Tim Fletcher Show: Lastest on La’el Collins + HS Baseball Playoffs + Local Golfers Doing Well

Former LSU Tiger, La'el Collins met with Baton Rouge Police for 90 minutes Monday, answering questions related to the double-murder of Brittney Mills and her just-born child.  Police public information officer Don Coppola said, "No one can be ruled out until an arrest has been made.  Collins fully cooperated with investigators and is still not considered a suspect in the homicide of Brittney and Brenton Mills."  Coppola said Collins could face more questioning.

Mills was gunned down April 24th, shot multiple times in her abdomen.   Soon after Mills passed, doctors gave birth to her son, who died on May 1st.

Collins wasn't picked during the seven rounds of the NFL Draft this past weekend, despite forecasts of a top-15 selection based on the cloudiness of his ties to Mills and pending investigation.  His attorney, Jim Boren, was asked why it took so long to get Collins in front of police officials who requested his presence prior to the draft commencing, replied, "I'm really not going to answer any more questions about that. I think the way the process worked was the way it works in many, many cases."

Collins is expected to submit to a paternity test to determine if Mills' child

Last night, WBRZ reported Collins and his family met with Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan in a Baton Rouge restaurant.  Collins is a free agent, available to sign with any team that makes an offer.

=========================================================================================================================

The LHSAA baseball playoffs continue tonight, with Class 3A Evangel hosting Erath at 5pm and Calvary visiting Riverside Academy at 4:30pm in a Class 2A matchup.

Shane Miers will get the start for the top-seeded Eagles in their home game.  Calvary will send Jake Krews to the bump this afternoon against the 7th seeded Riverside squad.

Byrd and Benton will continue their trek through the 5A and 4A playoffs respectively starting Friday.  Byrd, the No. 22 seed, visits Brother Martin for a best-of-three series that begins Friday at 6:30pm.

The Tigers, a No. 4 seed, hosts fifth-seeded Tuerlings Catholic in a best-of-three set that begins Friday at 6pm.

=========================================================================================================================

Byrd has opened defense of their state title with a large lead after one round of the LHSAA Boys' Division I state golf championships. Phillip Barbaree, the defending individual state champ, shot a four-under par round of 68 to spearhead the Yellow Jackets effort.  Teammates, Carter Toms and Mason Barr each carded one-over par rounds of 73 to help Byrd post a team score of three-over par, 291... 18 shots ahead of Catholic High of Baton Rouge.

In Division II, Benton's Jacob Wyatt carded a six-under par 66 to lead the Tigers to a team score of five-under par, 283...20 strokes clear of second place St. Louis. Hayden White and Corbin Cantrell both posted even-par rounds of 72 and David Cole was one shot back at 73.

Calvary's defense of the Division III title is off to a rocky start. The Cavs are in 7th place mainly due to the top two-players, future LSU Tigers Sam Burns and Nathan Jeansonne, missing from the event. Burns is participating in the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.  Jeansonne is out with an injury.

==========================================================================================================================

Texas hasn't had a lot go right this season, but last night the Rangers halted Houston's 10-game winning streak with a 2-1 win at Minute Maid Park.  Robinson Chirinos' sacrifice fly in the top of the 9th inning brought home the eventual winning run.

=====================================================================================================================

In the NBA playoffs last night, the visitors were unwelcome guests in both conference semi-finals that tipped off.

Chicago's Derrick Rose scored 25 points and Pau Gasol added 21 to help the Bulls knock off LeBron James and the Cavaliers in Cleveland 99-92.  The Cavs will be without Kevin Love for the remainder of the playoffs with a shoulder injury and J.R. Smith for one more game after he started his two-game suspension by sitting out last night's game.  The Cavs were led by Kyrie Erving with 30 points.  James had 19 points and 15 rebounds.

In Houston, playing without point guard, Chris Paul nursing a hamstring injury, the Clippers blasted the Rockets, 117-101.  Blake Griffin became the first non-guard to record back to back post-season triple doubles since John Havlicek 40 years ago with a 26 point, 14 rebound, 13 assist evening.