Trojans slip past Panthers in diamond play

On Tuesday, the Sacred Heart Trojans and the Pine Prairie Panthers were able to squeeze in a game on the diamond, despite the wet wintery weather all of Louisiana has felt over the past week. Neither team was able to produce much offensively, as the Trojans slid past the Panthers 2-1.
Pine Prairie began the game with a leadoff single from Dylan Doucet. The Trojans retired the next two batters on a fly out and a ground ball to third base. Doucet was able to advance to second on the ground ball. With two outs, J.T. Joubert singled, scoring Doucet from second base. Matt Rougeau flew out in the next at bat to end the first half of the inning.
Sacred Heart threatened in the bottom half of the first, when Keaton Tate singled to right field with one out. Doucet, on the hill to start the game for the Panthers, retired the next two Trojan batters to retire the side. At the end of one inning, Pine Prairie led 1-0.
The Panthers were sat down in order in the top of the second. Evan Lacross flew to right field and Gaten Chaddrick drew the walk from Caleb Soileau. Soileau was able to get Sylus Carson to ground into a 5-4-3 double play to end the Pine Prairie threat.
The Trojans had an opportunity to put up points in the bottom of the second. With two outs, Jacob A. Lafleur singled to right field. Doucet walked the next two batters to load the bases. However, Evan Mire grounded to the third sacker, Lacross, who promptly stepped on the back to end the Sacred Heart threat.
After Soileau retired the Panthers in order in the top of the third, the Trojans were able to score in the bottom half of the inning. Tate got on with a leadoff walk and used his speed to swipe second base on the steal. The next two batters could not push the run across as Brandon Hudspeth flew out to left and Jacob L. Lafleur struck out.
With Garrick Fontenot now at the plate, Tate moved to third on a passed ball. Fontenot hit a ground ball, which was mishandled by the second baseman, allowing him to reach first safely and score Tate. Soileau struck out swinging to end the inning. After three complete innings, the game was tied 1-1.
Both teams could not generate any more offense for the next three innings. The Trojans came to bat in the bottom of the seventh, needing only one run to pick up the win. With Zack Lee on the hill for the Panthers, Sacred Heart went to work. Phillip Vidrine managed a leadoff single to open the bottom of the seventh.
Sam Tuminaro ground out to third, advancing Vidrine to second. A shallow single by Evan Mire, put the Trojan runners at first and third with one out. Tate came to the plate, took the first pitch for a strike and then singled to score Vidrine from third to end the game.
Leading hitter for the Trojans was Keaton Tate. Tate was two for three with two singles and a run batted in. Caleb Soileau picked up the win, throwing four and two-thirds innings, giving up one run on three hits. Soileau struck out one and walked one.
For the Panthers, J.T Joubert led all hitters, going two for three with two singles. Zack Lee earned the loss for Pine Prairie, throwing four complete innings. Lee gave up one run on four hits with no strikeouts or walks.
With the win, Sacred Heart is now 4-1 on the year. The Trojans will participate in the Kaplan Tournament this weekend. Pine Prairie drops to 1-3 on the young season and will travel to DeQuincy to take part in the Tiger’s Tournament this Friday and Saturday.