Former Lady Bengal killed in accident

Former LSU Eunice softball player Salea Brooke Willoughby was killed in an automotive accident on Saturday morning in Baltimore, Maryland while visiting a friend over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Willoughby, 25, was from Patterson where she was a stand-out pitcher and utility player.
As a sophomore she was named to second team All-District - utility. Her junior year she earned second team All-District honors at first base. Willoughby’s senior season she was named to the first team All-District as a pitcher and was also named Academic All-District, Academic All-State and All-State Honorable Mention.
Willoughby then played for two seasons with the Lady Bengals (2008 and 2009), seeing limited action as a pitcher and first baseman.
Her freshman season under coach Brian DeWitt, the Lady Bengals were 19-25 as she pitched 32.1 innings with four strikeouts, 16 walks, a 6.72 ERA and a 3-1 finish.
Her first season at LSUE, Salea played next to her sister, sophomore pitcher Fagan Willoughby.
As a sophomore with head coach Andy Lee, Willoughby pitched 45.1 innings with six strikeouts, six walks, a 4.63 ERA and a 1-2 record.
That season, LSUE was 40-18 and finished fifth in the nation in their first appearance in the NJCAA Division II softball World Series.
“She was a great teammate and a hard worker,” Lee said about his former player. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the Willoughby family. She will be deeply missed.”
After LSUE, Willoughby completed her Bachelors of Science in Athletic Training from Northwestern Louisiana State University and worked as an Athletic Trainer Graduate Assistant at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.
She was preparing to receive her Masters in Counseling Education, also from Lincoln Memorial.
According to the Maryland state police, Willoughby was a rear passenger and was ejected from the vehicle when it lost control on I-97, overturning over a guardrail.
Visitation will be observed Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City, LA with visitation resuming on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until time of service at 11 a.m. at Hargrave Funeral Home in Morgan City.
Willoughby will be laid to rest in the Morgan City Mausoleum.