Star pitcher/infielder Mary Clement makes Honorable Mention All-State for St. Charles Catholic

By DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

LAPLACE-To the winner, or in St. Charles Catholic, the runner-up, go the spoils.

After a magical run that saw them finish the season 2005 season as the second-best team in all of Class 3A, the St. Charles Catholic Lady Comets were recognized by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association with two honorees on the All-State squad.

All-everything junior Mary Clement took home Honorable Mention honors after a phenomenal season while Lady Comets Head Coach David Lowry was named Coach of the Year.

Clement’s exploits throughout the Lady Comet run are well known. The only pitcher used by the Lady Comets in their playoff run, Clement was 4-1 in St. Charles Catholic’s run.

In 36 innings of work, she struck out 24 and allowed only 25 runs, 13 of which came in a blowout loss to Parkview Baptist in the state championship game.

Clement also had a very impressive performance at the plate during the magical run for St. Charles Catholic.

One of the best hitters on the team, Clement hit .440 (8-18) with a homerun, two doubles and a pair of runs driven in.

“I was kind of surprised because I didn’t even make All-Metro,” Clement said of finding out her All-State honors. “I was definitely excited about it. Who is not excited about making All-State? It’s a big achievement.

“I didn’t even think that I was going to get on it because I knew that we didn’t have that great of a record. I knew we had a great run and finished second in the state and all, but I was talking to my brother and he told me that they base it mostly on your record.”

Finishing as the state’s second best team in Class 3A, Clement said she was disappointed to not see anyone make the first-team from St. Charles Catholic.

“It is kind of upsetting because we did get second in the state and we didn’t even have anyone make first-team All-State. That’s upsetting, but you have to go with what you get.”

Only a junior, Clement hopes to improve in the 2006 season and make the first team.

“It is definitely motivation,” Clement said. “Because who doesn’t want to make the top team in the state?”

Lowry praised his junior flamethrower.

“She had a really good year,” Lowry said of his ace in the circle. “Her record as a pitcher really wasn’t as indicative of how well she did because of the competition that we faced.

“Looking back on it now, it was because of that schedule that we were able to make the run that we made in the playoffs.”

Not one for individual accolades, Lowry said being recognized, as the top coach in the state is definitely an honor.

“It’s very, very humbling,” Lowry said of the recognition. “I am not really about individual awards, especially when they come my way and I would be remised if I did not give credit to my assistant coach, Michelle Dearmitt.

“You don’t coach teams by yourself. You usually have a staff and I am very blessed that she stuck around after she gave up the head-coaching job three years ago. She did a fantastic job this year. Just like you don’t lose games by yourself, you don’t win them by yourself either.”

Not pitching a single inning or having an at-bat, Lowry gave all the credit to his team for the individual recognition that he along with Clement received this off-season by the Louisiana Sportswriters’ Association.

“If we go one and done in the playoffs we are not even having this conversation,” Lowry said. “The accolades that have come are way are due a lot to the attention that we got when we made the run that we made. It’s a testament to our program and the kids in our program.

One of Lowry’s many coaching colleagues, Riverside Head Coach Mickey Roussel said he was very deserving of the honor.

“In every sport you want to be playing your best at the end,” Roussel said. “And David’s team really peaked at the right time.

“David’s a good guy. He is a hard worker. He has been around this community forever. I got to know him while he was at Riverside. I know how much time he puts in, especially as a fellow athletic director. Something is going on right at St. Charles Catholic and he has a big part in it.”