By RYAN ARENA
L’Observateur

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.”