2024 Vermilion Parish Softball Team Announced

Kennedy Marceaux put up video-game-like numbers over her four seasons at Kaplan High School. Over her career, the Alabama signee batted .644, launched 83 home runs, knocked in 245 runs, scored 263 times, and stole 93 of 95 bases while only striking out seven times.
As a senior, Marceaux batted .608, hit 21 home runs, drove in 50 runs, scored 65 runs, and stole 24 bases while striking out only twice. She led the Lady Pirates back to the quarterfinals of the Division III Non-Select playoffs after winning the state championship as a junior.
This season Marceaux was named District 5-3A MVP, 3A All-State, and for the first time in Kaplan High School history, the 2023-24 Gatorade Louisiana Softball Player of the Year.
For these reasons, Kennedy Marceaux is the Vermilion Parish Softball Player of the Year. She has won the award four years in a row.
The rareness of a player like Marceaux is not lost on Lady Pirates head coach Brittany LeBeouf.
“The first time I saw her play was her sixth-grade year,” LeBeouf said. “She stood out. You could tell she was going to be a special player.”
“I knew she was going to be great because of her work ethic and will to win. That’s something you can’t teach. People don’t realize the amount of time, energy, and effort she’s put in to be the player she is today. She’s worked for everything she’s earned. I’m so proud of her.”
While LeBeouf admits Marceaux will be missed, she appreciates and cherishes the greatness she had the opportunity to coach.
“I don’t know if people realize what just came through our parish,” LeBeouf continued. “We may never witness a player of her caliber again in Vermilion Parish. Her presence on the field and ability to lead and control a game is a quality you seldom witness. She will be missed greatly.”
Kaplan senior pitcher Briley LeBeouf joins Marceaux on the first team. She went 16-4 with 246 strikeouts while batting .295 with five home runs and 25 RBI.
Junior Kallie Gibson of North Vermilion pitched the Lady Pats all the way to Sulphur, compiling a 14-4 record and 221 strikeouts along the way. Senior Julianna Gaspard rounds out the first-team pitchers as she led Vermilion Catholic back to the playoffs.
NV junior Zoe Harrington is the first-team catcher. She batted .568 with 15 HR and 43 RBI. Kaplan junior Abbigale Ford gets the nod at first base, batting .389 with 10 HR and 43 RBI. Her teammate, senior Reagan Smith is at second base. Smith batted .352 with two HR and 22 RBI.
Marceaux is at shortstop while Reese Charpentier of NV rounds out the infield at third base. The sophomore batted .364 with 23 RBI.
In the outfield Kaplan senior Jessa Lopez hit .436 with two HR and 31 RBI. Erath junior Kristina Landry batted .400 while NV junior Nylah Harrison batted .351 to finish off the outfield.
Lady Pirates freshman Lexi Greene is a first-team utility player. The southpaw had an 8-0 record with 78 strikeouts in the circle while batting .368 with two HR and 27 RBI.
Junior Emerson Kelly of North Vermilion batted .475 and knocked in 23 RBI. Kaplan Senior London Greene hit .307 with two HR and 24 RBI. Sophomore Ali Broussard batted .400 for VC while Erath senior Kiersten Perro hit .384. Sarinity Wallace of Abbeville rounds out the first team utility players. The sophomore batted .556 for the Lady Wildcats.

NV’s Prejean is Coach of the Year

North Vermilion Lady Pats’ skipper Richard Prejean is the 2024 Vermilion Parish Coach of the Year.
Prejean led a senior-less squad to a 24-7 record and the semifinals of the Division II Non-Select playoffs. Going into the season, Prejean knew his team had talent, but they were also very young.
“I knew we were talented enough to get to Sulphur,” Prejean said. “But I wasn’t sure if we were experienced enough. Really, it was about how fast they could learn and understand how to play together. They grew up quickly.”
After racing out to a tremendous 16-1 start, the Lady Pats found themselves in the midst of a five-game losing streak and David Thibodeaux on deck. The Lady Bulldogs had beat NV in 2023 on their way to Sulphur.
Prejean pointed to that game as when his team came together. “David Thibodeaux is well-coached, and they had made it to Sulphur last year,” explained Prejean. “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. Combine that with the fact that we had lost five games in a row, I think the kids sensed it was now or never. That game changed the trajectory of the season.”
The Lady Pats not only beat David Thibodeaux, they won 11-straight games that took them all the way to the state semifinals.
While Prejean is proud of the way his team came together this season. He’s already thinking about the challenges they’ll face next year.
“I’ve coached softball for 20+ years,” Prejean said. “And to see young kids come into their own is inspiring. It’s got me inspired to see how they respond when challenged. Next season, they’ll get everyone’s best game. It’ll be interesting and fun to see how they respond.”