Three-peat possible for Lady Bengals?

A pair of 5-1, 8-6, comeback victories over Jones County (Miss.) in last year’s championship games vaulted LSU Eunice to their second straight NJCAA DII Softball national championship.
With back-to-back national championships under their belt, LSU Eunice has now won three of the last four DII softball crowns and is the only program other than Phoenix (Ariz.) to win multiple DII championships.
So what does that mean to the 10 returning players as they prepare for their sophomore seasons?
According to Lady Bengal head coach Andy Lee the pressure is off - at least until the season starts.
“I think the pressure is getting less on me,” Lee said. “I say that now but we have proven we have a quality program who succeeds in big games and big tournaments.”
Lee said he knows his Lady Bengal program is now one of the elite teams in the NJCAA and he is ready for the challenges that come with that prestige.
“This year’s sophomore group is athletic and has speed,” Lee said. “Last year’s sophomore group won back-to-back national championships and that is something that is very hard to do.”
In 2014, the Lady Bengals final record of 64-3 set a school-high for most victories in a season for any sport, while their 28-game winning streak also set a new benchmark for future teams. Offensively, they set new program-bests in batting average (.389), runs scored (553), total hits (702, doubles (169) and total RBIs (489). In the circle, they notched new bests in team ERA (1.08) and total strikeouts (428).
LSU Eunice also finished with new program highs in several team categories, including doubles (153), triples (17), RBIs (432), and runs scored (525), while their team batting average of .365 tied the team record.
“This year’s team needs to be hungry to fight to repeat as champions, “ Lee said. “These sophomores have a very good work ethic and I don’t expect a let-down.
“They are excited and ready to prove what they can do.”
With several key sophomores graduated, the pre-season strength is from the pitching staff.
“We lost a lot from last year, but any coach in America would take two All-American pitchers in their line-up,” Lee said.
Raven Cole (Orange, Texas) was named the NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year in her first season on campus.
She is the first National Pitcher or National Player of the Year in the softball program’s history.
Cole collected 27 wins inside the circle in her freshman campaign, the fifth-most in the country lat season, while striking out 217 batters to set a program records and tally the third-most in the nation in that category.
She pitched 166.2 innings in 2014 while finishing with a 1.09 ERA, the eighth-best in the country.
At the plate, she collected five doubles and 10 home runs while driving in 73 RBI to finish with a .319 batting average, a .438 on-base percentage and a .613 slugging percentage.
Pitcher Destin Vicknair (Riverside) finished 28 wins inside the circle in her first season, striking out 150 batters while pitching 180.0 innings in 2014 and finishing with a 0.93 ERA. At the plate, she collected 16 doubles and 15 home runs while driving in 60 RBIs to finish with a .410 batting average, a .487 on-base percentage and a .789 slugging percentage.
“I am real excited about having those two back,” Lee said of Cole and Vicknair. “I know what they can do on the field so that is really nice to have.”
Kayla Davidson (Silliman) should see more action this season after just 14 games in 2014.
Davidson (2-0) finished with a 1.47 ERA including 30 strikeouts and just three walks in 14 games.
“Kayla works hard every day, gives 100 percent and not complain one bit,” the coach said. “She is dependable and is a great pitcher to have available.”
Freshman Kaitlyn Bertot (Cedar Creek, Tex.) will also be in the rotation as a left-hander.
“I have four girls in the circle that I feel real good about,” Lee said.
Lee said he is excited about the return of the other sophomores including second baseman Taylor Boulet (Notre Dame) who was named to the World Series all-tournament team.
“Danielle Cruickshank (Parkway) got a lot of at-bats as did Katlin Flowers (Central) and Ginny Daggett (Cathedral),” Lee said.
“Taylor (.427 BA, 41 RBI. 28 stolen bases) may have to move to third base,” the coach said. “Ginny will get a chance at shortstop along with freshman Carmisha Payton (East Ascension).
Lee said sophomore Abigail Ohlin (Berwick) will see action at second base along with freshman Allison Daigle (Notre Dame).
First base could be filled by Vicknair or Cole when they are not pitching, but Lee said he wants to put a permenant player in that position including freshman Jordan Hartman (St. Amant).
The outfield could be filled by Cruickshank along with three freshman from St. Amant including Kayla Braud), Madison Edmonston and Jaci Lavigne.
Lee said he is impressed with the speed and athleticism the freshmen will contribute to the defense.
“You don’t know how they will do until they get here and perform in pressure situations,” the coach said. “All these girls come from quality programs that are proven winners including East Ascension, St. Amant and Notre Dame.
“I am excited about getting this team together and see what we can do,” Lee said. “I am looking forward to getting back on the field.”
Lee said even with three national championship trophies, he still thinks about what could have been.
“If we would have split a double header we would be celebrating four in a row,” Lee said of the 2012 championship battle against Phoenix College which ended with 5-1, 2-1 losses. “That would have been an amazing feat.”
The fall season begins at Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 24.

2015 Lady Bengals
Bertot, Kaitlyn Clear Creek HS League City , TX
Boulet, Taylor Notre Dame HS Crowley
Braud, Kayla St. Amant HS St. Amant
Cole, Raven Little Cypress- Mauriceville HS Orange, Texas
Cruickshank, Danielle Parkway HS Bossier City
Daggett, Ginny Cathedral HS Jonesville
Daigle, Allison Notre Dame HS Rayne,
Davidson, Kayla Silliman Institute HS Slaughter
Edmonston, Madison St. Amant HS Prairieville, LA
Flowers, Katlin Central HS Baton Rouge
Hartman, Jordan St. Amant HS Gonzales ,
Lassus, Amanda Fontainebleau HS Abita Springs
Lavigne, Jaci St. Amant HS Gonzales,
Ohlin, Abigail Berwick HS Berwick
Payton , Carmisha East Ascension HS Gonzales,
Quebodeaux, Camille Teurlings Catholic HS St. Martinville
Thibodeaux, Alexa Notre Dame HS Rayne
Thomas, Jessica Henderson HS Henderson , TX
Vicknair, Destin Riverside Academy Reserve