Trojans win tough one over Panthers

Submitted by admin on Tue, 03/25/2008 - 16:44

By: LANCE REED

Sports Editor

It was a battle of the heavyweights in District 6-2A Wednesday. Pine Prairie and Sacred Heart came into the contest looking to take control of first place and start gearing up for the second leg of the district schedule. Both teams knew they were in for a tough match and they were not surprised to see this one go down to the wire.

The home team, Sacred Heart, got on the board first. Jacob Ardoin, who started the game on the hill, reached base on an error. He crossed the plate on a double from Seth LeBlanc (2-3, DB, RBI). With two outs, a single from Jonathan Fontenot brought LeBlanc home.

Pine Prairie fired back in the top of the fifth inning. Zack Blood singled with one out. He crossed the plate on a double from Jonathan Fontenot (2-4, 2 DB, 3 RBIs).

The Trojans returned the favor in the bottom of the inning. Stuart Schexnayder (2-4, 2 SB) reached base on an error and then swiped second base. A double from Derek Fontenot plated Schexnayder and made it a 3-1 ball game.

Sacred Heat picked up three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth frame. LeBlanc got the inning started with a single. Freshman Taylor Veillon came to the plate next. He took the second pitch he saw out of the yard for a two-run home run. Two outs later, leadoff batter Brody Fontenot came to the plate. With one ball and one strike, Fontenot delivered Sacred Heart’s sixth run of the ball game with one swing of his bat.

The two home runs and the 6-1 score did not stop the Panthers from attempting a comeback. Bryant Firmin and Zack Blood drew back-to-back walks to begin the top of the final inning. A double from Jonathan Fontenot pushed both runners across the plate. With no outs, Ashton Dupre (3-4, DB, RBI) delivered a single to score Fontenot.

With the score 6-4, Sacred Heart Head Coach Scott Soileau brought in Brody Fontenot to put out the fire. Fontenot got the next three batters out, including two strikeouts.

Sacred Heart used four pitchers in the game. Ardoin, LeBlanc, Veillon and Fontenot all did work on the mound. Pine Prairie’s Brandon Guillory took the loss on the hill for the Panthers.

The Sacred Heart victory makes a three-way tie for first place. Sacred Heart, Pine Prairie and Westminster are locked up in the top spot.

SHHS goes to Opelousas Catholic Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Pine Prairie hosts Port Barre Tuesday at 5 p.m.