Sterlington's Miller Sheets named Louisiana's Mr. Baseball

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.