St. Charles Parish honors 14 Hahnville, Destrehan college signees

It was a banner day at The Satellite Center in Luling Wednesday morning as St. Charles Parish honored its winter and spring student-athletes who have signed scholarships to continue their educations and athletic careers at the next level.

In all, 14 signees, their families, coaches and administrators celebrated the accomplishments.

That included 11 from Hahnville, most notably from the highly successful Tiger softball program of Jerry Nugent.

Five softball players officially signed their papers to play for five different softball programs.

Leadoff hitter Danielle Duplay will attend Nicholls, Catherine Friloux is heading to the University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kamryn Keller will attend Coastal Alabama South, Courtney Ortego will play for Baton Rouge Community College and pitcher Karly Taranto is heading to Northwest Florida State.

The five seniors were instrumental in helping lead the Nugent’s Tigers to the Class 5A state championship game in Sulphur.

The Tiger baseball program of David Baudry was well represented with Matthew Champagne signing with Doug Faust’s Loyola University program while Hunter LeBlanc is heading to a nationally ranked program in Southern Mississippi.

“It’s just a great experience, it’s a place that really fits me,” Champagne said. “I can’t wait to get started. Coach Faust is just a great guy, very nice, very welcoming. It just feels like a great place for me to go. I can’t wait. I’ve already played with a few guys I’m going to play with. I think we’re just going to mesh very well. I have made a bunch of lifelong friends at Hahnville. I had a great coach in David Baudry. I couldn’t have asked for a better four years of high school.”

LeBlanc is thrilled to be joining an outstanding program in Hattiesburg.

“It’s a blessing, honestly,” LeBlanc said. “I’m really excited to go over there and make things happen. It’s close to home. It’s a perfect system. My dream was to play college baseball at the highest level. There aren’t many top 15 programs in the country. It’s a blessing. I just have to stay humble and do what I have to do to get to the bigger level. I became a man at Hahnville over the last four years.”

Hahnville swimmer Jay Madden earned a scholarship to Loyola University after a pair of third-place finishes in state in his specialty, the breaststroke.

Tigers women’s basketball star Mikaila Carter inked with East Central Community College.

In track and field, Hahnville has three athletes who will continue their careers.

Kayli Farmer is going to Louisiana College, Ashlyn Jack will run hurdles for Louisiana-Monroe and Alexis Williams is staying in town at Xavier University.

Destrehan has three signees in three different sports.

Softball player Grace Estevez will continue her education and career at Colorado Northwestern Community College, track and field star Jala Richard is attending Louisiana-Monroe and star pitcher Landon Marceaux has signed with LSU.

“It’s a special opportunity that not a lot of people get,” Marceaux said. “It is a dream come true. My dad is a graduate from LSU. He got his degree there. I’ve been growing up as an LSU fan my whole life. They have great facilities, the way they handle things, the big crowds at The Box.”

LSU must now sweat out Marceaux showing up on campus as he is certain to be drafted fairly early in June.

“I don’t know what to expect,” Marceaux said. “You try to predict it and you can’t. One move can affect the whole draft. There are so many things to consider. I haven’t really thought about it yet. It was a great four years at Destrehan.”gs

St. Charles Parish Athletic Director Willie Wise is retiring after a long career and this was his last function in that capacity. He is being succeeded by former Hahnville baseball coach and parish administrator Kade Rogers.