Carthage’s Beaux Guilbeau Signs with LSU-Shreveport to Continue Baseball Career

CARTHAGE -- Beaux Guilbeau will realize a longtime dream of playing college baseball.

Carthage's senior catcher signed with LSU-Shreveport last week to continue his career on the diamond.

Guilbeau believes his hitting and catching abilities are college-ready right now and will help him with his transition to the next level, but he added that there's always room for improvement.

"I need to concentrate on adjusting to better quality pitching," said Guilbeau, who started at catcher the last two seasons for the Bulldogs.

With Guilbeau as its regular catcher during the 2012 and 2013 seasons, Carthage went 57-13 and reached this year's Class 3A Region III semifinals. As a senior, Guilbeau hit .327 with two home runs and 23 RBIs, which tied him for third on the team in runs driven in. The right-handed catcher bats from the left side.

Guilbeau said his mother, who passed away early this season, has greatly influenced his college path.

"I chose LSU-S because it is a great team and somewhere I enjoy being," Guilbeau said. "By attending a school with high morals and ethics I believe she would be happy with my decision.

"After the loss of my mother this year, probably the most difficult thing in college baseball for me will be looking in the stands and not seeing my momma smile. She's my No. 1 fan."

Guilbeau hopes to become a baseball coach at the high school level or higher.

JayDon Day, Guilbeau's battery mate, will join him at LSU-S, which has a reputation as a strong NAIA baseball program.

The right-handed Day, who also recently signed with the Pilots, was Carthage's No. 1 starting pitcher for the last two seasons. As a senior, Day went 9-5 with a 1.63 earned run average, four saves, 81 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 85 2/3 innings. He tied junior William Rittenberry for the team lead with three shutouts and eight complete games.

Day, who hit .304, led Carthage in home runs (4) and RBIs (28).

As a junior, Day went 11-2 with a 2.29 ERA, one save, 62 strikeouts, and 14 walks in 73 1/3 innings. He had two shutouts and six complete games.