Throwing out the ceremonial first pitch for the Franklinton Demons on Friday, February 13 was Hunter Maxwell.
In 2015 then Coach Jeff Tageant was contacted about two transfer students who played baseball. Over his career, this didn't always equate to good players, but brothers Hunter and Garrett Maxwell proved this wrong. Hunter played for two years and primarily pitched for the Demons. He became known for his grit and competitiveness on the mound. He threw hard and put his all into every pitch.
Named as an All-District pitcher, Hunter graduated from FHS in 2017 and went on to play with Nunez Community College. He then attended Aveda Institute and is now a barber at Stickn in Hammond/Ponchatoula.
Hunter's younger brother Garrett graduated from FHS in 2020 and was a senior the season that Covid ended baseball on March 13. Garrett played Demon baseball for four years and graduated with high honors.
Garrett attended LSU and enjoyed Tiger football, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and being a member of the student council and the association of technology professionals. In summer of 2024, Garrett began a five-and-a-half-month battle with myocarditis and passed away on January 3, 2025. He posthumously received his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and a second degree in Information Systems and Analytics from LSU.
Hunter and Garrett played for a Demon baseball program that boasted over 50 sets of brothers since 1988.
In throwing out the first pitch, Hunter threw for himself and his accomplishments as well as for the memory of his brother Garrett. Catching him was former step-brother, Catcher #8 Cayman Pugh.
The Demons later defeated Ponchatoula 9-8 on a walk-off single by Kaden Breaux.
In the photo above are current FHS Head Coach Clay Tageant, Hunter Maxwell, and Cayman Pugh.
