Katelin Cooper, Landon Leblanc slug way to top Class 1A softball and baseball honors

By Adam Hunsucker
Monroe News-Star
for LSWA

Cedar Creek’s Katelin Cooper suited up for one of the state’s premier high school softball programs, while Landon Leblanc helped return St. John baseball to its past glory.

For their efforts, the duo received the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s top individual honors in Class 1A.

Cooper was selected as the Most Valuable Player after leading Cedar Creek to back-to-back Division IV softball championships. She batted .485 and hit 16 home runs for the Lady Cougars, who captured their third state title in the past five years.

Leblanc’s .415 batting average, 59 RBIs and 14 home runs earned him MVP honors for baseball. Division IV runner-up St. John was the classification’s top overall seed and played for a state championship for the first time since 2003.

Merryville’s David Ford (baseball) and Trey Bennett of Oak Grove (softball) claimed the Coach of the Year honors.

Oak Grove made it a North Louisiana sweep in softball by winning the Class 1A title. Merryville, the 11-seed, capped a Cinderella season for the ages with the Class 1A baseball championship.

Cooper, pitcher Lauren Menzina and outfielder Anna Lar Roberson comprised the Cedar Creek contingent of the Class 1A softball team.

LaSalle’s Taylor Snow, False River’s Carley Parks and Oak Grove’s Kelsie Travis rounded out the pitching staff. Kaylee Clark of South Cameron was voted the catcher.

The infield consisted of Houma Christian’s Bethany Ekiss, Oak Grove’s Carlee Newton, LaSalle’s Keeley Parham and False River’s Jordan Dauthier. Oak Grove’s Amber Sullivan secured an outfield spot next to Cooper and Roberson.

The utility spots went to Central Catholic’s Taylor Picou, Catholic-Pointe Coupee’s Blaire Bizette and Kaitley Fisher, Montgomery’s Carlee Carter and LaSalle’s Ali Long.

Cedar Creek, Class 1A runner-up LaSalle and Oak Grove each landed three players on the team.

Joining Leblanc in the infield were Grand Lake’s Drew Young, Merryville’s Gage Robberson, and Houma Christian’s Gavin Dugas. Catching honors belonged to Dylan Trahan of Houma Christian.

The pitching staff consisted of Grand Lake’s Kade Delcambre, Houma Christian’s Brock Theriot, Ascension Catholic’s Tre Medine and St. John’s Reece Barrilleaux.

Ouachita Christian’s Bryce Wallace, Delta Charter’s Freddie Mango and Ascension Catholic’s Mason Zeringue were voted to the outfield.

Utility players were Covenant Christian’s Cameron Olivier, Kentwood’s Jamarquea Diamond, Ascension Catholic’s Charlie Gianelloni, Ouachita Christian’s Dale Fulmer and Delta Charter’s Drake Smith.

2018 LSWA CLASS 1A CHARTS
BASEBALL
Pos Player School Class Stats
P Kade Delcambre Grand Lake Sr. 7-2
P Brock Theriot Houma Christian Sr. 11-1
P Tre Medine Ascension Catholic Sr. 7-3
P Reece Barrilleaux St. John Sr. 11-1
C Dylan Trahan Houma Christian Sr. .438
IF Drew Young Grand Lake Sr. .423
IF Gage Robberson Merryville Sr. .366
IF Gavin Dugas Houma Christian Sr. .452
IF Landon Leblanc St. John Sr. .415
OF Bryce Wallace Ouachita Christian Sr. .456
OF Freddie Mango Delta Charter Jr. .432
OF Mason Zeringue Ascension Catholic Sr. .426
UTL Cameron Olivier Covenant Christian Jr. .476
UTL Jamarquea Diamond Kentwood Sr. .321
UTL Charlie Gianelloni Ascension Catholic Sr. .402
UTL Dale Fulmer Ouachita Christian Jr. .452
UTL Drake Smith Delta Charter Sr. .407
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: LANDON LEBLANC, ST. JOHN
COACH OF THE YEAR: DAVID FORD, MERRYVILLE

Honorable mention: Caleb Wilson, Covenant Christian Academy; Peyton Marcantel, St. Edmund; McCade Leblanc, Houma Christian School; Dalton Durkes, Houma Christian School; Cameron Lee, Opelousas Catholic; Zac Dauzat, University Academy; Eli Stringer, LaSalle; Bryce Grizzaffi, Central Catholic; Eli Brown, Cedar Creek; Clint Hargrave, Ouachita Christian; Ben Bucher, St. John; Austin Champagne, Covenant Christian; Ethan Lege, Vermilion Catholic; Collin Barbee, St. John; William Dunn, Ascension Catholic; J.T. Gargis, Merryville; Sam Pitre, Opelousas Catholic; Parker King Cedar Creek; Jace Moss, Cedar Creek; Kellon McCleon, Oberlin; Tre Dupont, St. John; Brett Bell, Merryville; Tyler Cox, Logansport.

SOFTBALL
Pos Player School Class Stats
P Lauren Menzina Cedar Creek So. 27-8
P Taylor Snow LaSalle So. 15-6
P Carley Parks False River Sr. 15-5
P Kelsie Travis Oak Grove So. 17-4
C Kaylee Clark South Cameron Sr. .507
IF Bethany Ekiss Houma Christian Sr. .521
IF Carlee Newton Oak Grove Jr. .537
IF Keeley Parham LaSalle .435 Sr. .469
IF Jordan Dauthier False River Fr. .385
OF Amber Sullivan Oak Grove Jr. 438
OF Katelin Cooper Cedar Creek Sr. .485
OF Anna Larr Roberson Cedar Creek Jr. .511
UTL Taylor Picou Central Catholic Sr. 21-6
UTL Blaire Bizette Catholic-PC Fr. .429
UTL Kaitley Fisher Catholic-PC Jr. .435
UTL Carlee Carter Montgomery Jr. 19-12
UTL Ali Long LaSalle Sr. .400
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: KATELIN COOPER, CEDAR CREEK
COACH OF THE YEAR: TREY BENNETT, OAK GROVE

Honorable mention: Kaleigh Navarro, Central Catholic; Kelly Russo, Central Catholic; Zoee Leboeuf, Covenant Christian Academy; Katelyn Guidry, Houma Christian School; Alaya Luke, Houma Christian School; Kourtne Lee, Houma Christian School; Cadence Johnson, Oberlin; Cortnee Gallow, Oberlin; Samantha Turnage, Westminster Christian; Sarah Thomas, Central Catholic; Meredith Matte, St. Mary’s; Lillian Phythian, Opelousas Catholic; Mallory Little, Opelousas Catholic; Madison Crowe, Oak Grove; Alli Freeman, Cedar Creek; Alicia Canatella, Ascension Catholic; Alise Wille, St. John; Maeleigh Conner, South Cameron; Ashlee Gurley, Logansport; Bailey Acosta, Ascension Catholic; Shelby Welch South Cameron; Olivia Miller, St. Mary’s; Katherine Atkins, Logansport; Alison Fontenot, Oberlin; LaDresia Beene, Haynesville.