Ville Platte All Stars are PONY national runners-up

The 8 and under PONY national runner up trophy now resides in Ville Platte. The 2014 Ville Platte Pinto All Stars battled their way to the National Championship game, only to fall to the Rayne All Stars by a score of 19-18. This is the second national runner–up trophy that a Ville Platte All-Star team has brought home. The first was in 2004 when the 12-and-under Bronco team placed second in Harligen, Texas.
Grit and determination was the order of business for the 8U All-Stars throughout the National Tournament that began on Wednesday. The ladies in blue had to weave their way through three pool games on Wednesday and Thursday. These pool games were used to determine their seed in bracket play which began on Friday. Ville Platte dominated their pool, going undefeated. On Wednesday, the All-Stars started the tournament with a lopsided 17-4 win over Crowley. Ville Platte scored six runs in the first and never looked back. In the second pool game, Ville Platte steamrolled the All-Stars from McAllen, Texas by a score of 15-2. In the final pool game on Thursday, Ville Platte pitched a shutout of Moss Bluff and scored seven runs in the first two innings en route to a 13-0 victory. The perfect 3-0 record in pool play gave Ville Platte the number one seed going into bracket play on Friday.
Bracket play opened Friday night with Ville Platte facing the North Vermilion All-Stars. Ville Platte picked up four runs in the first inning while only allowing one run to North Vermilion. The second inning was much of the same, as Ville Platte added 4 more while not allowing any runs defensively. Ville Platte tacked on 5 more in the third inning and cruised to a 14-6 victory. In the game, Sophia Scully was 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run, 2 RBI and two runs scored. Peyton Guillory also went 2 for 3 with a home run, 1 RBI and 2 runs scored.
The second bracket game saw Ville Platte squeak out an 11-10 win over the Moss Bluff All-Stars. The 10:20 a.m. start and the fact that it was the first game of the day for Ville Platte showed as the ladies started really slow at the plate. Moss Bluff jumped out to a 6-3 lead after 3 innings of play. But, the players and coaches mustered up enough can do attitude and outscored Moss Bluff 8-4 over the next two innings to outlast the Lady Broncos. Carlee Soileau was 3 for 3 with 2 runs scored in the contest. Aubrie Vidrine was also 3 for 3 with 3 RBI. Victoria Chaddrick added 2 more hits and 2 more RBI.
Game three pitted Ville Platte against a familiar opponent in the Rayne All-Stars. This game became a back and forth see-saw battle going the full six innings, with Ville Platte coming out on top 20-18. After putting up 2 runs in the top of the first, Ville Platte allowed 3 runs in the bottom of the first. Rayne gained a run in the second inning after outscoring Ville Platte 3-2 and led 6-4. Ville Platte added 4 in the third inning and held Rayne to 1 run in the bottom of that inning. Both teams plated 6 runs in the fourth inning. Ville Platte then outscored Rayne 5-4 in the last two innings for the win. Lyndsey Vallet and Sophia Scully led the offensive charge for Ville Platte. Vallet was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI and Scully was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI at the plate. Ville Platte was now 3-0 in bracket play and in the driver’s seat as the only undefeated team left in the tournament. After the game Head Coach Lance Vidrine was pleased with the team’s effort up to that point. “The difference in the game was our girls came ready to play. We hit the ball and ran the bases like we’re supposed too. Defensively we made a few errors, but made the plays when it counted.”
Ville Platte was now only one win away from the National Championship crown. Whoever came out the loser’s bracket had to defeat Ville Platte twice. Game four revealed Ville Platte’s opponent in the Championship. The Rayne Gators emerged to challenge Ville Platte. Rayne continued the momentum it carried and soundly defeated Ville Platte 16-3. The Ville Platte offense could not find its rhythm and defensively the ladies in blue had no answer. The closest Ville Platte could come was 5-2 at the end of the second inning. This loss now produced a one game showdown between Ville Platte and Rayne for the National Championship.
The final game between Ville Platte and Rayne was an epic one. The game had to be decided in extra innings as both clubs refused to lose. The first inning produced a scoreless tie. The second inning saw Rayne jump out to a 5-2 lead. Ville Platte answered in the bottom of the third scoring 5 runs and holding Rayne scoreless in the top of the inning. Ville Platte jumped out to a 13-7 lead after the fourth inning. The fifth inning ended with Rayne tying the game 13-13, blanking Ville Platte at the plate and tacking on 6 runs. Another scoreless inning in the sixth pushed the game into extra innings. Both Rayne and Ville Platte scored 5 runs in the seventh. In the eighth and final inning Rayne plated one run and held Ville Platte without a run for a 19-18 victory. In the game Carlee Soileau was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI. Gracie McCaully was 2 for 4 with 3 RBI
On the all-star season Ville Platte was 26-6. Offensively, Ville Platte scored 432 runs while only allowing 242 runs. After the tournament, Coach Lance Vidrine said “We had a great run this season. All of the coaches: Nasen Soileau, Chad Arnaud, Walter Mire and myself enjoyed coaching these warrior athletes. Thanks to all of our parents and supporters throughout the season. We could not have gone this far without you.”
Congratulations to the Pinto 8 and under PONY All-Stars on the tremendous season. Ville Platte is very proud of your accomplishment.