Trojans continue win streak with key victory

Even with the weather problems putting a halt to most baseball games across the state, the Sacred Heart Trojans managed to squeeze in an important district game on Wednesday against the Catholic of Pointe Coupee Hornets. The Trojans were looking to accomplish two tasks against the Hornets: extend their 17-game win streak and, most importantly, stay perfect in district play.
A four-run third inning helped Sacred Heart complete both objectives, as the Trojans eased past Catholic for an 8-2 win. With the victory, Sacred Heart is now 21-2 on the year, 3-0 in league play and is ranked number two in the latest Louisiana Baseball Coaches Association poll.
Trojan hurler Phillip Vidrine took to the hill as the starting pitcher and proceeded to shut out the Hornets the first four innings. On offense, Sacred Heart started off lethargic, garnering only one hit in their first two at bats. However, the Trojan offense got cranked up in the bottom of the third inning.
Ben Bergeron led off the third inning, popping out to the catcher. Evan Mire then singled, followed by a walk issued to Keaton Tate. The very next pitch, Brandon Hudspeth doubled into the left centerfield gap, plating Bergeron and Mire. The next batter, Jacob L. Lafleur, singled to centerfield, scoring Hudspeth. Lafleur stole second to put himself in scoring position. Garrick Fontenot recorded the second out on a fly ball to leftfield.
With two outs and a runner on second, Caleb Soileau pushed Lafleur across the plate on a single to centerfield. Nick LaHaye struck out to end the inning. With that, Sacred Heart had a 4-0 lead.
The Trojans added a run in the bottom of the fourth when Vidrine crossed the plate after having reached first on a single. The Hornets, after being blanked in the previous four innings, managed to get two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Four base hits, including two doubles aided in the Hornet scoring. Going into the bottom of the fifth, the Sacred Heart advantage had been cut to 5-2.
Even though Catholic had put a slight dent in the Trojan armor with their two runs, Sacred Heart showed that they were not going to crack. The Trojans answered with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend their lead to 8-2. Hudspeth led things off with a single. The very next batter, Lafleur, also singled, putting runners at first and second. Garrick Fontenot popped up to the catcher trying to sacrifice bunt for the first out.
A passed ball moved the runners up to second and third. A second passed ball resulted in both runners scoring, when the ball was thrown passed the pitcher on an attempt to get Hudspeth out at the plate. Soileau roped a solid single and proceeded to steal second and third bases.
With only one out still showing on the scoreboard, pinch hitter Jacob Dupre drove a sacrifice fly to centerfield, plating Soileau for the third run of the inning. Vidrine and Bergeron singled in the next two at bats.
Holding a six-run advantage, Head Coach Cody Vidrine signaled for the double steal. Unfortunately, Dylan Scully, pinch running for Vidrine, was thrown out at third base to end the inning.
Vidrine picked up the win on the mound for the Trojans, throwing six complete innings. Vidrine gave up two runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking two. Josh LaHaye pitched one inning in relief, giving up zero runs on one hit and walking two.
Tate and Soileau led the way at the plate, as both players were two for three with a run scored and a run batted in. Hudspeth and Lafleur each went two for four with two runs scored. Hudspeth had two runs batted in.