By Jake Martin
Written for the LSWA
Less than 48 hours after winning an LHSAA championship, Sterlington baseball coach Mark Sims reflected on the Panthers’ season with pitching coach Ben Sheets before looking ahead.
Valuable pieces are off the chess board, just like any other year. Sims says he believes he has the best player in Louisiana returning in Sheets’ son, shortstop Miller Sheets.
“I know there’s a lot of talent in the state, but I’ll tell you right now — if there’s a draft, I’m picking him No. 1,” Sims said. “He plays every game like it’s his last game. That’s how you’re supposed to play the game.”
The younger Sheets adds one major honor to validate Sims’ point. The junior is the 2025 Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Mr. Baseball award winner.
Game 3 of the Division III nonselect best-of-three final series offers an insight into Miller Sheets’ play and mindset. The Baylor commitment waited for his turn in a tie ballgame against Erath. He told teammate Jacob Breen in the on-deck circle, “Just get it to me.”
Breen laid down a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Miller Sheets delivered a two-RBI single, and Sterlington won 5-3. It is the Panthers’ fourth state championship and Sheets was voted the Outstanding Player for the series.
“I just kept thinking if we can get it to me, I could make something happen,” Sheets said. “I wanted to have a chance to put us ahead right there.”
While the father was a star pitcher at St. Amant High, ULM and with the Milwaukee Brewers, the son is a hitter. He hit .435 with three home runs, 23 doubles and 57 RBI with just three strikeouts.
Miller Sheets established himself as a reliable defender at short, pitched and embraced a leadoff role in the middle of the season.
His fingerprints were all over Sterlington’s playoff success. It started with a grand slam in Game 3 against French Settlement in the quarterfinals.
Sterlington’s title win was the school’s first since 2021. Miller Sheets’ older brother, Seaver Sheets, was a part of that state championship team.
“I know he’s got two and I’ve got one. He’s got the upper hand on me right now, so we’ve got to go get one more,” Miller Sheets added.
La. Farm Bureau Insurance/LSWA Mr. Baseball winners
1996: Joe Lawrence, Barbe
1997: Chucky Son, Parkview Baptist
1998: Aaron Lowe, Parkway
1999: Nick Bourgeois, Barbe
2000: Austin Nagle, Barbe
2001: Austin Nagle, Barbe/Jonathan Zeringue, E.D. White
2002: Greg Smith, Alexandria
2003: Matt Greenwich, Parkview Baptist
2004: Ben Soignier, West Monroe
2005: Beau Jones, Destrehan
2006: Forrest Moore, Parkview Baptist
2007: Carmen Angelini, Barbe
2008: Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary
2009: Zack Von Rosenberg, Zachary
2010: Bryan Picou, Northlake Christian
2011: Aaron Nola, Catholic-BR
2012: Gavin Cecchini, Barbe
2013: Jared Poché, Lutcher
2014: Chase Vallot, St. Thomas More
2015: Kale Breaux, Sulphur
2016: Nick Webre, Teurlings Catholic
2017: Jacob Pearson, West Monroe
2018: Cade Beloso, John Curtis
2019: Cameron Meeks, Sam Houston
2020: Season canceled
2021: Jack Walker, Barbe
2022: Ethan Frey, Rosepine
2023: Donovan LaSalle, Barbe
2024: William Schmidt, Catholic-BR
2025: Miller Sheets, Sterlington
