Ascension players crowd All-District 5-5A softball team
The big three Ascension teams in St. Amant, Dutchtown and East Ascension dominated the district all year on the softball field. And when the All-District 5-5A standings were released, nothing changed.
Out of the 22 spots on the first team, 19 of them went to Ascension squads. St. Amant and Dutchtown led the field with seven selections apiece, and East Ascension was right behind with five of their own.
St. Amant head coach Scott Nielson was named Coach of the Year, and Southeastern-bound pitcher Kasey Nielson was named the district's Co-MVP as she amassed a 21-2 overall record.
She helped the Lady Gators have a magnificent season that saw them win 27 straight games and make a run to the state semifinals. It was there that they met the defending state champs in Sam Houston and lost 4-2.
Overall, they finished 27-3 for the year.
Along with being Co-MVP, Nielson was obviously a first-team selection at pitcher, and Brooke Roberts made first-team honors as a catcher.
Kara Gremillion was the Lady Gators' lone first-team selection from the infield, but St. Amant saw three players garner first-team honors from the outfield in Kayla Braud, Kristen Despino and Madison Edmonston.
Ali Delany rounded out the first team for the Lady Gators as she was selected as a utility player.
On the second team, Jordan Hartman and Jaci Lavigne made it from their infield positions
As for the Dutchtown Lady Griffins, they had a tremendous season as well that culminated in a 19-7 overall record, second-place finish in the district and run to the state quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Sam Houston.
Leading the first-team all-district field for the Lady Griffins was pitcher Aleah Craighton and catcher Jessica Crum.
Tia Patterson was a first-team selection from the infield, and Royelle Cobb was chosen from the outfield.
Ali McCoy and Bria White earned first-team honors as utility players, and Bailey Gilleon did the same as a designated player.
On the second team, Hope Vezinat was selected as an infielder, Akela Gordon as an outfielder and Hannah Schexnailder as a utility player.
The East Ascension Lady Spartans' season was nothing to scoff at as well. They finished 19-8 during the regular season, finished third in the district and earned a No. 8 seeding for the playoffs, but they were upset by Sulphur in the opening round.
However, East Ascension was still able to land numerous players on the All-District 5-5A team--including Co-MVP Bailey Landry. The future LSU product was a first-teamer from the outfield.
Jessie Watts was a first-team selection at pitcher despite only being a freshman, and Carmisha Payton made the first team from the infield.
As utility players, Brooke Delaune and Kyleigh LeBlanc rounded out East Ascension's first-team selections.
On the second team, another freshman in Claire Weinberger made the cut from the infield along with Kendall Burgess and outfielder Marina Speligene.