(s) & Time(s): Monday March 31, 2025 at 6 PM

-Location: Benton High School

-West Monroe HS (2025 Record): 17-7

-Head Coach: Wade Simoneaux

-Benton HS (2025 Record): 24-1

-Head Coach: Dane Peavy

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GAME OF THE WEEK PREVIEW

Our Week 8 Game of the Week features the top two teams in North Louisiana with the West Monroe Rebels taking on the Benton Tigers.  The Rebels went through some early season struggles, but have been playing their best baseball as of late, as they've reeled off nine straight wins to improve their season record to 17-7.  The Tigers have been near perfect this season with a 24-1 overall record and have won their last thirteen consecutive games.

West Monroe

The defending Non-Select Division I State Champion West Monroe Rebels may have started the season with an 8-7 record, but they've caught fire down the stretch—rattling off nine straight wins and looking every bit like a team ready to defend its title. The key? Dominant pitching. During this impressive streak, the Rebels have allowed just eight total runs. 

Leading the charge on the mound is senior RHP Drew Ferguson, a former Future Gamer and Louisiana Tech signee. Ferguson has been lights-out over his last three starts, giving up just one earned run over 15 innings with 13 strikeouts and zero walks. After an efficient 62-pitch outing last Wednesday against Pineville, we fully expect him to toe the rubber on Monday night against Benton.

 

The offense has matched the pitching stride for stride, putting up 61 runs over the nine-game stretch. Sophomore third baseman Peyton Starr is swinging it well, hitting over .300 with a team-leading 19 RBIs and 24 runs scored. Senior second baseman Drew Anderson and catcher Lytton Arledge have also been catalysts at the plate, both hitting over .300 with on-base percentages north of .400. With momentum building and both arms and bats clicking, the Rebels are rounding into championship form at just the right time.

 

Benton

The Tigers have been nearly perfect this spring with a 24-1 overall record.  Benton has reeled off thirteen straight victories, since dropping their first game of the season to St. Louis Catholic back on March 1st, which now seems like a distant memory.

Benton boasts one of the most explosive offenses in the state, with game-changing speed and production up and down the lineup. Leading the charge is former Future Gamer Cole Snell, who’s been nothing short of sensational this spring. The uncommitted junior is hitting a staggering .521 with 2 home runs, 9 doubles, 4 triples, 45 RBIs, and 44 runs scored. He’s also swiped 19 bases and struck out just three times all season—a model of consistency and power.

Sophomore outfielder Hayden Millen adds another dimension with elite speed. After clocking a blazing 6.41 60-yard dash in the fall, Millen has translated that speed into results, racking up 28 stolen bases while hitting .550 with 2 doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs, and 40 runs scored.

 

The Tigers’ offensive firepower doesn’t stop there. Junior Case Jorden has been a reliable table-setter at the top of the lineup. Last week, he went 4-for-8 (.500) with 2 doubles and 3 runs scored in a strong showing. And in the heart of the order, a trio of seniors—Kade Bryant, Jackson Jones, and Griffin Sibley—provide the veteran presence and run-producing punch that make Benton so dangerous.

With a lineup that can hurt you in so many ways, Benton is a nightmare for opposing pitching staffs and looks poised to make serious noise this postseason.

As dynamic as Benton’s offense has been, the Tigers' pitching staff has matched that level of excellence this spring. Leading the way is senior right-hander Thomas Allen, a Louisiana-Monroe signee and former Future Gamer and Senior Future Gamer. Allen has been a consistent force on the mound all season, and his most recent outing against Haughton might’ve been his best yet—tossing 8 innings with 11 strikeouts while allowing just 2 earned runs to pick up the win last Tuesday.

With five full days of rest, Allen is a strong candidate to start Monday night’s matchup against West Monroe. But Benton has depth on the mound. Senior Kade Bryant is another quality option, and former Senior Future Gamer Tanner Webb turned heads earlier this month when he fired a no-hitter against C.E. Byrd on March 6th.

 

It’s rare for us to spotlight a non-district game this late in the season as our Game of the Week—but the showdown between West Monroe and Benton is simply too good to ignore. Both teams are playing high-level baseball right now, and with bragging rights in North Louisiana and valuable playoff power points on the line, expect a highly competitive atmosphere.

In the latest LHSAA Power Rankings, Benton holds the No. 2 spot, while West Monroe is sitting at No. 16. The Rebels are looking to climb into position to host a first-round playoff game, while the Tigers are aiming to hold onto their top-two seed and secure home-field advantage through the semifinals.

Monday night’s matchup will showcase some of the best talent in North Louisiana—and with so much at stake, it has all the makings of a classic. Grab your friends and head out to Benton High School for what could be one of the best games of the year.

 

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