Panthers defeat Bulldogs in district opener

On Tuesday, the Pine Prairie Panthers and the Ville Platte Bulldogs tangled in the opening district baseball game for both teams. The Panthers, aided by a strong first two innings, held off a late Ville Platte rally to take an 8-6 win. With the win, Pine Prairie is now 7-6 on the year. The Bulldogs drop to 0-7 on the season with the loss.
The Panthers opened the game by sitting down Ville Platte in order. In the bottom of the first, the Panthers plated three runs to take the early lead. Pine Prairie once again blanked the Bulldog offense in the second; only to score two more runs in the bottom half of that inning to push the score to 5-0.
Ville Platte could not put any runs across in the next three innings. However, the Panthers earned two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend their lead to 7-0. Sensing a shutout, the Bulldogs rallied in the top of the sixth inning, notching five runs to cut the lead to two, 7-5. Pine Prairie managed another run in the bottom half of the sixth to take the three run advantage.
Another comeback in the top of the seventh fell short, as Ville Platte could only manage to score one run before being shut down by the Panther pitching corps.
Leading the way at the plate for the Panthers was Dylan Doucet who used a hot bat to go three for four with a double, a home run and three runs scored. Gaten Chaddrick was two for three with three runs scored. Ville Platte was led by Jaishaun Doucet who was two for three with two runs scored. Nick Vidrine went one for three with a run scored.