The North Vermilion players: Owen Rodrigue, Ian Erbe, Landon Duhon, Cole Veronie, Dale Martin, Blake Lastraps, Braxton Savant, Tyson Leblanc; Middle row: Jordan Blanchard, Cooper David, Lane Patin, Seth Abboud, Dylan Naquin, John Touchet, Bradley Christ, Evan Deshotel; Bottom row: Allen Johnson, Brandt Fontenot, Aiden Leonard, John Carter, Camden Breaux, Cody Breaux, Blake Knowles and Ethan Frederick
Patriots, Gators meet in semis this morning
The No. 3 North Vermilion Patriots are playing in the LHSSA Class 4A semifinals this morning against No. 7 South Terrebonne.
The game gets underway at 10 a.m. in McMurry Park in Sulphur. It is on Field 40.
This is the first time the Patriots make the semifinals since 1995 and since 2009 for South Terrebonne.
The winner will play either Tioga (28-7) or Neville (22-15) in the championship game at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
South Terrebonne made it to the state semifinals twice before (1976 and 1980) but failed to make it to the championship game.
North Vermilion won the Class 2A state title in 1994 after beating Berwick but lost to Riverside in the Class 2A finals in 1995. They were coached by former NV head coach Brent Broussard and assistant coach Greg Theriot.
NV head coach Jeremy Trahan is coaching in his first semifinal game.
This will be the first time the Patriots play in McMurry Park.
No. 7 South Terrebonne Gators (20-9) enter the semifinals after upsetting No. 2 North DeSoto in the best of-3 quarterfinal series.
The Patriots (31-7) cruised by No. 5 Franklinton in two games.
In the playoffs, North Vermilion has won four out of five games. The Gators, won a first-round game on a forfeit and went on to win four straight games in the second and third round.
Both teams have had to win a three-game series in the second and third round to get to this point. In this morning’s semifinal game, it is one and done. In other words, if you lose, you go home. If you win, you play for the Class 4A state title.
This morning’s game should be a dandy.
Both teams are expected to start their aces.
South Terrebonne pitcher Brady Bowen could get the start. He has a 2.30 ERA with 73 strikeouts.
North Vermilion could throw either a right-hander or a left-hander.
Pitchers Tyson LeBlanc and John Nick Touchet are North Vermilion’s go-to arms. Both are expected to pitch in the semifinals and finals if the Patriots advance.
Tyson has pitched 49 2/3 innings and sports a 6-2 record this season. He has struck out 63, walked 11, allowed 46 hits and sports an ERA of 1.69.
John Nick, the lefty, has thrown 49 1/3 innings and sports a 10-0 record. He has struck out 67 batters, walked 36 and allowed 30 hits. He has an ERA of 0.99.