Tom Dodge
VILLE PLATTE – Sacred Heart of Ville Platte grabbed the momentum over rival St. Edmund as the Trojans grabbed a 7-4 victory in the opening game of the LHSAA Division IV best-of-three series.
St. Edmund threatened early as the Blue Jays loaded the bases in the top of the first inning.
Jack Miller singled to open the game and Carter Lejeune followed with a bunt, while Dawson Ardoin was hit by a pitch with two outs.
Trojan pitcher Drew Bordelon forced a ground out to end the Blue Jay rally.
The Sacred Heart offense quickly responded with a three run barrage, begun when Wesley Launey singled and scored on a passed ball.
Garrett Fontenot singled and scored on a hit by Christian Duplechain, who crossed home plate on a hit by Connor Bordelon for a 3-0 SHVP advantage.
The Trojans added two runs in the bottom of the second, begun when Launey singled, JT Harper walked and Fontenot reached on a bunt to load the bases.
Duplechain’s hit scored Launey, while Harper scored on a ground out to push the Trojans up 5-0.
St. Edmund battled back to score three runs in the top of the third inning.
Lejeune drilled a one-out line drive to center, Brock Bieber followed with a walk and Brad Miller singled to load the bases.
Lejeune scored on a passed ball, while Ardoin ripped a single to plate Bieber and Jack Miller to close the gap to 5-3.
The Blue Jays pulled within a run in the top of the fifth when Lejeune singled and scored on a hit by Brad Miller.
Sacred Heart answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when Bordelon doubled and then scored on a back-to-back fly-outs.
The Trojans added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth frame when Gabe Fontenot singled and then scored on a double by Bordelon.
St. Edmund threatened in the top of the seventh when Bieber singled but he could not advance.
St. Edmund finished with nine hits led by Lejeune (3-for-4, 2 RS), Brad Miller (2-for-4, RBI) and Ardoin (2-for-3, 2 RBI)
Sacred Heart also tallied nine hits, sparked by Launey (2-for-3, 2 RS), Fontenot (2-for-3, BB, RS) and Drew Bordelon (2-for-4, 2 RBI).
Blue Jay starter Ardoin struck out two, walked four and allowed five earned runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings.
Remi Guillory allowed one hit on eight pitches in relief.
Sacred Heart starter Drew Bordelon struck out three, walked one and allowed two earned runs on five hits.
Cade Manuel (1 ER, 3 H, 1K) and Gabe Fontenot (1K, 1 H) also pitched in relief for the Trojans.