Destrehan, Hahnville well-repped on all-state teams

By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur
Published/Last Modified on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 8:40 PM CDT


A Destrehan Wildcat and two Hahnville Lady Tigers adorn the recently announced Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 5A All-State team.

Destrehan’s Josh Rochelle represents his squad on the baseball team, while Hahnville’s Lauren Candies and Jessica Cancienne were selected to the 5A softball squad.

Rochelle, a senior outfielder/pitcher, hit .365 with 27 regular season RBIs for Destrehan, helping the Wildcats reach the state quarterfinals. He was 7-2 with a 2.85 ERA on the mound during the regular season.

Rochelle admitted surprise that he was selected as an outfielder, instead believing that if he made the team, it would be as a pitcher.

Nonetheless, he’s honored to be selected for the first time.

“It’s kind of surprising, but I’m real excited,” said Rochelle. “When you see all the good players that make the team-I don’t usually look at myself as a (individually) good player, but just someone who does what it takes to help his team.”

Said Destrehan coach Marty Luquet: “He deserves all the accolades he gets. He’s worked hard at this thing for four years.”

Candies, a junior pitcher, was the backbone of a Hahnville team that went from a non-playoff season in 2008 to the District 6-5A championship and a third seed in 2009. Candies was 24-4, with an 0.88 ERA “ 0.55 in district play.

“Nobody works harder than her,” said Hahnville coach Kenneth Vial. “We had a good, solid team this year, but she made us what we were. She gave me so much freedom as a coach, to bunt, to hit and run, because I could play for one run in an inning with her on the mound.”

A senior infielder/outfielder, Cancienne hit .425 for the Tigers during the regular season, and hit well over .500 in the postseason.

A versatile defender, Cancienne played four different positions for Vial in her tenure at the school.

“She had 50 base hits this season. In a high school season, it’s almost unheard of,” said Vial. “It’s a girl that I truly can’t replace.”

But there is a silver lining for the Tiger coach.

“I have to let Cancienne go, but I’m not letting Candies go just yet,” he said with a laugh. “It’s easy to be a good coach when you have these good kids.”

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