Gathering hardware

BROUSSARD -- It did not take long for the VPGSA 8U All-Stars to make their mark on the post-season, as they came out of the loser’s bracket to take home the championship trophy in a USSSA tournament held here this past weekend.
After losing their second bracket game early on Sunday, Ville Platte finished the tourney by winning five games in a row. With that win came the championship title and the chance to bring home some bling.
“I am so proud of these girls,” stated Ville Platte head coach Sunny Lahaye. “They had to fight through the heat all day Sunday and play without a break. They fought hard all tournament long, and, because of their hard work and never give up, attitude they came away with a well-deserved championship.”
The tournament started out like any other softball tournament, with pool play. Ville Platte took care of those games, winning both of their warm-up contests on Saturday. The All-Stars also picked up their first bracket win that same afternoon, a 14-4 beat down of the Louisiana Voo-Doo.
Their second bracket game did not go so well for Ville Platte. The All-Stars did not put up their best effort and fell to the Titans 11-2, sending Ville Platte into the loser’s bracket.
Because of that loss, the All-Stars now had a long road to travel down just to even get to the finals. But, the perseverance of the young but talented ladies took center stage as they marched toward the tournament title.
Ville Platte’s next bracket game was a complete turn around from the previous one, as the bats came alive for the All-Stars in an 11-6 win over Lake Charles Ice.
Following that win, Ville Platte found themselves in the tightest game of the tournament. After taking an 11-8 lead after two innings of play, Ville Platte found themselves only up by one, 13-12 heading into the last inning of play against the Storm. But, with a couple of runs tacked on in the final inning and some great defense, the All-Stars were able to pull out a 15-13 win and advance on.
Game four of the day showed the grit and determination of the eight-year old warriors, as Ville Platte trailed 10-4 to Stars and Stripes heading into the bottom of the fourth inning. However, the resilience of the players pushed through, as the All-Stars out-scored Stars and Stripes 11-1 in the final two and a half innings to pick up the win.
With that victory, a re-match awaited Ville Platte in the championship game, as the All-Stars had to face the Titans once again, this time with all of the marbles on the line.
Ville Platte found their second wind in the championship game, blasting their way to a 14-3 win.
Ville Platte will take this weekend off before heading to Broussard for another USSSA tournament starting on June 15. They will follow that with a state tournament appearance the following weekend and then they will participate in the World Series the first week of July in Gulf Shores, Alabama.