Your news, sports and entertainment leader for Evangeline Parish, La.

Article Image Alt Text

Ville Platte High assistant coach Steve Deville (left) gives instruction on the mound to the Bulldog infielders during a time out in their game against Opelousas High played on Monday. Ville Platte fell to the Tigers and are now 0-7 on the season. (Gazette photo by Tracey Jagneaux)

Learning curve

Young Ville Platte baseball squad falls to Opelousas High

By: TRACEY
JAGNEAUX
Sports Editor

OPELOUSAS – It was not the best of days for the Ville Platte Bulldog baseball team, as they dropped a 12-2 decision to the Opelousas Tigers here Monday afternoon.
Although considering the Bulldogs rely on a number of underclassmen, including some seventh and eighth graders, Ville Platte showed some promise during the contest.
“We just have to keep working and instilling confidence in the boys,” stated Bulldog head coach Ervin Wilson after the game. “For the most part it is just a matter of getting rid of the kinks. I think we have them in the right position to do that. But, they have to have the confidence to make the plays. Until they start believing they can do that, it won’t happen.”
A prime example of the youth factor came in the top of the third inning. Trailing 5-0, Ville Platte had an opportunity to get on the board with two outs.
After an infield single off of the bat of Brendon Doucet, Daegan Mitchell reached base on a walk. A passed ball allowed both runners to advance to second and third base respectfully.
Two pitches later, another passed ball got away from the Opelousas catcher far enough to score Doucet.
However, a late jump allowed the Tiger pitcher to cover home plate and record the tag out resulting in the third out, thus killing the scoring opportunity.
Despite the missed chance, Mitchell came out to take the mound in the bottom of the third in relief of Doucet. The eighth grader allowed the first Opelousas batter on with a single, but got out of the inning on a sacrifice bunt, a strikeout and a fly out to right field.
Feeling some momentum, the Bulldogs were able to put a run across in the top of the fourth. After the first batter of the inning flied out to right field, Tyler Brown drew the base on balls and subsequently stole second base.
The next batter, Breshonski Jones, walked to put runners at first and second with one out and brought up centerfielder Jaishaun Doucet. A passed ball during Doucet’s at bat allowed Brown and Jones to move up one base.
Doucet failed to put runs across, as he popped up to the first baseman. Gemini Ceaser then strolled to the plate for Ville Platte. Another passed ball allowed Doucet to score and Jones to advance to third base.
Ceasar proceeded to reach first on an unexpected bunt right down the third base line, giving the Bulldogs runners at first and third. Nevertheless, the threat ended when Noah Doucet struck out to end the inning.
Opelousas did not let Ville Platte feel the momentum for too long. The Tigers struck again in the bottom of the fourth for three more runs to make the game 8-1. A number of walks and errors allowed for the damage in the inning.
Ville Platte tacked on their second and final run of the game in the top of the fifth. A fly out to centerfield by Taylen Thomas started the inning for the Bulldogs. Brendan Doucet drew a walk and moved to third on a stand-up double by Mitchell.
Doucet scored on a sacrifice fly to left field off of the bat of Matthew Duplechain. Brown ended the threat when he grounded to the pitcher.
Opleousas finished the game in five innings after scoring their final four runs of the game in the bottom of the fifth.

Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from Evangeline Parish. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Follow Us

Subscriber Links