Sports

New head football coach of the Florida Gators Jon Sumrall is one of three coaches in the SEC who came over from jobs in the Athletic Conference. He is pictured as he speaks during SEC Media Days in Tampa, Fla. (Photo courtesy of Dave Wilson)

New head football coach of the Florida Gators Jon Sumrall is one of three coaches in the SEC who came over from jobs in the Athletic Conference. He is pictured as he speaks during SEC Media Days in Tampa, Fla. (Photo courtesy of Dave Wilson)

SEC Coaches face new era of challenges as Media Days kick off in Tampa

News Staff
Thursday, July 30, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor TAMPA, Fla. - With a nine-game conference schedule, football coaches in the Southeastern Conference will now face greater challenges in addition to ever-changing trends associated with the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) agreements.
Players from Ville Platte High and Sacred Heart are pictured as they participate in a joint practice at Sacred Heart on Thursday, July 16. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Players from Ville Platte High and Sacred Heart are pictured as they participate in a joint practice at Sacred Heart on Thursday, July 16. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Bulldogs, Trojans meet in joint football practice

News Staff
Monday, July 27, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - Football summer workouts took on a different look as Sacred Heart hosted a joint practice with cross-town squad Ville Platte High. Head Bulldog coach Roy Serie called it a beautiful thing to have both teams practicing against each other.
Liam Kincanon is pictured as he competes during a recent powerlifting meet. He will again represent Team USA in an international meet. (Photo courtesy of Kayla Kincanon)

Liam Kincanon is pictured as he competes during a recent powerlifting meet. He will again represent Team USA in an international meet. (Photo courtesy of Kayla Kincanon)

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Kincanon, 16, returns to the international stage

News Staff
Monday, July 27, 2026
Sacred Heart High School sophomore Liam Kincanon is heading back to the international powerlifting stage as one of the youngest of Louisiana’s Team USA Powerlifters.
(Left photo) The Ville Platte 8U Elite All-Stars claimed the championship at the PONY World Series, which was played in Buda, Texas. Team members and coaches are pictured as they ride in a championship parade on Tuesday, July 14. Head coach is Sam Miller; and players are Aimee Fontenot, Alyssa Blood, Ava Fontenot, Eleanor Fontenot, Emma Kate Fontenot, Jolie Ludeau, Journey Broussard, Landry Leger, Lyla Miller, Nora Delafosse, Remi Veillon, and Ro’Miyah Hill. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

(Left photo) The Ville Platte 8U Elite All-Stars claimed the championship at the PONY World Series, which was played in Buda, Texas. Team members and coaches are pictured as they ride in a championship parade on Tuesday, July 14. Head coach is Sam Miller; and players are Aimee Fontenot, Alyssa Blood, Ava Fontenot, Eleanor Fontenot, Emma Kate Fontenot, Jolie Ludeau, Journey Broussard, Landry Leger, Lyla Miller, Nora Delafosse, Remi Veillon, and Ro’Miyah Hill. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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World Series champions are honored

News Staff
Thursday, July 16, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - For the first time in memory, two Ville Platte All-Star teams were crowned World Series champions at the same time. Earning that distinction this year were the 10U and 8U Elite PONY League All-Stars.
Pictured in the left photo are the Super 10s. Players are Baylor Doucet, Ty Fontenot, Everett Fontenot, Mattox Sylvester, Levi Welch, Rivers Ortego, Joseph LaHaye, Buddy Scott, Emmett Lafleur, Rhett Fruge, Elliott Bischoff, and Amari Carr; and coaches are Derek Fontenot, Josh Fontenot, and Brett Doucet.

Pictured in the left photo are the Super 10s. Players are Baylor Doucet, Ty Fontenot, Everett Fontenot, Mattox Sylvester, Levi Welch, Rivers Ortego, Joseph LaHaye, Buddy Scott, Emmett Lafleur, Rhett Fruge, Elliott Bischoff, and Amari Carr; and coaches are Derek Fontenot, Josh Fontenot, and Brett Doucet.

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Close, but yet so far

News Staff
Thursday, July 16, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor ALEXANDRIA - The summer came to an end for two Ville Platte DYB All-Star teams as they fell just short of their quest for a state championship and an appearance in the World Series in Laurel, Mississippi.
Curiel

Curiel

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Pirates select LSU’s Curiel in first round of MLB Draft

News Staff
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced that the club has selected outfielder Derek Curiel out of Louisiana State University with the fifth overall selection in the first round of the 2026 First-Year Player Draft.
VP DYB 6U All-Stars place at state

VP DYB 6U All-Stars place at state

VP DYB 6U All-Stars place at state

News Staff
Thursday, July 16, 2026
The Ville Platte DYB 6U All-Stars ended their summer season with a fourth place finish at the state tournament, which was held in Metairie.
Andrus

Andrus

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New coach, same tradition

News Staff
Monday, July 13, 2026
By: DARREL LEJEUNE LSN Editor Basile High School has announced the hiring of Josh Andrus as the new head football coach of the Bearcats, making him the 18th head coach in the program’s history dating back to the school's first football team in 1946.
Pictured in the left photo are the Super 10s. Players are Baylor Doucet, Ty Fontenot, Everett Fontenot, Mattox Sylvester, Levi Welch, Rivers Ortego, Joseph LaHaye, Buddy Scott, Emmett Lafleur, Rhett Fruge, Elliott Bischoff, and Amari Carr; and coaches are Derek Fontenot, Josh Fontenot, and Brett Doucet.

Pictured in the left photo are the Super 10s. Players are Baylor Doucet, Ty Fontenot, Everett Fontenot, Mattox Sylvester, Levi Welch, Rivers Ortego, Joseph LaHaye, Buddy Scott, Emmett Lafleur, Rhett Fruge, Elliott Bischoff, and Amari Carr; and coaches are Derek Fontenot, Josh Fontenot, and Brett Doucet.

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Heads of state

News Staff
Thursday, July 9, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor All heroes do not wear capes. Some wear baseball uniforms and a cap and a glove.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

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Skenes is named to National League All-Star Team

News Staff
Thursday, July 9, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher Paul Skenes has been named to the National League All-Star team for this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which will take place on Tuesday, July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. The announcement was made by Major League Baseball tonight.
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