Kevin Batiste
Sports Reporter
Baton Rouge, La.
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Kevin Batiste Jr. was born in Baton Rouge and raised in Rosedale. An Iberville MSA West graduate, his sports obsession began at a young age when his mom would scold him for watching classic football games instead of being productive.
Kevin began at WAFB as an intern. He would get hired on as a sports producer before later being promoted to sports reporter. As much as he enjoys being a fan of the games, what Kevin enjoys the most is showcasing our local athletes so they and their families can have memories to cherish. (Or so the kids can show off to their friends.)
Contact Kevin via email at kevin.batiste@wafb.com and if you see him around, give him a shout!
Education
Updated: 13 hours ago
|By Kevin Batiste
We have our first two-time winner for Sportsline Player of the Week for the 2022 season in Dunham quarterback Jackson House.
Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 at 11:27 PM CST
|By Kevin Batiste
On Friday, Nov. 4 West Feliciana capped off a 10-0 regular season.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 7:36 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Two Southern football players earned SWAC weekly honors thanks to their efforts in the win at Prairie View on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Updated: Oct. 4, 2022 at 6:37 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
New Southern head coach Eric Dooley will be returning to the program where his college head coaching career started, Prairie View A&M, on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Updated: Oct. 4, 2022 at 6:26 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Southern defensive tackle Jason Dumas was named the SWAC Defensive Player of the Week thanks to his performance against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2022 at 2:50 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Southern Jaguars have a bye this week and it seems like it came at a great time. The Jags are coming off a 24-0 loss to Texas Southern.
Updated: Sep. 15, 2022 at 11:09 AM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Our Week 2 Sportsline Player of the Week is East Ascension running back Walter Samuel.
Updated: Sep. 13, 2022 at 6:53 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Southern Jaguars are moving on to the start of conference play with a road trip to play Texas Southern in Arlington, Texas.
Updated: Sep. 8, 2022 at 1:00 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Lutcher quarterback D’Wanye Winfield is the Sportsline Player of the Week for Week 1.
Updated: Sep. 7, 2022 at 1:02 PM CDT
|By Jacques Doucet and Kevin Batiste
It’s the game most experts and even former players from both schools never thought they’d see. LSU and Southern will square off in Death Valley.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 6:40 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
After months of hearing the words “fast-paced” and “tempo,” fans will finally get to see Southern’s new offense on full display.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2022 at 9:21 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Southern fans have lots to be excited about this week. The Jags open the season at home with a new head coach and new offense.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2022 at 8:59 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Wide receivers Kayshon Boutte and Jack Bech, defensive linemen Maason Smith and BJ Ojulari, and running back John Emery picked up a shift at the Raising Cane’s on Lee Drive.
Updated: Aug. 28, 2022 at 8:28 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
LSU running back John Emery is not expected to make the trip to New Orleans for the season opener against Florida State.
Updated: Aug. 25, 2022 at 8:13 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
With nine days to go until the season opener arrives, the Southern quarterback battle is headed down the home stretch on “The Bluff,” if it hasn’t already been called.
Updated: Aug. 23, 2022 at 10:09 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
As the final days of Southern’s fall camp draw near, the kicking game for the Jags looks to build off last year’s success.
Updated: Aug. 20, 2022 at 9:28 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Southern Jaguars staged a scrimmage at A.W. Mumford Stadium at 9 a.m. the was open to the public.
Updated: Aug. 12, 2022 at 8:13 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
While Southern’s secondary remains a question mark, there isn’t much doubt in the front seven for the Jags.
Updated: Aug. 10, 2022 at 9:55 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
After de-committing from Purdue, Woodlawn four-star quarterback Rickie Collins has decided to stay at home and play for LSU.
Updated: Aug. 9, 2022 at 8:26 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
New SU head coach Eric Dooley is counting on a tempo from his offense that will leave opposing defenses struggling to keep up, while Jag receivers will try to leave those defenders in the dust.
Updated: Aug. 8, 2022 at 10:52 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
After holding nothing but morning practices for the first week of fall camp, Southern head coach Eric Dooley switched things up with an afternoon session on Monday, Aug. 8, to start Week 2.
Updated: Aug. 6, 2022 at 6:03 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
One of the strengths for Southern entering this season will be in the trenches, as the Jags’ defensive line looks to wreak havoc in opponents’ backfields.
Updated: Aug. 5, 2022 at 7:26 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Southern Jaguars are expecting to have a good mix of veteran and rookie ball carriers in 2022.
Updated: Aug. 4, 2022 at 7:36 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Southern’s new coach was not particularly happy with the way his team followed up its first day of fall camp.
Updated: Aug. 3, 2022 at 6:44 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The torrential downpours eventually settled and the Jags eventually took the field for drills. There was no heat but also no helmets. There was just hustle.
Updated: Aug. 2, 2022 at 8:23 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Southern Jaguars football players settled in on Tuesday, Aug. 2, before practice in the morning.
Updated: Aug. 1, 2022 at 7:37 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Bone Thugs-N-Harmony was rightfully blasting on the “1st of tha Month” at Saints Training Camp, which was also the first day in full pads, and the defense came ready.
Updated: Jul. 30, 2022 at 4:37 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Saints fans upped the energy at practice on Saturday, July 30, and they saw big plays from both sides of the ball.
Updated: Jul. 29, 2022 at 5:45 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Week seven of Sportsline Summer Camp ended with a trip to the westside and a visit with the Port Allen Pelicans on Friday, July 29.
Updated: Jul. 28, 2022 at 6:47 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Tara Trojans are in the spotlight for Sportsline Summer Camp on Thursday, July 28. Their only victory of last season came in Week 10 against Broadmoor.
Updated: Jul. 27, 2022 at 7:08 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The first day of Saints training camp on Wednesday, July 27, certainly wasn’t boring, as All-Pro wide receiver Michael Thomas hit the field and participated in drills.
Updated: Jul. 6, 2022 at 7:00 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
A couple of years ago, it was just a JV team but a lot has happened since then for Liberty Magnet, the featured team for Sportsline Summer Camp on Wednesday, July 6.
Updated: Jul. 4, 2022 at 6:40 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
There are going to be lots of new names in the starting 22 for St. Amant, as the Gators were the stop for Sportsline Summer Camp on Monday, July 4.
Updated: Jun. 30, 2022 at 9:42 AM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The Bayou Classic announced tickets went on sale on Wednesday, June 29, but for some Southern fans, the season finale might take a back seat to the second playing date.
Updated: Jun. 24, 2022 at 6:41 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The first family of football was back at Nicholls St. to help groom the next crop of gridiron talent. A record 45 college quarterbacks were invited, including LSU's Myles Brennan.
Updated: Jun. 16, 2022 at 6:47 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
After a long and grueling two days in the Louisiana heat, the New Orleans Saints concluded their three-day minicamp.
Updated: Jun. 14, 2022 at 10:01 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Tuesday was the first day of Saints mandatory minicamp. As expected, a handful of guys were there but not practicing.
Updated: Jun. 9, 2022 at 8:50 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
It was a busy Thursday, June 9, at the New Orleans Saints facility in Metairie, as first-year head coach Dennis Allen and the team continued their work.
Updated: Apr. 22, 2022 at 10:32 AM CDT
|By Jacques Doucet and Kevin Batiste
LSU head coach Brian Kelly said the players were pushed extremely hard in the last two practices before the LSU spring game.
Updated: Apr. 15, 2022 at 10:49 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Dunham RB Kalante' Wilson wins Sportsline Courage Award.
Updated: Apr. 15, 2022 at 7:59 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
U-High’s Austin Ausberry wins first ever Sportsline Leadership Award.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2022 at 10:40 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The winner of the 2021 Warrick Dunn Award is Southern Lab quarterback Angelo Izzard Jr. He passed for more than 2,300 yards to go with 31 touchdowns.
Updated: Apr. 5, 2022 at 8:38 AM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
It’s the final week of spring football for the Southern Jags, as the team held practice No. 12 on Monday, April 5, under new head coach Eric Dooley.
Updated: Mar. 25, 2022 at 6:51 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Former LSU star and current Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen spoke at Valverda Elementary School.
Updated: Mar. 18, 2022 at 3:41 AM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
The LSU men’s basketball team was on the court for practice in Milwaukee on Thursday, March 17, to make its final preparations before facing Iowa State on Friday in the NCAA Tournament.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2022 at 7:02 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
For LSU and March Madness, the clock is not yet ticking in the arena but it will be soon, as the Tigers take on Iowa State in Milwaukee on Friday, March 18.
Updated: Feb. 4, 2022 at 7:50 PM CST
|By Kevin Batiste
The LSU softball team is just one week away from the start of the 2022 season and the last time we saw Beth Torina and her Tigers play a game in Tiger Park their season ended in familiar heartbreak.
Updated: Dec. 16, 2021 at 9:32 PM CST
|By Amanda Lindsley and Kevin Batiste
The LSU men’s basketball team spread some holiday cheer with the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Louisiana.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2021 at 12:18 PM CST
|By Spencer Chrisman and Kevin Batiste
No. 15 Jackson State (9-1, 7-0 SWAC) extended its winning streak to seven games with a 21-17 win over Southern (4-6, 3-4 SWAC).
Updated: Nov. 3, 2021 at 9:44 PM CDT
|By Kevin Batiste
Woodlawn senior running back Amani Givens had arguably his greatest performance on Friday, October 29, against Catholic High.
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