Ethan Frey, an LSU baseball signee, leads Rosepine to second straight state championship

SULPHUR — All season long, Rosepine senior and LSU baseball signee Ethan Frey has terrorized opponents with his bat.

However, it was Frey’s right arm that did most of the damage as Rosepine claimed its second straight title in an 11-0 victory in the Class 2A championship game at McMurry Park on Friday night. For the second straight year, Frey was named as the Most Outstanding Player for the title game.

“Everything we did paid off,” Frey said. “To put 11 runs up in a championship game is unreal. Last year, we only put up one, but we won and that’s all that matters.”

Frey, who was last season’s LSWA 2A Most Outstanding Player on the All-State team, struck out eight batters and allowed one hit, while hitting a triple and driving in four runs in the victory.

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Frey hit a school-record 13 home runs this season.

“To come out here in the biggest moment of the year and toss him the ball, he answers the call,” Eagles coach Jeff Smith said. “He’s a total competitor and I never really worried a whole lot. I know what kind of mindset he has. He’s the only one like that in my career and is probably the only one like that I’ll ever coach.”

The Eagles closed the season with a 30-game winning streak.

“I hate losing,” Frey said. “I’d rather hate to lose than love to win. I hate losing in anything, even if I play video games. That’s just how I am. We can play cornhole and I’d hate losing.”

While Frey played a big part of the Eagles’ success, he wasn't  the only player to contribute. 

 There's junior Jake Smith, a Louisiana Tech commitment, and Cole Donahue, who will play for  Louisiana Christian. The Eagles also had production from  junior Grant Ducote, senior Logan Calcote and senior Braden Trull.

During Frey’s freshman season in 2019, Rosepine was eliminated by Doyle in three games during the regional round but knew that this group would build something special.

“It’s a brotherhood,” Frey said. “We’re just fulfilling what we enjoy doing.”

Frey is excited for his future at LSU. Frey committed to the Tigers as a freshman and signed with them in November.

“Putting that Tigers uniform is every Louisiana kid’s dream,” Frey said. “To see that Tiger on your chest, those pinstripes and the purple and gold is unreal.”