Sports

Sacred Heart pitcher and outfielder Briggs Ardoin puts the bat on the ball Tuesday morning in the LBCA Uncerclass All-State games. Ardoin was selected to the West squad. Over the two days, he pitched and played outfield.  (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Sacred Heart pitcher and outfielder Briggs Ardoin puts the bat on the ball Tuesday morning in the LBCA Uncerclass All-State games. Ardoin was selected to the West squad. Over the two days, he pitched and played outfield. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Making the list

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor HAMMOND – There are many in the world who make their livings off of making lists. Sportswriters vote on a weekly Top 10 or Top 25. Billboard has been telling us what the Top 40 songs are for as long as most have been living at this point.
Marks

Marks

The Marks Post: Well... maybe I am bad luck

A few years ago, Oakdale held football coach Destin Dieterich called me bad luck because his team won the games I missed that season. The more time that goes by, the more I think he’s right. The latest instance is when I went to Hattiesburg, Miss.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

Red-hot Ragin’ Cajun run ends in College Station regional

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After getting hot at the right time, Louisiana’s baseball season came to an end over the weekend in the NCAA College Station regional. The Ragin’ Cajuns, who entered the NCAA tournament as a No.
Cade Doughty  (4) gets a helmet salute from teammate Eric Berry (14) after both runners scored on Doughty’s two-run home run in the top of the first inning in LSU’s 8-4 loss to Southern Miss on Sunday, June 5. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Cade Doughty (4) gets a helmet salute from teammate Eric Berry (14) after both runners scored on Doughty’s two-run home run in the top of the first inning in LSU’s 8-4 loss to Southern Miss on Sunday, June 5. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Wrecked regional

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor HATTIESBURG, Miss. — It was all there for LSU to take advantage of in the Hattiesburg Regional. After winning its first two games, LSU simply had to dispose of top-seeded Southern Miss in one of two games to advance and host a Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

LT, SELU drop regionals to end year

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor Luck wasn’t on the side of either the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs or Southeastern Louisiana Lions this past weekend in their respective Regional brackets.
The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Most Valuable Player, Ville Platte’s Leslie Foreman, is pictured above. He helped lead the Bulldogs to a playoff berth for the first time in 25 years. (Photo by Nick Jagneaux)

The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Most Valuable Player, Ville Platte’s Leslie Foreman, is pictured above. He helped lead the Bulldogs to a playoff berth for the first time in 25 years. (Photo by Nick Jagneaux)

Baseball MVP Foreman used hardship as spark for growth

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor VILLE PLATTE – No one hates an underdog story. It’s ingrained in all of us to root for the ones who struggle. We’re wired to see people rise up and give their best and rock the boat.
The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Coach of the Year for baseball hails from Pine Prairie High School. Panther head coach Colton Chaddrick (left) led his team to another strong season in his first year as coach. (Photo submitted)

The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Coach of the Year for baseball hails from Pine Prairie High School. Panther head coach Colton Chaddrick (left) led his team to another strong season in his first year as coach. (Photo submitted)

Chaddrick’s vision begins with assistants, learning on fly

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor PINE PRAIRIE – Colton Chaddrick made the decision to step right into the fire. With no prior experience as a head coach at the high school level, Chaddrick stepped up last summer to lead the Pine Prairie baseball program.
The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Most Valuable Player, Mamou’s Taylor Douget, is pictured above. She helped lead the Lady Green Demons to a first round playoff win in Class 3A. (Photo courtesy of Claudia Bateman)

The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Most Valuable Player, Mamou’s Taylor Douget, is pictured above. She helped lead the Lady Green Demons to a first round playoff win in Class 3A. (Photo courtesy of Claudia Bateman)

Parish MVP Douget reflects on team success in final year

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor MAMOU – In a lot of ways, the story of the Parish MVP in softball is one that runs parallel with that of five other girls. Mamou senior Taylor Douget is only one of the six reasons why Mamou broke out this season with a 19-11 record and a playoff home game in Class 3A.
The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Coach of the Year for softball hails from Mamou High School. Lady Green Demon head coach Kim Manuel led her team to another postseason appearance. (Gazette file photo)

The 2022 Ville Platte Gazette’s Coach of the Year for softball hails from Mamou High School. Lady Green Demon head coach Kim Manuel led her team to another postseason appearance. (Gazette file photo)

Softball COY Manuel sees game on higher level

By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor MAMOU – One thing is clear when speaking to softball Coach of the Year Kim Manuel, softball is much more than a sport to her. It’s a microcosm of life. An opportunity to teach the bigger picture and help kids see it through something they love.
Manuel

Manuel

Verlander’s world

With the way people were talking heading into this season, you would’ve sworn that Astros veteran pitcher Justin Verlander was destined for a fate similar to that of an old Boyz II Men song.