MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / May 27, 2000

It was another successful season on the softball diamond for River Parish schools. Destrehan, Hahnville, Lutcher, Reserve Christian, Riverside andSt. Charles Catholic made the postseason with Hahnville and Lutcheradvancing to the state tournament. Leading those teams were Hahnville’sErin Crisham, the River Parishes MVP, and Coach of the Year Helen Funk of Lutcher.

Erin Crisham Senior Infielder Hahnville Most Valuable Player

Few things can energize an offense or demoralize an opponent more than having the lead-off hitter get on base and come around to score.

For four years at Hahnville, Crisham did just that. This year, she wasagain the catalyst as the Lady Tigers captured the District 7-5A title and advanced to the state tournament in Alexandria for the second time in her career.

Crisham has been a regular on the all-River Parishes team. She capped hercareer with a standout senior season, earning all-District 7-5A MVP honors after batting .419. She also provided sparkling defense atshortstop.

“Erin Crisham was a hustler,” Hahnville head coach E.J. Tassin said. “Shegave everything she had every play. We’re going to miss her in the leadoffspot and at shortstop.

Helen Funk Lutcher Coach of the Year

The 2000 season was supposed to be a rebuilding one for the Lady Bulldogs. With the loss of seven senior starters, including all-RiverParishes selections Erin Hymel, Candice Millet, Christie Melancon and Jenee Weber, it appeared Lutcher’s string of appearances in the state tournament could have come to an end.

But come the last week of April, Lutcher was right back in its usual place – the Alexandria Youth Softball Complex – playing in its third straight state semifinal.

Funk took over for John Bentivegna and continued the Lady Bulldogs’ winning tradition. Lutcher again captured the District 9-3A championship,a district that included St. Charles Catholic and E.D. White. Victories inthe playoffs over Pearl River and Iowa sent the Lady Bulldogs to Alexandria.

There, Lutcher rallied to defeat a very good Parkview Baptist team in the quarterfinals. The Lady Bulldogs’ season would end at 21-12 after a lossto eventual state champion Teurlings Catholic in the semifinals.

“We had a great season,” Funk said. “The girls asked me before the seasonwhat I expected of them. I told them I expected to win district, win bi-district and regionals and make it back to the state tournament. I feel weexceeded our expectations. Going back to the state tournament and beatinga very good team in Parkview, that was awesome.” Kim Bierman Junior Pitcher Destrehan

Bierman help lead the Lady Cats drive to the playoffs in 2000. A multi-sport star, Bierman was named to the all-District 7-5A team after going 11-13 with a 3.36 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 125 innings. At the plate, shebatted .341 with 10 RBIs and a .561 slugging percentage and was 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts.

Fallon Cancienne Senior Pitcher Hahnville

Cancienne was a major reason why the Lady Tigers made it back to the state tournament for the first time since 1997. Cancienne has seen workon the mound since she was a freshman and was an all-District 7-5A selection for the second straight season.

Summer Delaneuville Sophomore Pitcher Riverside

Delaneuville had big shoes to fill in 2000, replacing two-time all-River Parishes selection Tanya Teague on the mound for the Lady Rebels.

And fill those shoes she did. Delaneuville led the Lady Rebels to theirfourth straight District 9-2A title and an appearance in the Class 2A regionals. She was selected as the District 9-2A MVP after going 19-5with a .97 ERA and 136 strikeouts in 136 innings. Carlie Humphries Freshman Pitcher Lutcher

Humphries was another who faced the tough task of following a former all-River Parishes MVP, Erin Hymel. She, too, was up to task, earning all-District 9-3A first-team honors.

The freshman went 18-6 with a 1.73 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 146innings in helping lead the Lady Bulldogs to a third straight appearance in the semifinals. She helped herself at the plate, batting .253 with 10 RBIsand a .360 on-base percentage.Humphries had one of her best games of the season in one of the Lady Bulldogs’ biggest games, pitching a three-hitter in the quarterfinal victory over Parkview Baptist.

Marci Martin Senior Pitcher St. Charles Catholic

Martin makes her fourth straight appearance on the all-River Parishes team. The senior enjoyed another stellar season, helping the Lady Cometsto a second-place finish in district and an appearance in the Class 3A bi- district.

Martin was a first-team selection in 2000, going 18-5 with a .61 ERA and130 strikeouts. She also got the job done at the plate, batting .423 with17 RBIs and a .641 slugging percentage. Rene Delaneuville Sophomore Catcher Reserve Christian

Delaneuville helped the Lady Eagles to their first appearance in the LHSAA playoffs in 2000. The all-District 12-B selection batted .473 in districtand .540 overall with eight doubles and 17 RBIs. Melanie Delaune Sophomore Catcher Hahnville

Tassin said Delaune is the type of player who would run through a wall for you. Delaune again made the all-District 7-5A team and is making hersecond straight all-River Parishes appearances.

“She gives you everything she’s got and she handled the pitchers well,” Tassin said.

Jessie Zeringue Senior Catcher St. Charles Catholic

Zeringue had her second straight stellar season for the Lady Comets. Thesenior catcher was the District 9-3A MVP after batting .345 with 22 RBIsand a .529 slugging percentage. She has also been invited to play in theLouisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star doubleheader next month at LSU.

Maren Cameron Junior Infielder Destrehan

Cameron was one of the sparkplugs for the Lady Cats in 2000. A District7-5A selection, the junior shortstop batted .459 on the season with sevenRBIs and four doubles. She batted a team-high .556 in district play.

Nicole Lambert Senior Infielder Riverside

Lambert was the leading hitter on the District 9-2A champion Lady Rebels.

An all-district selection at second base, she was also selected as the team’s MVP. Lambert batted a team-high .514 with 12 doubles and 28 RBIsin 2000.

Heidi Richard Junior Infielder Riverside

Richard combined with Lambert to give the Lady Rebels a prolific double- play combination. The junior shortstop was also an all-District 9-2Aselection after batting .366 with eight doubles and 20 RBIs. Michelle Roussel Junior Infielder Lutcher

Roussel overcame an injury to provide leadership for the Lady Bulldogs. Arepeat all-River Parishes selection, the junior shortstop batted .319 withtwo home runs, four triples, seven doubles, 25 RBIs and five stolen bases, The first-team all-district selection also saw action on the mound, going 3-3 with a 1.44 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 34 innings. Courtney Vicknair Senior Infielder St. Charles Catholic

Vicknair provided solid play for the Lady Comets at both the plate and in the field. The all-district first-team selection at first base had a fieldingpercentage of .988 to go with a .361 batting average, 22 runs, 23 RBIs andfive stolen bases.

Lawana Bolden Sophomore Infielder East St. John

Bolden was the lead-off hitter for much of the season, jump-starting the Lady Cats’ attack. The second-team all-district selection was one of theteam’s leaders in both batting average and on-base percentage.

Cristin Clement Senior Outfielder St. Charles Catholic

Clement was the Lady Comets’ table-setter in 2000. The first-team all-District 9-3A outfielder led the team in batting with a .429 average, inruns with 36 and in stolen bases with 26.

Jennifer Guidry Senior Outfielder Riverside

Guidry was another lead-off hitter who set the table for her teammates.

One of the best fielding outfielders in the area, Guidry also batted .507with 10 doubles, 12 stolen bases and 17 RBIs in being named to the all- District 9-2A team.

Toni Riley Senior Outfielder Lutcher

Riley helped provide leadership for a young Lutcher ballclub this past season. The senior outfielder made the all-District 9-3A first team afterbatting .302 with eight RBIs and eight stolen bases. She also committedjust one error all season. Riley has been selected to play in the LHSCA All-Star softball doubleheader next month at LSU.

Colleen Lockhart Senior Designated Hitter Hahnville

Lockhart was one of the Lady Tigers’ big guns throughout the season in being named to the all-District 7-5A team. She had two key doubles in theteam’s bi-district victory over Mt. Carmel to open the playoffs. She alsoran the bases well, stealing five bases.

Jamie Tarullo Senior Utility Destrehan

Tarullo was a second-team all-District 7-5A selection in 2000 after batting .310 with 10 doubles and a team-high 12 RBIS.

Amber Keller Senior Utility Reserve Christian

Keller got it done on both the field and in the classroom. ReserveChristian’s valedictorian was a first team all-District 12-B selection after going 8-4 with 4.48 strikeouts per game. She also batted .388overall with 10 stolen bases and nine RBIs.

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