Sports

Lady Trojans’ slugger Jolie Vidrine stands ready at the plate in an early season softball game. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Lady Trojans’ slugger Jolie Vidrine stands ready at the plate in an early season softball game. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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SHS softball off to hot start

Rhett Manuel
Monday, February 28, 2022
VILLE PLATTE – Last year’s growing pains appear to be turning into this year’s success for head coach Todd Ardoin and his Sacred Heart Lady Trojans softball program. The Lady Trojans kicked off the opening week of their regular season by playing four games.
Ville Platte High senior Michael Berry won the LHSAA indoor track state championship in high jump. (Photo courtesy of VPHS)

Ville Platte High senior Michael Berry won the LHSAA indoor track state championship in high jump. (Photo courtesy of VPHS)

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STATE CHAMPION

Tony Marks
Thursday, February 24, 2022
With a mark of 6 feet, 4 inches, Michael Berry, a senior at Ville Platte High School, took home the state championship at the Ochsner/LHSAA Indoor Track meet. He edged out Pierre Wade of Oakdale and Dane Grow of Berwick. With the jump, Berry equaled his personal record.
Pictured with their coaches are members of the Ville Platte High boys’ basketball team that won the District 5-3A championship. In no particular order are Davonte Fontenot, Jaquan Lavergne, Jamarre Byers, Tauj Roy, Montavius Seraille, Taylin Richard, Jakhalan Slaughter, Troas Murray, Latelldrick Prejean, Sage Papillion, Michael Berry, and Latrayvion Thomas. (Photo courtesy of VPHS)

Pictured with their coaches are members of the Ville Platte High boys’ basketball team that won the District 5-3A championship. In no particular order are Davonte Fontenot, Jaquan Lavergne, Jamarre Byers, Tauj Roy, Montavius Seraille, Taylin Richard, Jakhalan Slaughter, Troas Murray, Latelldrick Prejean, Sage Papillion, Michael Berry, and Latrayvion Thomas. (Photo courtesy of VPHS)

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District champs

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, February 24, 2022
VILLE PLATTE – The Ville Platte Bulldogs are the District 5-3A champions after defeating the Northwest Raiders by a 51-43 margin last Friday night.
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Sports Headline

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Boys’ basketball brackets are released; road to finals begins

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, February 24, 2022
VILLE PLATTE – The Ville Platte Bulldogs and Sacred Heart Trojans did the work during the regular season and were rewarded accordingly when the Louisiana High School Athletic Association released its boys playoff pairings on Monday.
Vandryua Wilson (22) drives down the court for the Ville Platte High Lady Bulldogs in their playoff loss to Baker, 58-53, at home Thursday night. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Vandryua Wilson (22) drives down the court for the Ville Platte High Lady Bulldogs in their playoff loss to Baker, 58-53, at home Thursday night. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Short-handed Baker upsets 14th-seeded Ville Platte at home

Rhett Manuel
Monday, February 21, 2022
VILLE PLATTE — If team size truly mattered, then it would’ve appeared to lineup for the No. 14-seeded Ville Platte Lady Bulldogs to walk away victorious against No. 19-seeded Baker. After all, Baker Buffs dressed only five players for its Class 3A first-round matchup with the Lady Bulldogs.
Manuel

Manuel

Whitworth gets rightful send-off in Super Bowl

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, February 17, 2022
I promised myself I would focus on the positive if my Super Bowl prediction came to pass. I promised myself I wouldn’t brag, gloat or rub it in if I happened to be correct about the Super Bowl.
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Sports Headline

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Local schools win big heading into postseason

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, February 17, 2022
VILLE PLATTE – With the regular season winding down in boys’ basketball, the ability to win games and wrap up a potential home game is more vital than it has ever been.
Manuel

Manuel

Allen hire comes down to evolution, not revolution

Rhett Manuel
Monday, February 14, 2022
I’m an educator and a sports writer. I’ve now been an educator for almost as long as I’ve been a sports writer now. My time at the American Press in Lake Charles started in 2011. I’ve been a teacher since 2015.
Austin Darbonne (21) goes for a basket against North Central. In the game against the Hurricanes, he recorded his 1,000th career point. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Austin Darbonne (21) goes for a basket against North Central. In the game against the Hurricanes, he recorded his 1,000th career point. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Sacred Heart’s Darbonne shines in district play

Rhett Manuel
Monday, February 14, 2022
As Austin Darbonne goes, the Sacred Heart Trojans basketball team follows. The senior, who recentlay joined the school’s 1,000-point club, scored 32 points in a 61-30 win over Catholic-Pointe Coupee in District 5-1A play Monday night.
Tyrion Broussard (10) elevates himself over a pair of Pine Prairie defenders. Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel

Tyrion Broussard (10) elevates himself over a pair of Pine Prairie defenders. Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel

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With a bang

Rhett Manuel
Thursday, February 10, 2022
MAMOU – Colin Enicke must have had it on his mind to wrap his final home game in style for the Mamou Green Demons.
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