Ville Platte Bulldogs handed their first loss in district by Eunice

The Eunice High Bobcats opened District 5-3A play on Tuesday with a 16-1 victory over the visiting Ville Platte High Bulldogs.
The Bobcats, improving their overall record to 13-5, took control of the contest in the bottom of the first inning, scoring seven runs. Bulldogs’ starting pitcher Nick Vidrine retired the first two batters in the inning, but the Cats took advantage of three errors by the Bulldogs’ defense to put the game out of reach in the early going.
Vidrine hit the Bobcats’ third batter, Christian Lejeune, with a pitch and Christian Taylor followed with a line drive single that sent courtesy runner Brady Smith to third base.
After Taylor stole second base, freshman third baseman Tyler Darbonne drove in both runners with a line drive into right field. The right fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Darbonne to advance to third base.
Darbonne would score when Brandon Martel’s grounder was misplayed on the infield. Martel stole second base and scored on a single by Caleb Taylor. A hit batsman and another infield error brought Cade Richard to the plate and he ripped a two-run triple to give the Cats a 7-0 lead.
The Bobcats scored two more runs in the second inning to go up 9-0. Caleb Taylor drove in both runs with a two-out single.
Meanwhile, Eunice pitcher Christian Lejeune was shutting down the Bulldogs’ offense with three scoreless innings.
Vidrine had the lone hit off Lejeune to lead off the game and Cy Deville drew a walk. Lejeune, relieved by sophomore Jayden Brasseaux to start the fourth inning, finished his stint on the mound with four strikeouts.
The Bobcats added four additional runs in the third inning, highlighted by a sacrifice fly by Lejeune, a two-run double by Darbonne, and a run-scoring grounder by Martel.
The Cats completed their scoring in the fourth with three runs. Smith was hit by a pitch with one out, followed by Ian George’s single. Brasseaux singled home Smith before freshman Tayte Langley tripled in two runners to end the scoring.
The Eunice Bobcats were scheduled to continue district play on Thursday at home against the Northwest High Raiders, weather permitting, before traveling to face the Church Point Bears on Tuesday.
With the loss the Ville Platte Bulldogs drop to 2-5 on the season and 0-1 in district play. Ville Platte will travel to Northwest on Tuesday in another district match-up.