Sports

Pictured from left (standing) are Sacred Heart assistant coach Kayne Hargrave and head coach Gary Ashworth and (seated) Jackson Bruney. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Pictured from left (standing) are Sacred Heart assistant coach Kayne Hargrave and head coach Gary Ashworth and (seated) Jackson Bruney. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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‘Hotter than a pepper sprout’

News Staff
Monday, April 29, 2024
By: TONY MARKS Editor Jackson Bruney, also known as Bruney, has signed to play baseball with LSUA. He is the son of Candice and Chad Bruney and has been a varsity player for four years at Sacred Heart. “I think it’s going to better me as a person,” Bruney said about signing to play college ball.
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Bruney’s gem advances Trojans past Central Private, to quarters

News Staff
Monday, April 29, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor VILLE PLATTE – Sacred Heart senior pitcher Jackson Bruney has struggled with injuries throughout the 2024 season. In the long run, perhaps it was a blessing in disguise.
Lady Trojan first baseman Kali Shiver (22) celebrates after recording the final out of the game against Riverside Academy in the quarterfinal round of the state softball playoffs. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Lady Trojan first baseman Kali Shiver (22) celebrates after recording the final out of the game against Riverside Academy in the quarterfinal round of the state softball playoffs. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

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Without reservations

News Staff
Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: TONY MARKS Editor RESERVE - A season ago, the Sacred Heart softball team faced Riverside Academy in the quarterfinal round of the playoffs and fell 14-5. Riverside then went on to win its second consecutive state championship.
Caden Askey (7) connects with a pitch in a game against Church Point during a best-of-three playoff series held at Pine Prairie. The Panthers now play a best-of-three series at Red River in the second round. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Caden Askey (7) connects with a pitch in a game against Church Point during a best-of-three playoff series held at Pine Prairie. The Panthers now play a best-of-three series at Red River in the second round. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Moving on

News Staff
Thursday, April 25, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor PINE PRAIRIE – Most coaches at the high school level like to take their lumps in the regular season in hopes of preparing their teams for the playoffs.
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More than grit

News Staff
Monday, April 22, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor PINE PRAIRIE – Basile athletics are usually known for their grit. Be it a grind-it-out football style or a storied wrestling program, over the years the Bearcats have made their name with toughness.
Sacred Heart flex player Jenna Veillon (6) connects with a pitch in the Lady Trojans’ 11-1 win over St. John in the second round of the Division IV Select softball playoffs. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Sacred Heart flex player Jenna Veillon (6) connects with a pitch in the Lady Trojans’ 11-1 win over St. John in the second round of the Division IV Select softball playoffs. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Geauxing for seconds

News Staff
Thursday, April 18, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor A trio of parish teams advanced to the second round of the softball playoffs and took different routes doing so. Sacred Heart and Pine Prairie each had first round byes, and Mamou had to get past Berwick in its playoff opener.
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Sacred Heart, PPHS begin road to Sulphur on home turf

News Staff
Thursday, April 18, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL and TONY MARKS LSN Sports Editors Now that the baseball regular season is wrapped up, there’s only one thing left to focus on. That’s the road to Sulphur, where the state baseball tournament will be played in approximately three weeks beginning on May 7.
Tyler Newman and Landon Fontenot, both of Basile, are pictured as they compete in the 110m hurdles during the parish track meet held at Pine Prairie High School. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Tyler Newman and Landon Fontenot, both of Basile, are pictured as they compete in the 110m hurdles during the parish track meet held at Pine Prairie High School. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Thirty Top-3s vaults Basile to parish meet sweep

News Staff
Thursday, April 18, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor PINE PRAIRIE – Sometimes it’s just your year. For the Basile Bearcats track and field program, it was theirs as they swept the Evangeline Parish track meet in winning both the overall boys and girls parish championships.
Make no mistake about it. When the Bulldogs needed a big bucket, they relied on their two-time Parish MVP for it. Sage Papillion has been a prolific scorer for years now, but was relied on for even more leadership than he was in past years this season. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

Make no mistake about it. When the Bulldogs needed a big bucket, they relied on their two-time Parish MVP for it. Sage Papillion has been a prolific scorer for years now, but was relied on for even more leadership than he was in past years this season. (Gazette photo by Rhett Manuel)

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Personal connections, tragedy fueled Papillion

News Staff
Monday, April 15, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor Evangeline Parish boys’ basketball MVP Sage Papillion thrives on connection. Yes, he doesn’t say much.
Sacred Heart coach Cody Jones guided his Trojans to a win over Ouachita Christian in the opening round of the playoffs and has been named the boys’ coach of the year in Evangeline Parish after igniting a positive culture in the school’s program. (Photo courtesy of Cody Jones)

Sacred Heart coach Cody Jones guided his Trojans to a win over Ouachita Christian in the opening round of the playoffs and has been named the boys’ coach of the year in Evangeline Parish after igniting a positive culture in the school’s program. (Photo courtesy of Cody Jones)

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COY Jones ignited positive culture in SHS basketball

News Staff
Monday, April 15, 2024
By: RHETT MANUEL Sports Editor A good motivator is hard to find these days. With the world changing, the voice of a good coach and mentor is all the more important. In high school sports, that leadership can be the difference between wins and losses.
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