Article Image Alt Text

The North Vermilion players sprint to center field and celebrate with the student body after dramatic win on Saturday.

Article Image Alt Text

NV teammates congratulate pitcher Cole Veronie (22) after NV gets the final out in the double header on Saturday. In the photo are (left to right) Landon Duhon, John Carter, Braxton Savant, Cole Veronie, Ian Erbe and Aiden Leonard. (photo by Faye Patin)

Article Image Alt Text

Cooper David (left) celebrates after getting a big hit on Saturday in the first game. Cheering him on his first base coach Seth Patin. (photo by Faye Patin)

Patriots, like Rocky, win fight

Despite being knocked to the canvas, North Vermilion kept getting up

LEROY - The second round of the Class 4A three-game playoff series was like a good old fashion “Rocky” movie. ‘Rocky’ Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) kept getting hit and falling to the canvas, but then he would get up and keep fighting.
The North Vermilion Patriots were Rocky and the Carencro Bears were Rocky’s opponents.
Like in the first Rocky movie, Apollo Creed beats Rocky at the very end of the movie. The Bears beat NVHS 5-1 in Game 1, setting up Game 2 (Rocky II) and a Game 3 (Rocky III).
In Game 2 on Saturday, the Patriots were getting beat 5-1 and were six outs away from being eliminated from the Class 4A baseball playoffs.
In Rocky II, Apollo Creed had Rocky on the canvas and all he needed to do was stay away from the South Paw, and the fight was his. Instead, Rocky never quit, as did the Patriots in Game 2. They scored seven runs in the final two innings en route to an 8-5 victory.
That win kept the NV alive and tied the series 1-1, and set up Game 3 played that Saturday afternoon. Like in Rocky III, boxer James “Clubber” Lang (Mr. T), smacked Rocky around early, sending him to the floor and the fight looked bleak.
In Game 3, Carencro went for the knockout early and jumped on the Patriots 10-3, heading into the bottom of the third inning.
North Vermilion rallied back with a one-two-three punch in the bottom of the fourth frame by scoring six runs and tied the game 10-10. All of a sudden, it was a new game. The Bears unloaded a flurry of punches on the Patriots for the first three innings, and the Patriots remained standing.
The Patriots went on to outscore Carencro 5-4 in the final three innings to edge the Bears 15-14 in dramatic fashion.
“I’m speechless right now,” NV head coach Jeremy Trahan said. “We gave up 10 runs in the first three innings in Game 3, then we came back. We just fought. We scored a run every inning. The kids didn’t give up. They trusted in it.”
The Patriots out-hit Carencro 18 to 15.
The top of North Vermilion’s lineup, consisting of Camden Breaux, Lane Patin, Tyson LeBlanc and Dale Martin got it done. They accounted for 12 hits and 10 RBIs in Game 3.
Martin and LeBlanc each doubled twice, and Breaux hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning to put the Patriots ahead 14-12.
“Breaux has been huge for us all year batting leadoff or in the two-hole,” Trahan said. “He had four hits with a huge home run. Lane had been struggling. He had three hits. LeBlanc had three hits.
“We were determined not to let them take it from us. It was a long day. Yesterday was tough. Carencro played well, we played well. We just didn’t hit. We had to trust that this is why you play a three-game series.”
In the top of the seventh inning, Carencro sent the Patriots to the canvas by scoring two runs and loaded the bases. All the Bears had to do was score one more run to tie the game.
North Vermilion pitcher Cole Verronie did his job in the top of the seventh inning by getting a Carencro batter to pop-up for the third out. Verrone pitched the final four innings and gave up six hits and four earned runs. He only struck out one.
“That was a great job by our reliever, Cole Verronie, coming in,” Trahan said. “He gave up a couple of runs, but he stayed composed. He gave us a shot. He gave us a chance to win.”
Breaux was 6-for-9 Saturday in the doubleheader. He scored five runs, knocked in two RBIs, along with a home run, a double and a stolen base. In Game 3, he batted 4-for-5 with 2 RBI and a home run.
In Game 3, Lane Patin was 3-for-3 (1 RBI), while Tyson LeBlanc (3-for-5, 3 RBI), Dale Martin (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Brandt Fontenot (2-for-4, 2 RBI), Dyland Naquin (2-for-3), Blake Lastrapes (1-for-2) and Cooper David (1-for-1).
The Patriots used three pitchers in Game 3. Allen Johnson started the game and went 1 1/3 innings. Aiden Leonard pitched 1 2/3 innings and then Veronie threw the final four innings.
“Our team knew we had seven innings to play and that we can score,’ said Trahan. “They stuck with the plan and chipped away the whole game. Unbelievable fight and determination by every single one of them.”
Rocky IV has North Vermilion (29-7) playing host to No. 6 Franklinton (25-5) in a quarterfinals series, beginning Friday.
Trahan said on Saturday he is glad the next series is in six days because, like a good fighter, it gives his team time to rest.
“We need some time to rest from this one,” said Trahan.

Vermilion Today

Abbeville Meridional

318 N. Main St.
Abbeville, LA 70510
Phone: 337-893-4223
Fax: 337-898-9022

The Kaplan Herald

219 North Cushing Avenue
Kaplan, LA 70548

The Gueydan Journal

311 Main Street
Gueydan, LA 70542