Trojans earn 1A Runner-Up

They accomplished a feat that had not been done since 1993. The Sacred Heart Trojans Baseball team made it to the state finals and had a shot to earn the state title. They ran up against a very good Cedar Creek team that had a very good offense. In fact, the Cougars had scored 10 or more runs in 25 of their 35 games this year. They were 30-5 going into the finals. Cedar Creek had dismantled Central Catholic of Morgan City in the semi-finals 13-8.
For the first two innings, the two teams tested one another out. Andy Lafleur was on the hill for the Trojans. He battled the distance and did what he could to hold down the Cougar’s potent offense. His defense backed him up considerably. Evan Mire made a highlight reel catch in the first inning and that set off the enormous crowd.
Sacred Heart missed an excellent chance to score in the top of the second inning. They had runners in scoring position, but could not get the hit they needed. That would be the story of the day.
“It just was not meant to be today,” said Sacred Heart Head Coach Cody Vidrine. “We simply could not get the timely hitting that we needed.”
The Trojans would collect a total of 10 hits, including three hits from Keaton Tate.
In the top of the third frame, the Trojans put runners on first and second with no outs. Once again, they were not able to bring home a run.
The Cougars got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. A walk and a fielder’s choice put the Cougars in motion. A single scored the run, making it a 1-0 contest.
The top of the fourth frame saw the Trojans bring home their only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. Garrett Manuel and Evan Mire walked with no outs. A single from Tate scored Manuel, tying the game at 1-1.
Cedar Creek exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth block. A single started things off. One out later, a double gave the Cougars their second lead of the game. An infield hit kept things going and a walk loaded the bases. Another hit drove in one run to increased CCHS’ lead. A pair of miscues helped push two more runs home, making it a 5-1 score.
In the top of the fifth inning, Ellis Parrott and Andy Lafleur singled to get things going for the Trojans. However, Brandon Hudspeth would hit into a double play and that would end that scoring threat.
As the game went on, the local kids were back in scoring position in the top of the sixth inning. With two outs, Tate singled to left field, while Mire and Wesley Fontenot each hit infield singles. Unfortunately, the Trojans were not able to get a run home.
The game would end with a 5-1 score. By looking at a box score, you would think the Trojans won this game, however, they are not about to hang their heads.
“You always want to win,” Vidrine said. “But this is a great accomplishment. These guys know they can win now and get back here again next year.”
Sacred Heart looked calm and collected today when they hit the field. Perhaps that was because they pulled off a great comeback in the semi-final game against St. John.
“We came out ready today,” Vidrine explained. “We were calm and relaxed. It was fun, but it just wasn’t in the cards to win.”
In the semi-finals, the Trojans played a see-saw battle with the Eagles of St. John. In the end, the old “Do or Die” spirt played through and the Trojans won 6-4 over the higher seeded Eagles.
In the top of the first inning, Evan Mire singled and moved into scoring position on a fielder’s choice from Keaton Tate. A single from Andy Lafleur pushed Mire home to give the Trojans their first lead of the game.
St. John returned fire and tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning. Moments later, the boys in blue and gold answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Their 3-1 lead seemed good for the moment, but the Eagles were not going anywhere.
St. John answered with one run in their next three trips to the plate. They tied the game in the bottom of the third inning. For most of the game the Eagles took advantage of errors and coupled it with timely hitting.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the St. John boys took their first lead of the game. They were up 4-3 and for the moment, the SHHS boys were stunned.
Things would go into the seventh and final innings. Did the cardiac Cajuns and their talented players have what it takes to come back?
The sounds of “We Are One” ran through the SHHS crowd. WAO was chanted over and over. Garrett Fontenot ignited the explosive crowd with a double in right field. A fielder’s choice from Evan Mire moved Fontenot to third base. The tying run was sitting 90 feet away. Keaton Tate did his duty and ripped a single to score Fontenot. The game was all tied up at 4-4. Wesley Fontenot walked on four pitches and with one out, things were looking good for SHHS. With Andy Lalfeur at the plate, a wild pitch moved the go-ahead run to third and Wesley Fontenot went to second base. Ellis Parrott roped a double down the right field line to give the Trojans the lead 6-4.
St. John was so stunned, they could never recover.
The Ville Platte fans dwarfed the Cedar Creek fans and most of the community. Mayor Jennifer Vidrine was there rooting on her constituents, along with fans, friends, parents and alumni.
“I really want to thank the community for their support,” Coach Vidrine stated. “It has been amazing and meant a great deal to us. I especially want to thank my wife for allowing me to do this. Without her it would not have been possible.”
The 2014 baseball season will go down as one of the most successful in the school’s history. Congratulations go out to the players and coaching staff on a job well done. The Trojans finish the season with a record of 23-8.