Sports

Third season of summer basketball is underway

Third season of summer basketball is underway

Third season of summer basketball is underway

News Staff
Monday, July 14, 2025
Season 3 of the St. John Summer Recreational Basketball League has started, and it is a free summer program to help the underprivileged youth get a chance to showcase their basketball skills and learn teamwork and collaboration.
The Ville Platte DYB Major All Stars defeated Mamou two games to one to win the district tournament. Coaches are Josh Fontenot, Tucker Addington, and John Deranger; players are Jax Fontenot, Drew Chapman, Hayes Mayeaux, Thomas Fontenot, Karson McFarlain, Ryker Addington, Andrew Bischoff, Ethan Deranger, Wyatt Deville, Brantley Guillory, and Hudson Fontenot. (Photo courtesy of Ville Platte Dixie Youth Baseball)

The Ville Platte DYB Major All Stars defeated Mamou two games to one to win the district tournament. Coaches are Josh Fontenot, Tucker Addington, and John Deranger; players are Jax Fontenot, Drew Chapman, Hayes Mayeaux, Thomas Fontenot, Karson McFarlain, Ryker Addington, Andrew Bischoff, Ethan Deranger, Wyatt Deville, Brantley Guillory, and Hudson Fontenot. (Photo courtesy of Ville Platte Dixie Youth Baseball)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

A cross-parish classic of a tournament

News Staff
Thursday, July 10, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - Three first inning runs were enough for the Ville Platte DYB Major All Stars to win the deciding third game of the district tournament against Mamou.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Starters announced for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard

News Staff
Thursday, July 10, 2025
Major League Baseball’s leading vote-getter Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees will be joined in the AL All-Star lineup by MLB home run leader Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson of the Athletics, and a trio of players from the AL-leading Detroit Tigers, while the...
Edwards

Edwards

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Edwards leaves Oakdale for job in Mamou

News Staff
Monday, July 7, 2025
By: TONY MARKS LSN Sports Editor A two-time state championship winning coach in girls’ basketball is leaving Oakdale High School to take on an administrative role.
Sam Veillon, formerly of Sacred Heart, is pictured as he signs to play baseball at Louisiana Christian University during a ceremony held Wednesday, July 2. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Sam Veillon, formerly of Sacred Heart, is pictured as he signs to play baseball at Louisiana Christian University during a ceremony held Wednesday, July 2. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

From a Trojan to a Wildcat

News Staff
Monday, July 7, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor Sam Veillon is taking his baseball talents to the next level. The Sacred Heart pitcher signed to play with Louisiana Christian University during a signing ceremony held Wednesday, July 2.
Artist Christopher Brown (left) presents artwork to Robert Soileau (right). The artwork commemorates Robert’s father George “Bobby” Soileau’s induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Artist Christopher Brown (left) presents artwork to Robert Soileau (right). The artwork commemorates Robert’s father George “Bobby” Soileau’s induction into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Carrying the flag

News Staff
Thursday, July 3, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor NATCHITOCHES — It may not be as good as when a priest, a pastor, and a rabbi walked into a bar, but did you hear the one about a gymnast, a boxer, a coach, a director, and a lineman going into the hall of fame?
Local Headline

Local Headline

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Marks earns three LSWA writing awards

News Staff
Thursday, July 3, 2025
NATCHITOCHES — Tony Marks, editor of the Ville Platte Gazette and sports editor of The Oakdale Journal, earned three awards in the 2024 Louisiana Sports Writers Association Annual Contest. The awards were presented on Sunday, June 29, in Natchitoches.
The Mamou Super 10s won the DYB District 7 Tournament. Players are Emmett Christ, Maddex Jack, Japheth Spears, Jaxxon Cormier, Paxton Ashford, Ben Ardoin, Karson Courville, Tucker Ardoin, Jax Vidrine, Kalem Fontenot, and Deshaun Compton. (Photos courtesy of Tosha Cormier)

The Mamou Super 10s won the DYB District 7 Tournament. Players are Emmett Christ, Maddex Jack, Japheth Spears, Jaxxon Cormier, Paxton Ashford, Ben Ardoin, Karson Courville, Tucker Ardoin, Jax Vidrine, Kalem Fontenot, and Deshaun Compton. (Photos courtesy of Tosha Cormier)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

A super championship

News Staff
Thursday, July 3, 2025
By: TONY MARKS Editor The Mamou Super 10s ran through the DYB District 7 Tournament like General William Sherman through Atlanta as they won all five of their games on their way to a district championship. Mamou’s run through the tournament began with a 5-3 win over the Super 10s from Ville Platte.
APRIL BURKHOLDER — Competed at LSU from 2003-06, graduating as the school’s most decorated gymnast and still ranking nearly two decades later among the elite in the program’s rich history. A 14-time All-American, she won 108 individual titles to set a school record, including the 2006 NCAA beam title with a score of 9.9125. (Photo courtesy of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)

APRIL BURKHOLDER — Competed at LSU from 2003-06, graduating as the school’s most decorated gymnast and still ranking nearly two decades later among the elite in the program’s rich history. A 14-time All-American, she won 108 individual titles to set a school record, including the 2006 NCAA beam title with a score of 9.9125. (Photo courtesy of Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame)

Exclusive Subscriber Content

Burkholder’s dynamic days at LSU magnified support for powerhouse gymnastics program

News Staff
Monday, June 30, 2025
By: HARRISON VALENTINE Written for the LSWA Before there was Haleigh Bryant, Sarah Finnegan or Ashleigh Gnat, there was a 14-time All-American at LSU. An NCAA beam champion, and an SEC Gymnast of the Year, who was setting the foundation and helping vault LSU gymnastics into a perennial power.
Subscribe to