Lutcher lands three athletes on All-State baseball, softball teams

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 8, 2010

By RYAN ARENA

L’Observateur

LUTCHER — Lutcher is well represented on the Louisiana Sports Writers Association’s Class 4A and 5A baseball and softball teams, placing three athletes among the ranks of the best in the state.

The Bulldogs’ Gavin Webster and the Lady Bulldogs’ Sara Schexnayder and Keri Zeringue each make the squad this season after tremendous 2010 campaigns.

Webster followed up his monster junior season with a senior year to remember. He hit. 408 with eight home runs, 12 doubles and four triples. He was the MVP of District 8-4A, leading the Bulldogs to a co-championship. It is his second time on the All-State team.

“He’s the best athlete I’ve ever coached,” said Lutcher baseball coach Davey Clement.

“He hit game-tying or go-ahead home runs in three games this season. He’s just got so many tools.

“If Gavin ever decides to just play baseball, he could be incredible. His ability is just out of this world.”

A year after helping to lead Lutcher to the Class 3A state championship, Schexnayder and Zeringue took their game to Class 4A along with the rest of the Bulldogs. Each maintained their strong play and led Lutcher to the Class 4A state quarterfinals.

Zeringue’s athleticism in the field at shortstop and poise at the plate drew her notice. She hit .425 for Lutcher as a senior from the leadoff spot.

“She’s just a rare athlete,” said Lutcher softball coach Blake Orgeron. “What she does, nobody else can do. Last season, she had a shoulder injury and she couldn’t bat right handed. She starts slap hitting and hitting lights out.

Most people take years to get to that level, but she makes it all look so simple. It’s a pleasure to coach that kind of a talent.”

Schexnayder, meanwhile, earns All-State status for the second year in a row. She went 19-7-1 on the mound.

“She’s just that calming influence for us inside the circle,” said Orgeron. “She brings a calm over our defense, which is strange because she’s not a strikeout pitcher. But Sara just understands what we want to do, and she knows how to get the results we need. It’s her second selection, and she’s very deserving.”

Lutcher’s Suzanne Louque and Dustin Roper were each selected honorable mention in their respective sports.