Valiant effort falls short

Coming into the district season, the Sacred Heart Trojan baseball team knew that it was going to be playing in one of the most competitive districts in Class 2A with the likes of Opelousas Catholic and Notre Dame on tap in District 5-2A.
That competitiveness shown through on Wednesday, as the Sacred Heart Trojans, despite a valiant effort, fell to Opelousas Catholic 3-2 in the opening district contest for Sacred Heart.
Opelousas Catholic came into the contest 0-1 in district play, after losing to Notre Dame the day before by the same identical score.
Despite the loss, Trojan head coach Cody Vidrine was very pleased with the effort of his team’s play against the No. 3 ranked team in the Class 2A.
“I told the kids after the game we have been through some tough times throughout the season,” said Vidrine. “But what I saw today is what I have been after from our players. We came out here and went toe-to-toe with the number three team in the state. That is all you can ask is for them to come out and give an effort like they did here today.”
That effort was present in almost every aspect of the game, especially the pitching department, as Conner Fontenot and Brandon Fontenot combined to give up only three runs on three hits, while striking out 12 Viking batters.
Offensively, Sacred Heart had opportunities to put up more runs. However, the Trojans could not come up with the big hit when it was needed the most.
Conner Fontenot started on the mound for the Trojans and did not allow the Vikings to score until the fourth inning. Only three runners were able to reach base in the first three innings for Opelousas Catholic; two of those were put on courtesy of a walk and one had a weak infield single.
Sacred Heart struck first blood in the contest in the bottom of the third inning, scoring a single run. Back-to-back base hits from Sam Tuminaro and Brandon Fontenot, put runners on first and second with no outs. Garrick Fontenot was then hit by pitch to set up a bases loaded situation.
Unfortunately, the next batter for Sacred Heart, Keaton Tate hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Despite the fact that Tuminaro scored on the play, the double play effectively killed what could have been a tremendous inning for the Trojans. The next batter, Jacob A. Lafleur hit a routine ground ball to the short stop for the third out.
Opelousas Catholic got on the board in the top of the fourth, mostly by manufacturing their two runs scored. After a walk was issued to the lead off hitter, Spencer Gardner, Fontenot induced fly balls off the bats of the next two hitters. However a wild pitch and a stolen base put Gardner’s courtesy runner on third base.
Another walk gave the Vikings runners at first and third. Opelousas Catholic pulled the first and third play out of the bag, which allowed the run to score from third base and moved the runner to second base.
Gage St. Cyr added another run to the Viking total.
Opelousas Catholic extended the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fifth when Cane Ludeau scored on a wild pitch from third base.
Sacred Heart cut the lead to one in the sixth inning, as Jacob A. Lafleur, Jacob L. Lafleur and Caleb Soileau all singled to lead off the inning. After a pop up to the second baseman off of the bat of Conner Fontenot, Nick LaHaye hit into a 6-4 fielder’s choice to score Lafleur. Tuminaro popped up to the pitcher for the final out.
The Trojans had a chance in the bottom of the seventh As Garrick Fontenot and Tate both walked with one out. However, the Vikings were able to quell the momentum and preserve the win.
With the loss Sacred Heart fell to 10-7-1 on the season.