Lady Bengals still hungry

The LSU Eunice sophomore softball players have passed the 100-win plateau for their two-year Lady Bengal careers.
But head coach Andy Lee said records and statistics don’t mean much to his team as they strive to make a return trip to the NCJAA Division II World Series.
“They are a good group of kids who work really hard,” Lee said of his Lady Bengals. “They enjoy the game and they focus on today not what could happen in the future.”
The success of the Lady Bengal program includes back-to-back national titles, six straight seasons ranked No. 1 and three championships in four consecutive title appearances.
LSU Eunice (42-4) is scheduled to visit Baton Rouge Community College tonight for a doubleheader before visiting Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College this weekend.
“All three of our pitchers are doing excellent,” Lee said. “We usually have one dominant pitcher, but the last two years we have had two dominant pitchers.”
Sophomores Raven Cole (18-1 overall, 175 K, 35 BB, 0.76 ERA), Destin Vicknair (16-3, 163 K, 31 BB, 1.30 ERA) and Kayla Davidson (8-0, 58 K, 10 BB, 1.43 ERA) lead the Lady Bengals in the circle.
“Ever since 2011-12 with Tina Schulz we have had an All-American pitcher,” the coach said.
Cole was the National Pitcher of the Year for 2014, while Vicknair was also a First-Team All-American utility player.
Former Lady Bengal pitcher Julienne Broussard earned All-American honors in 2013.
“It makes coaching a lot easier when you know you are putting a kid out there who gives you a very good chance of slowing the other team’s bats down. Any of our three pitchers can win the game for us.
“Both Destin and Raven are in the top five in the nation in strikeouts and Kayla is very consistent when it is her time to pitch.
“Plus we have good catchers behind the plate to add to our strong defense.”
Freshman Jaci Lavigne leads the hitters with a .446 batting average, while Vicknair is also consistent with a .420 average.
“We are down from last year (87 home runs) power hitting with just 31 home runs,” Lee said. “We are hitting doubles (91), drawing a lot of walks (163) and we are limiting our strikeouts (145).”
Vicknair presently leads the team with 58 RBI, 16 doubles, seven home runs and 58 RBI.
Danielle Cruickshank has a .365 BA with six home runs, 12 doubles and 24 RBI.
Vicknair leads the team with 24 walks, followed by Edmonston (20), Cole (20) and Katie Flowers (16).
“We are stealing a lot of bases and that is good,” Lee said.
Maddie Edmonston leads the team with 25 stolen bases followed by Taylor Boulet (23) and Ginny Daggett (21).
“Any time you have kids stealing bases, it is always a positive,” Lee said. “Their speed helps us manufacture runs.”
Lee said he knew his pitchers would lead the team this season, but he has been pleased with the defense behind them.
“Our outfield is stronger than last year,” the coach said of Cruickshank, Edmonston and Lavigne along with utility players Daggett and Alli Daigle.
“Carmisha Payton is a very strong defensive third baseman, “ the coach said. “Our infield is pretty good with Abigail Ohlin doing great at short along with second baseman Taylor Boulet and either Kaitlyn Bertot or Destin at first base.”
The Lady Bengals will participate in the Region 23 tournament against the top three teams from the Mississippi state tournament.
“Right now the top three teams are Jones County, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and maybe Northwest Mississippi or Ittawamba.”
“We played a tough schedule this season,” Lee said. “We faced some quality pitchers day-in and day-out which should prepare us for the playoffs.
‘Our sophomores are good leaders who want to win,” Lee said. “They take a lot of pride in what they have accomplished and want to represent the name on their jersies.”