You know what time of year it is—as the weather warms up, sports in Southwest Louisiana take off! Welcome to Lake Charles, where the adrenaline-rushing excitement of sports meets the peaceful beauty of the outdoors. Located in the heart of Cajun country, every moment is an opportunity to indulge in the perfect blend of sports, culture, and adventure. Whether you're an avid angler ready to reel in trophy catches, a golf fanatic seeking championship courses with stunning views, or a spectator drawn to the excitement of live sporting events, Lake Charles offers a playground like no other.

two high school fisherman holding bass fish
Bassmasters Louisiana High School Bass Fishing State Championships take place May 4-5.

Starting the month strong, the Bassmasters Louisiana High School Bass Fishing State Championships will be reeling in on May 4th and 5th at the River Bluff Park in Moss Bluff. Over 300 junior anglers from around the state will be traveling to Southwest Louisiana to showcase their skills and compete for the state title. Watch as anglers weigh in their catches with a delicious treat from local food trucks! Food trucks and weigh-ins are set to be from 12-5 each day.

The LHSAA High School State Baseball Championships will swing into action from May 7th through the 11th in Sulphur at McMurry Park with 40 different teams across 10 different divisions throughout the state. Each corner of Louisiana will be moving into Sulphur at a chance for the championship title. Semifinal games will be played Tuesday through Thursday and finals will take the field on Friday and Saturday. Historically, local teams such as Barbe, Sulphur, Iowa, St. Louis, Sam Houston, and DeQuincy leave their legacy through the championship tournament. In 2023, both Barbe and Iowa took home the gold. Tickets will be sold exclusively on the GoFan website and app, and no paper tickets will be accepted at the gate, so make sure you get your tickets ready before you head to the big games!

McNeese Softball Southland Championships
McNeese Cowgirls hope to defend their Southland Championship title this month!

McNeese Softball and Baseball are in full gear as they both take to the diamond, continuing their seasons with conference play. With a mean record of 17-1 in conference play, the #1 Cowgirls are set to host their last trifecta of the season as they face off against the #2 Southeastern Lions. The McNeese Cowgirls Softball are the defending Southland Champions of the past three years, and they’re looking to keep that title. The Cowboys are set to host the Southern Jaguars on Tuesday, May 7th at 6 PM and a weekend triple-header against Houston Christian Huskies on May 10th, 11th, and 12th. Not to mention, it’s also going to be senior weekend as this is their last weekend and conference lineup of the season. They’ll have one more game against the Texas State Bobcats on May 14th before moving into conference championships.

 

baseball team on the diamond
Weekend baseball tournaments take place all month long!

If you’ve been out to eat over the weekends recently in the Lake Area, you’ve probably sat next to or seen youth baseball and softball teams throughout local restaurants. Perfect Game, Calcasieu Baseball, and 2D Sports boast weekend baseball tournaments such as the LA/TX Border Wars, South Louisiana Opener, Summer Classic and Governor’s Games. Each of these tournaments brings youth baseball teams from all around the country to play at O.D. Johnson, Ward 3 PowerCenter, and other recreational fields across the area.

More sporting events and details can be found on our calendar of events! For the need-to-know information, big-game updates, and successes of the sporting world in SWLA, be sure to check out Where Champions are Crowned, released on the first of each month on visitlakecharles.org. Let’s Play!