Tragedy brings back memories of life in lake area

My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Lake Charles and its satellite communities as they once again try to rebuild their homes and renew their lives and dreams following the two recent hurricanes that cut near identical swaths through that part of the state.

Prior to coming to the Clarion Herald in the summer of 1997, I worked for the Lake Charles American Press as its prep sportswriter. That family-owned newspaper has not published an issue since Hurricane Laura struck.

Its sports editor, and my friend, Kenneth “Scooter” Hobbs, and many of his cohorts in the newsroom, have been furloughed.

I lived in the western community of Westlake, so small that the streets could have been carpeted instead of paved. I’m certain that my humble abode in the woods near the Calcasieu River no longer exists, nor do some of the other properties my landlord owned and rented.

The relaxed lifestyle was a stark contrast to the never-ending list of things to do and the amenities New Orleans has to offer. And in the early hours of Sunday mornings, when the newsroom staff had the Sunday edition safely on the printing press, my car was pointed east for the three-hour, 20-minute trip to Metairie, where I spent my two days off to enjoy the bustle of my real home.

I dare say that I don’t miss the occasional snake that would slither near my barbecue while I flipped a burger or steak, or the baby possum that would find its way through some secret opening and into my kitchen, or even the neighbor’s pit bull that challenged me whenever I got out of my car. But I still sometimes miss the friends I made and the simple lifestyle of that rural area. I am saddened for them.

Now 22 years removed from that adventurous period, I think about those poor people whose lives were once filled with joy whether their high school teams won or lost. While we lament the dysfunctional rescheduling of high school games and matches this COVID-19 pandemic has caused, think about how it disrupted sports in that region of Louisiana.

Once rich in athletic talent, that area is experiencing the setbacks we endured in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina 15 years ago. But if the storms haven’t made life difficult enough to cope with, those poor folks are concurrently existing through a pandemic.

Football programs at Barbe, Sam Houston, DeQuincy, LaGrange and Lake Charles Prep have ceased for the time being. Sulphur has managed to play four volleyball matches, Sam Houston two and Barbe one. Neither has the power points needed to advance to the playoffs.

Praise be to God, our volleyball programs are alive and well.

Despite a five-game loss at Mount Carmel last week, previously unbeaten Dominican (18-1) holds on to the No. 1 power ranking in Division I volleyball. Mount Carmel (13-4) is hot on its foe’s heels. The surging Cubs played No. 4 Mandeville (13-2) on Oct. 21 before going to Dominican for a showdown on Oct. 28.

The biggest turnaround has come at Academy of Our Lady, which, under head coach Don Landry, has fielded its best team in the school’s brief history. The Penguins have yet to lose a match this season and should sweep their district schedule.

But at 19-0, the only unbeaten team in Division II holds the No. 3 power ranking behind perennial powers St. Thomas More (10-1 ) and the reigning Division II champion Teurlings Catholic (13-1).

No stranger to high rankings is Archbishop Hannan, which, regardless of its 11-9 record, is the No. 4-ranked team in Division III. The Lady Hawks lost their first four matches and then won their next five. Since then, they have played 50-50 ball.

   Defending state champion Cabrini (7-7) is experiencing growing pains this year, but the young Crescents are still formidable. After winning just two of their first eight matches through Sept. 26, they have rallied to take five of their last six, including a five-game “toughie” over No. 3 Ursuline Academy (11-3).

Always highly competitive, Ursuline earned its power rating by stringing together victories against a schedule of less competitive opponents. The Lions have beaten Ponchatoula and Episcopal of Baton Rouge but have lost to Ben Franklin, Sacred Heart and Cabrini. Also on tap is an Oct. 24 doubleheader matching Ursuline and Hannan against St. Louis Catholic.

One of the few survivors of hurricanes Laura and Delta, the Lake Charles school will have 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. matches against the two local Catholic schools at Hannan. Lady Hawks head coach Bekki Bonnaffee once coached at St. Louis.

            Ursuline will face its biggest pre-playoffs test when it visits Academy of Our Lady on Oct. 30 in the regular-season finale.

Pope John Paul II (8-2) ranks second to Parkview Baptist (17-2) in Division IV. The Lady Jags lost quality players through graduation but are still posting impressive wins. A key victory came against host Mount Carmel two weeks ago and went five grueling games before the Lady Jags pulled it out by winning the final two games.

rbrocato@clarionherald.org