It's finally fall in SWLA, meaning it's the perfect time of year for outdoor sports. From football to cross-country to golf and more, this month is stacked with opportunities to get out and play in #LouisianasPlayground!
If you know SWLA, then you know baseball never takes an off-season here. The Southwest Louisiana Perfect Game Super NIT steps up to the plate October 17-18 at Pattison Park, O.D. Johnson, and the Power Center. This elite, two-day tournament is built for top-tier talent, with competitors ages 6-14 taking the field to earn points, rack up wins, and chase prestigious titles.
Of course, no October is complete without cheering on the McNeese Cowboys and Cowgirls. From women’s volleyball, soccer, and softball to Cowboy Football, there’s no shortage of action. The Cowboy Football team will host the Nicholls Colonels on October 31st at Navarre Stadium. Meanwhile, Cowgirl Softball launches its fall season on October 9th at Cowgirl Diamond versus UL-Lafayette, followed by home games on both October 13th against LSUE and on October 21st versus Pearl River Community College. Cowgirl Volleyball also has a full lineup of home games this month, with matches on October 3rd, 15th, 17th, 29th, and 30th. If you're looking for a fun, free family event, each volleyball game has a unique theme perfect for the kiddos! Get all the information and view the whole schedule of McNeese sporting events for October here.
The Southland Conference will have a heavy presence in Lake Charles this month as well, with two high-stakes championship events. The Southland Conference Cross Country Championships will be hosted by McNeese on October 30th at Ward 3 Enos Derbonne Sports Complex, with nearly 250 competitors. The championship will consist of 12 schools from Louisiana and Texas, each with the opportunity to race 10 athletes per team. Women will take off at 8:30 A.M., followed by men at 9 A.M. Get all the need-to-know information on the Southland Conference Cross Country Championships here!
McNeese will also be hosting the Southland Conference Individual Tennis Championships at the Nancy Hank Tennis Center at McNeese State University from October 22nd-25th. The champions of the 2026 Southland Individual Tennis Championships will qualify for the 2026 ITA Conference Masters Championship on Nov. 5-8. From this, four players will qualify for the NCAA Singles Championship (semifinalists). Meanwhile, three doubles teams will qualify for the NCAA Doubles Championship through the Conference Masters (champion, finalist, third place). With so much at stake, the tennis will be at another level during the championships! See the entire schedule for matchups and get all the information here.
Want a chance to get in on the action and play with the pros? The Men's All Pro Tour High Stakes Showdown Golf Tournament returns to Lake Charles next month, November 17th-20th, with a full week of *literal* high-stakes action. Hosted by Mallard Golf Club and Contraband Bayou Golf Course, pro men's golfers will be competing for an estimated $250,000 purse. With each round and day of the tournament, cuts are made, and the stakes get higher. By Friday, only 10 men will remain. Each group of five will eliminate a player at each hole until only two players from each group remain. These final four players will play hole 18 until the final man is standing. The top three finishers will receive prize money, and there will be two opportunities to buy back in for the final four players until two remain.
Here's where you come into play - on Monday, November 16th, the High Stakes Showdown Pro-Am will take place at Mallard Golf Club. Teams of three amateurs will be paired with a pro for the day of great golf, food, and community spirit. Teams can register to play or sponsor the event, with Just Imagine SWLA as the charitable beneficiary of the tournament. With lots of different sponsorships available, there is something for everyone! The schedule of the pro-am features a VIP Brunch and an exclusive welcome party that you won't want to miss! Check out all the tiers here, or reach out to smoore@visitlakecharles.org. Visit Lake Charles is a proud partner of the Just Imagine SWLA 50 Year Resilience Master Plan.
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!
