LSUE lands five on All-Tourney team

CLINTON, Miss. - LSU Eunice head coach Andy Lee is quick to point out it was a team win as the Lady Bengals grabbed their second straight national title, capped by a three-game sweep last Saturday at Traceway Park.
“It showed the character, the heart and the passion that this team has,” Lee said of the battle to the title.
Five Lady Bengals were recognized for their tournament accomplishments, including sophomore first baseman Brooklyn Clark who was named MVP.
Clark went 11-for-22 with four RBI but had numerous clutch hits to extend innings as the Lady Bengals fought their way through the tournament.
“We worked so hard all year,” Clark said. “That helped us to come from behind to win all three games as we knew it wasn’t over until the last out was made.”
Also on the NJCAA Division II All-Tournament team were freshman pitcher Raven Cole, sophomore third baseman Carey Alexis, freshman second baseman Taylor Boulet and sophomore centerfielder Codi Covington.
Cole pitched in five of the six tournament games, earning three wins including a seven-inning, 1-0 performance against Des Moines Area Community College.
Cole allowed 17 hits, 12 runs, 13 walks and 16 strikeouts in 20 innings of work.
Alexis went 7-for-21 with five RBI and a home run for the week and made several outstanding plays at hot corner to help the Lady Bengal defense.
Boulet went 6-for-22 with three RBI and five runs scored and like Alexis, played steady defense at second base.
Covington closed her LSUE career in fine fashion as she went 8-for-19 at the plate with 2 RBI, four runs scored and stellar catches at her centerfield position.
“It is awesome that we won two years in a row,” Covington said. “It was definitely a team effort and we all had that one goal - to win.”
Sophomore Emily Nolan earned the Marucci Elite Hitter Award, while Lee was named Most Outstanding Coach as the Lady Bengals went 6-1 in the tournament including a 5-1, 8-6 sweep over Jones County Community College to repeat as champions.
“It took years and years of practice hitting with my dad,” Nolan said of her hitting skills. “It was so much fun at LSUE and I am so happy to leave my name as part of the Lady Bengal legacy.”
Nolan had four home runs in the tournament with 15 RBI. Her best outing came in the 12-2 win over Scottsdale where she had a three-run home run and a grand slam.
Nolan finished the season with a school record 21 home runs and 102 RBI, as she finished first in the country for homers and second place for RBI (104).
“I feels amazing,” Nolan said of the title. “This team has more heart than any team I have been on.
“We won’t give up until the last pitch is thrown and the last out is made.”
In the 2013 tournament, Covington was named Outstanding Offensive Player and Ashley Subervielle was MVP.