Sports

Branigan Berzas, of Mamou, recorded an on-base plus slugging percentage that was north of 1.000 during his sophomore season. As a result, he was named as the parish’s most valuable player in baseball (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Branigan Berzas, of Mamou, recorded an on-base plus slugging percentage that was north of 1.000 during his sophomore season. As a result, he was named as the parish’s most valuable player in baseball (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Berzas plays five positions in MVP season

News Staff
Thursday, May 28, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor MAMOU - For the Mamou baseball team, this season was a little bit of a letdown after last year’s first-round win over Many in a best-of-three series. The Green Demons, this season, with an 11-17 record and got swept by Many in the best-of-three series to open the playoffs.
Kayne Hargrave, of Sacred Heart, guided his Trojans to a top-10 finish and a first-round bye in the playoffs. For his efforts, he was named the parish’s coach of the year in baseball. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Kayne Hargrave, of Sacred Heart, guided his Trojans to a top-10 finish and a first-round bye in the playoffs. For his efforts, he was named the parish’s coach of the year in baseball. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Coach of the Year Hargrave credits team

News Staff
Thursday, May 28, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - The baseball season might not have ended the way Kayne Hargrave wanted with a loss to district-rival St. Edmund in the second round of the playoffs, but the season did involve several memorable moments for the head baseball coach at Sacred Heart.
High school physicals are held

High school physicals are held

High school physicals are held

News Staff
Monday, May 25, 2026
Healthworks Rehab, on Thursday, May 21, held preseason athletic physicals for high school athletes from Ville Platte, Mamou, Pine Prairie, and Sacred Heart. The physicals included screenings from optometrists, physical therapists, dentists, and physicians before final clearance.
Maci Droddy, of Sacred Heart, hit six home runs and 30 runs batted in on her way to being recognized as the parish’s softball most valuable player. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Maci Droddy, of Sacred Heart, hit six home runs and 30 runs batted in on her way to being recognized as the parish’s softball most valuable player. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Droddy sets the tone for Lady Trojans on her way to MVP season

News Staff
Monday, May 25, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - While wearing number 77 on the back of her Sacred Heart softball uniform, Maci Droddy set the tone for her team as she batted in the leadoff spot. Droddy enjoys the spotlight being in that leadoff spot. She said, “It’s very fun.
Kristen Bacon (pictured on the left with her husband, Sam) led the Basile Lady Bearcats to their first winning season and first playoff win since restarting the program after more than five decades of non-existance. (Photo submitted)

Kristen Bacon (pictured on the left with her husband, Sam) led the Basile Lady Bearcats to their first winning season and first playoff win since restarting the program after more than five decades of non-existance. (Photo submitted)

Bacon guides Basile to first winning season, playoff win in over five decades

News Staff
Monday, May 25, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor BASILE - This past softball season saw a number of firsts for the Basile Lady Bearcats. It was the first time the team had a winning record and the first time the team won a playoff game in more than five decades. Guiding the team to these firsts was head coach Kristen Bacon.
Robert Soileau (left), the son of Bobby Soileau, meets with Derek Landry (right), the grandson of RP “Cow” Landry and new head football coach and athletic director at Sacred Heart. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Robert Soileau (left), the son of Bobby Soileau, meets with Derek Landry (right), the grandson of RP “Cow” Landry and new head football coach and athletic director at Sacred Heart. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Bridging generations

News Staff
Thursday, May 21, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - A hyphen, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as a punctuation mark used especially to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbers.
Pine Prairie head softball coach Alycia Hebert (right) was named as the coach of the year in District 5-3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Pine Prairie head softball coach Alycia Hebert (right) was named as the coach of the year in District 5-3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Baseball and softball players are named to All-District teams

News Staff
Thursday, May 21, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Several high school baseball and softball players from Evangeline Parish were recognized for the efforts on the field this season by being named to their respective All-District teams.
Trumaine Johnson (center) is pictured during a Ville Platte High baseball game this season. He spent the past season as the team’s head coach. (Photo courtesy of Trumaine Johnson)

Trumaine Johnson (center) is pictured during a Ville Platte High baseball game this season. He spent the past season as the team’s head coach. (Photo courtesy of Trumaine Johnson)

Johnson reflects on first year as baseball leader

News Staff
Monday, May 18, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Coaching is difficult. Coaching in your hometown is even more difficult. Ville Platte native Trumaine Johnson got a taste of this reality as he spent this past season as head coach of the Ville Platte High baseball team. He recently reflected on the season as a whole.
This photo of Caden Askey (7) sliding underneath a tag to score Pine Prairie’s second run in the top of the first inning in Game 3 against Berwick won 1st place for Best Sports Photo.

This photo of Caden Askey (7) sliding underneath a tag to score Pine Prairie’s second run in the top of the first inning in Game 3 against Berwick won 1st place for Best Sports Photo.

Win, place, and sheaux

News Staff
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Staff Report The Louisiana Press Association announced the winners of the 2025 Better Newspaper Competition on May 8, 2026 at the Baton Rouge City Club, including Newspaper of the Year honors, which included: Division 1: The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate Division 2: The Ruston Daily...
Braxton Ardoin, of Mamou High School, is pictured with his gold medal in Boys High Jump 3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Braxton Ardoin, of Mamou High School, is pictured with his gold medal in Boys High Jump 3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Looking for precious medals

News Staff
Thursday, May 14, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor BATON ROUGE - Despite weather conditions moving many of the events inside the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse, parish athletes from Evangeline Parish took home medals at the LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field State Meet at LSU.
Subscribe to