North Vermilion Patriots playing ‘fear/less’

The North Vermilion Patriots have dedicated the 2022 season to a special senior that they plan to take to Sulphur with them today.
That senior is Ramsie Kate Bumgardner, who was considered one of the Patriots’ biggest fans. She was leading the cheer last year at the state baseball tournament in Sulphur and she also had plans to be there again this weekend.
Unfortunately, her life was cut short on Jan. 23, 2022 when she was killed in a two-car accident on La. 167, north of Abbeville.
The Patriots (38-2) play today at 2 p.m. against North Desoto (33-5) in the Class 4A semifinals. The game is at McMurry Park in Sulphur on Field 41.
Before the baseball season began, team seniors Cooper David, John Touchet, Lane Patin, Blake Lastrapes and Dylan Naquin met and decided to dedicate this season to Ramsie.
Ramsie’s initials, RKB, were sewn onto the back of their baseball cap. Many players also wear a rubber bracelet with the saying, “Live like Ramsie.”
“Each time we put on our cap, we are reminded of Ramsie,” David said. “We play for her. She was always cheering us on during the season and at the playoffs last year. We know we have to play hard.”
Before each game, the players warm-up in a red T-shirt. On the front of the shirt is a decal of a baseball with the initials “RKB” in the middle of a set of angel wings and a halo on top of the baseball. On the back of the shirt is Ramsie’s favorite saying “fear/less” written in script.
They have included her as one of their own by hanging a photo banner of Ramsie with the other five NV seniors. The banner, a picture of her at homecoming, hung with the seniors behind a set of bleachers all season.
All six banners are expected to be in Sulphur come game time today.
Senior John Touchet made it a point to make sure her banner hangs along side of the five seniors.
“She was our biggest fan,” said Touchet. “I plan to take the banner with us so she can enjoy Sulphur.”
One of Ramsie’s favorite sayings was “live fear/less.”
On her senior baseball banner, it has the phrase, “Live Like Ramsie – Fear/less.”
The Patriots seem to be playing baseball as Ramsie would want — fear/less. The squad won 38 games and only lost two. The Patriots are two games away from winning a second straight Class 4A state title.
Despite the success, they have not forgotten their classmate.
“The team has bonded more this season,” said senior Lane Patin. “We have a stronger connection. We are playing for Ramsie.”