Panthers garner two important district wins

The Pine Prairie Panthers added two more district wins this past week, defeating Church Point 7-2 and Ville Platte 8-6. With the two wins the Panthers push their overall record to 15-8 and their district 5-3A record to 6-2. Pine Prairie is currently in second place in district and is one game behind league leader Port Barre. As of yesterday, the Panthers are ranked number 22 in the latest LHSAA power rankings. Here is a rundown of the two games played this week:

Pine Prairie
vs. Church Point

The Panthers traveled to Church Point on Tuesday to face off against the Bears. Pine Prairie and Church Point started off the game without much fanfare, as neither team could plate runs in the first inning. The only base runner for either squad was Joshua Fontenot, who tripled for the Panthers.
However, an anemic first inning at the plate for Pine Prairie, turned into an offensive explosion in the top of the second inning. The Panthers batted around in the inning, scoring five runs on three hits to open up the scoring. A single by the Bears in the bottom half of the inning was all that they could manage, as J.T. Joubert once again blanked Church Point.
A scoreless third inning kept the Panther advantage at 5-0. Pine Prairie added their final two runs in the top of the fourth as Dylan Doucet and Joubert both crossed the plate. The big hits of the inning came from Joubert, who doubled and scored Doucet and Matthew Rougeau, who singled and plated Joubert. The Bears did manage to score their first run in the bottom of the inning to cut the Panther lead to 7-1.
Church Point added another run in the bottom of the fifth, but it was too little too late, as the Panthers shut the door in the Bears’ final at bat. Joubert went the distance on the hill for the win, allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six. Rougeau was two for with two runs batted in to lead all Pine Prairie hitters.

Pine Prairie
vs. Ville Platte

In an inter-parish clash, the Pine Prairie Panthers hosted the Ville Platte Bulldogs on Wednesday. The Panthers jumped out to an early 7-1 lead, but had to hold off a Bulldog charge in the final four innings to seal the 8-6 win. In the game Pine Prairie picked up 14 hits to lead them to victory.
The Panthers scored early and often against Ville Platte, picking up four runs in the first inning and three runs in the second inning. The Bulldogs managed to plate a single run in the top of the second inning, when Daylon Jones scored on a sacrifice fly to leftfield by Adam Hampshire. However, Pine Prairie led 7-1 at the end of two innings of play.
Ville Platte would not go away, as the Bulldogs gained some offensive momentum in the top of the third inning. Four consecutive singles and a double by Jones propelled the Ville Platte to a four run inning. The Bulldogs blanked the Panthers in the bottom of third to cut the lead down to 7-5.
With Ville Platte threatening to take control of the game, the Panthers needed two things: insurance runs and to stymie the newfound Bulldog offense. Pine Prairie got both, as they added a run in the bottom of the fifth and held Ville Platte to only one more run in the top of the sixth.
Three Panther pitchers took to the mound to secure the win. Josh Fontenot went two and one third innings, Zach Lee threw two and two thirds innings and Gaten Chaddrick finished the game, pitching the final two innings. Fontenot, Logan Blood and Evan Lacross were all two for three at the plate for Pine Prairie. Rougeau and Joubert went two for four.
For Ville Platte, Veillon picked up the loss, throwing one and one third innings. Nick Vidrine was two for two to lead all Bulldog hitters. Jones was two for four with two runs batted in and a run scored.