Sports

Kristen Bacon (pictured on the left with her husband, Sam) led the Basile Lady Bearcats to their first winning season and first playoff win since restarting the program after more than five decades of non-existance. (Photo submitted)

Kristen Bacon (pictured on the left with her husband, Sam) led the Basile Lady Bearcats to their first winning season and first playoff win since restarting the program after more than five decades of non-existance. (Photo submitted)

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Bacon guides Basile to first winning season, playoff win in over five decades

News Staff
Monday, May 25, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor BASILE - This past softball season saw a number of firsts for the Basile Lady Bearcats. It was the first time the team had a winning record and the first time the team won a playoff game in more than five decades. Guiding the team to these firsts was head coach Kristen Bacon.
Robert Soileau (left), the son of Bobby Soileau, meets with Derek Landry (right), the grandson of RP “Cow” Landry and new head football coach and athletic director at Sacred Heart. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Robert Soileau (left), the son of Bobby Soileau, meets with Derek Landry (right), the grandson of RP “Cow” Landry and new head football coach and athletic director at Sacred Heart. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Bridging generations

News Staff
Thursday, May 21, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - A hyphen, according to Merriam-Webster, is defined as a punctuation mark used especially to divide or to compound words, word elements, or numbers.
Pine Prairie head softball coach Alycia Hebert (right) was named as the coach of the year in District 5-3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Pine Prairie head softball coach Alycia Hebert (right) was named as the coach of the year in District 5-3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Baseball and softball players are named to All-District teams

News Staff
Thursday, May 21, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Several high school baseball and softball players from Evangeline Parish were recognized for the efforts on the field this season by being named to their respective All-District teams.
Trumaine Johnson (center) is pictured during a Ville Platte High baseball game this season. He spent the past season as the team’s head coach. (Photo courtesy of Trumaine Johnson)

Trumaine Johnson (center) is pictured during a Ville Platte High baseball game this season. He spent the past season as the team’s head coach. (Photo courtesy of Trumaine Johnson)

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Johnson reflects on first year as baseball leader

News Staff
Monday, May 18, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Coaching is difficult. Coaching in your hometown is even more difficult. Ville Platte native Trumaine Johnson got a taste of this reality as he spent this past season as head coach of the Ville Platte High baseball team. He recently reflected on the season as a whole.
This photo of Caden Askey (7) sliding underneath a tag to score Pine Prairie’s second run in the top of the first inning in Game 3 against Berwick won 1st place for Best Sports Photo.

This photo of Caden Askey (7) sliding underneath a tag to score Pine Prairie’s second run in the top of the first inning in Game 3 against Berwick won 1st place for Best Sports Photo.

Win, place, and sheaux

News Staff
Thursday, May 14, 2026
Staff Report The Louisiana Press Association announced the winners of the 2025 Better Newspaper Competition on May 8, 2026 at the Baton Rouge City Club, including Newspaper of the Year honors, which included: Division 1: The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate Division 2: The Ruston Daily...
Braxton Ardoin, of Mamou High School, is pictured with his gold medal in Boys High Jump 3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Braxton Ardoin, of Mamou High School, is pictured with his gold medal in Boys High Jump 3A. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Looking for precious medals

News Staff
Thursday, May 14, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor BATON ROUGE - Despite weather conditions moving many of the events inside the Carl Maddox Fieldhouse, parish athletes from Evangeline Parish took home medals at the LHSAA Outdoor Track and Field State Meet at LSU.
Sports Headline

Sports Headline

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McNeese wins SLC Tournament, headed to NCAA Regional

News Staff
Thursday, May 14, 2026
By: RAYMOND PARTSCH III LSN Sports Editor LAKE CHARLES - The McNeese Cowgirls are headed back to an NCAA Regional. For the first time since 2023, McNeese will play in the NCAA Tournament, as the Cowgirls earned a spot in the Bryan-College Station Regional.
Mamou head powerlifting coach Kirk Taylor is pictured with this year’s girls’ state runner-up trophy. (Photo courtesy of Kirk Taylor)

Mamou head powerlifting coach Kirk Taylor is pictured with this year’s girls’ state runner-up trophy. (Photo courtesy of Kirk Taylor)

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Taylor reflects on powerlifting success at MHS

News Staff
Monday, May 11, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Kirk Taylor has seen a number of successes during his short time at Mamou High School. Among those successes is having his girls’ powerlifting team finish as state runners-up this year.
William Chapman is pictured as he tries to make a putt during the first round of the state golf tournament on Monday, May 4, in Carencro. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

William Chapman is pictured as he tries to make a putt during the first round of the state golf tournament on Monday, May 4, in Carencro. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Going clubbin’

News Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor CARENCRO - With a total score of 674 and a total to par gross of +98, the Sacred Heart golf team finished as state runner-up at the 2026 LHSAA Golf State Championships in Division IV. The championship was held Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, at Farm d’Allie Golf Club.
Sully Manuel (13) eyes home plate as he takes his lead off the third base bag during Sacred Heart’s 3-2 playoff loss to St. Edmund on Sunday, May 3. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Sully Manuel (13) eyes home plate as he takes his lead off the third base bag during Sacred Heart’s 3-2 playoff loss to St. Edmund on Sunday, May 3. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Ran out of town

News Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor EUNICE - Daniel Guillory represented the game tying run in Sacred Heart’s playoff game against district rival St. Edmund on Saturday. He reached base after being hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the seventh inning with his Trojans trailing 3-2.
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