A day before Vidalia leading hitter Trey White fractured his arm and missed the remainder of the playoffs due to a personal watercraft accident, Viking pitching ace Barry Bowden suffered a water hazard of his own on a jet ski after scraping his planting foot while pushing away from a pier, Bowden acknowledged Wednesday.

The senior right-hander, who was 12-0 with a 0.53 ERA this season, pitched the next two games with discomfort, but coupled with soreness in his throwing shoulder did not take the mound in a 12-1 semifinal loss to St. Frederick in the Class 2A playoffs.

This past Monday was the first time Bowden, who is getting ready for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association All-Star game Saturday, had pitched since the Vikings suffered their only loss of the year.

&uot;It was killing me in that game and the day after,&uot; Bowden said of his shoulder. &uot;On Monday there was no pain in my shoulder.&uot;

Bowden was scheduled to represent Vidalia on the East team alongside Viking head coach Johnny Lee Hoffpauir, who was named an assistant under Jesuit coach David Moreau.

However, Hoffpauir opted to make the drive to Hattiesburg to watch his son Jarrett and the Southern Miss Eagles host their first-ever NCAA Regional.

&uot;I understand that he wants to watch Jarrett in the regional,&uot; said Bowden, who has already signed to play for Southern Miss next year. &uot;It would’ve been nice to play in one more game for him.&uot;

Bowden expects to see both college and pro scouts at Bringhurst Park in Alexandria Saturday, as Louisiana annually has the cream of baseball’s amateur crop.

Bowden likes knowing his future is already determined, that way he can toe the rubber not as anxious as some of his counterparts trying to prove themselves.

&uot;It’s a privilege to be able to play in it. I got picked from all classes in the state, not just 2A,&uot; he said. &uot;I’m going down there and playing with good company. It’ll be good for me to see what I got against the top players from the East and West.&uot;

Adams County Christian School senior Caleb Walker will also oil his glove and don his cleats one last time as a high schooler this Saturday.

Walker will compete for the South in the Mississippi Private School Association Class AAA All-Star game at Frierson Field on the campus of Mississippi College.

&uot;The South should have a real strong team with guys from Hillcrest and Parklane that are super good,&uot; said Walker, utility infielder who batted .378 with six homers this year. &uot;It’ll be fun playing on the same team with guys I’m used to playing against.&uot;

Walker said he found out in late April from Rebel head coach Gill Morris.

&uot;He came up to me and told me personally that I had made the team. I told him I was thankful that he nominated me,&uot; Walker said. &uot;Then he announced it to the whole team and that made me feel good to have my teammates support around me.&uot;

Walker, too, knows the eyes of many interested scouts will be in Clinton Saturday, but he won’t allow himself to get anxious in the moment.

Walker was disappointed AC finished out of the playoffs, and he is looking to Saturday as a chance to participate in a laid back game with the upper echelon of talent.

&uot;I’d rather get along with everybody up there than trying to show off to a bunch of scouts,&uot; he said. &uot;Don’t get me wrong I want to perform well, but I’d love just to make some friends and get to know people I’ve only played against.&uot;