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Kaplan High junior shortstop Kennedy Marceaux had an incredible season this spring to help the Lady Pirates win their first state softball championship since 2016.
Marceaux, who committed in September to sign with the University of Alabama softball program, batted .655, bashed 22 home runs and drove in an incredible 72 runs. As the Lady Pirates’ leadoff hitter.
She stayed hot in the playoffs, hitting a home run and a double in her first two at-bats in the Non-Select Division III championship game in Sulphur before being intentionally walked the two times she went up to hit, earning Marceaux the game’s Most Outstanding Player honors.
But it isn’t just the production on the field that makes Marceaux special, Kaplan head coach Brittany LeBeouf said.
“She’s not the type of player that’s worried about her stats,” LeBeouf said. “She’s worried about what’s best for the team, and how the team can win, and whatever she can do to help the team win, she’s willing to do. She’s a great teammate.”
That attitude and her play on the field earned Marceaux another postseason honor as well. For the third straight year, Marceaux has been chosen as the Most Valuable Player on the All-Vermilion Parish Softball Team as chosen by The Abbeville Meridional.
“She had a phenomenal year, and she’s going to continue to get better,” LeBeouf said. “Next year should be fun to watch. The work has started now for our new team to do it again. We realize it’s not going to be an easy task, and everybody has to get better, so that’s what we’re focusing on now.”
LeBeouf has been named the Coach of the Year for the All-Vermilion Parish team. LeBeouf had pitched in the state tournament for the Lady Pirates while in high school, then was an assistant for current KHS principal Shay Herpin, who also coached her in high school, when Kaplan won the state championship in 2016. The coach said the championship is a source of pride for the town, which always supports the team.
“I think we have the best fan base in the state,” LeBeouf said. “We had probably 2,000 people in Sulphur. Every time we do a fundraiser, they support us. Any time we ask for something, we get it. Kaplan loves their softball, and I couldn’t ask for a better community base. Not all softball schools have what we have. We’re just lucky that our community supports the softball team.”
But this season didn’t start with such high aspirations. LeBeouf said her goal with the group was to try to get to Sulphur for the state tournament for the first time since 2018.
“Obviously our goal is to win a state championship, but we hadn’t been to Sulphur in so long that we just wanted to make it there, and then we would see what would happen,” LeBeouf said. “Towards the end of the season, nothing fazed this team. They were very mentally tough, and whenever we gave them a task, they did it. There was no playing around.
“I think that’s what made them special. They didn’t let the moment get too big, and did whatever was asked, and they came out on top.”
Kaplan finished the year 27-8.
Marceaux is joined by several of her teammates on the All-Parish team, including pitcher Briley LeBeouf, who earned the win in the state title game and went 23-6 on the year with 137 strikeouts and hit .442 with five home runs and 33 RBIs; first baseman Abbigale Ford, who batted .353 with two homers and 29 RBIs; third baseman London Greene, who hit .280 with two homers and seven RBIs; outfielder Noble Hebert, who hit .430 with 12 home runs and 48 RBIs; outfielder Haylie Robinson, a defensive star and slap hitter who hit .220 with nine RBIs; and utility picks Addyson Hebert (.280, 3 HR, 21 RBIs) and Jessa Lopez (.351, 19 RBIs). All were first-team All-District 5-3A selections after Kaplan won the district title.
“It was a team effort,” LeBeouf said of the state championship run. “I would even credit the kids who couldn’t come in the dugout because they only let you take 24 kids in the dugout in Sulphur. We had probably 12 kids outside cheering their teammates on. They were there every single day for practice and getting our older kids better and ready to play.
“It was a total team effort. We preach to our kids, do your role and every role is important. With this group, I think everybody realized that every role is important, and when they understood their role, they completed it.”
Erath, which reached the second round of the non-select Division II playoffs, earned five spots on the All-Parish team — pitcher Alyssa Boutte, catcher Madyson Vallot, second baseman Ellie Goutierrez, and utility players Bailey Smith and Kiersten Perro.
Pitcher Ashton Duhon and utility selections Kennedy Kelly and Madie Broussard of North Vermilion earned All-Parish honors, as did outfielder Kaylee Schaubert of Delcambre and utility players Macie Soucy of Abbeville and Ali Broussard of Vermilion Catholic.

2023 All-Vermilion Parish Softball Team

MVP — Kennedy Marceaux, Kaplan
COY — Brittany LeBeouf, Kaplan

P — Briley LeBeouf, Kaplan Jr.
P — Alyssa Boutte, Erath Sr.
P — Ashton Duhon, North Vermilion Sr.
C — Madyson Vallot, Erath So.
1B — Abbigale Ford, Kaplan So.
2B — Ellie Goutierrez, Erath Jr.
3B — London Greene, Kaplan Jr.
SS — Kennedy Marceaux, Kaplan Jr.
OF — Noble Hebert, Kaplan Sr.
OF — Haylie Robinson, Kaplan Jr.
OF — Kaylee Schaubert, Delcambre So.
UT — Bailey Smith, Erath Sr.
UT — Addyson Hebert, Kaplan So.
UT — Jessa Lopez, Kaplan Jr.
UT — Kiersten Perro, Erath Jr.
UT — Kennedy Kelly, North Vermilion Sr.
UT — Madie Broussard, North Vermilion Sr.
UT — Macie Soucy, Abbeville Jr.
UT — Ali Broussard, Vermilion Catholic Fr.

McNeese State University conferred degrees on 703 graduates during two ceremonies for the university’s 160th commencement on Friday, May 12, in McNeese’s Legacy Center.
The ceremony for the colleges of agricultural sciences, liberal arts and science, engineering and mathematics were held at 9 a.m. and for the Burton College of Education and colleges of business and nursing and health professions at 1:30 p.m.

Graduates from Vermilion Parish

ABBEVILLE

Ronnie D. Cormier, Master of Science in Health and Human Performance

Haley E. Zenon, Bachelor of Science in Management

DELCAMBRE

Heather Renee Moreaux, Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice

GUEYDAN:

Rebekah Marie Lepretre, Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Conservation Management

KAPLAN:
Lauryn A. Fulkerson, Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Sciences

Heather Renee Lege Mayard, Master of Science in Nursing

Valetia Vincent Mire, Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Vanessa Roberts, Bachelor of Science in Nursing

Grace K. Roussel, Associate of General Studies
Olivia R. Terro, Associate of General Studies

At the request of the Abbeville Garden Club, Mayor Roslyn White signed a proclamation designating June 4 - 10, 2023, as National Garden Week in the City of Abbeville. Sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc., this is a special week designed to focus public attention on the programs, projects, and activities promoted by garden clubs.
In recognition of National Garden Week, the Abbeville Garden Club will sponsor an informational booth at the Daylily Festival featuring Louisiana Super Plants: plants designated by the LSU Ag Center as being proven performers for our area. AGC and Keep Abbeville Beautiful will also sponsor a children’s activity booth featuring art projects centered on birds and other pollinators.
AGC will host the Daylily Festival educational programs at the Abbeville Cultural Center. Judge Edwards, Master Naturalist and Abbeville Garden Club member, will present “Blue Birds in Vermilion Parish”. Maddox Miller, LSU Ag Agent and Horticulturist for Vermilion, Lafayette, and Acadia Parishes, will present “Tropical plants for the Home”.
The Daylily Festival is presented by Abbeville Main Street and Vermilion Chamber of Commerce. Sponsors include the Abbeville Garden Club and Gulf Coast Bank.
Abbeville Garden Club is a member of National Garden Clubs, Inc., Deep South Garden Clubs, Inc., and Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc., District III.

“The number one skill in life is not giving up.”

ERATH — Funeral services for Wilmer Joseph LeBlanc 96, will be Saturday June 3, 2023 at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath. With Father Clinton Sensat Pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes officiating. Burial will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday June 3, 2023 from 11 a.m. until time of services.
Wilmer Joseph LeBlanc passed away on May 31, 2023, leaving the world a bit dimmer with his passing, while surely brightening it for those who knew him. Born on May 9, 1927, he lived a full life facing each day with a smile, a positive attitude, and giving his signature “two thumbs up” in the face of adversity.
Born and raised, he lived his entire life in Erath, Louisiana. He had a very successful career in the oil field industry. First in the onshore drilling arena and moved to the (then) cutting edge offshore industry, climbing through the ranks to drilling superintendent/company man. Those who knew him well, would say he could fix or repair anything and assisted in several successful patents of oilfield equipment. Beyond his work life, he was truly a man of the land at heart. He loved to trawl, fish, and farm. Being on his property on Bayou Tigre brought him such joy, whether he was picking his pecans, or planting and tending his garden. He was always curious about new inventions and technology while driven to make the best of life. Overcoming a traumatic childhood injury, working at 16 to help support his family, Wilmer never gave up. A self-made man, he was proud of his marriage of 63 years to the love of his life, Hazel, of his family, of his home, and most of all his grandchildren. The love and patience he gave his grandchildren while teaching them life lessons formed a treasured long-lasting bond. Until he moved to Lafayette for elder care, he could be seen mowing his lawn, maintaining his house, or working in his workshop to make a tool that could help improve his garden, home, or boat. He loved to learn, and enjoyed traveling to various venues such as Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and Las Vegas, as well as an Intracoastal boat trip from Clearlake TX to Don’s Boat Landing.
This positive, outgoing, friendly man leaves behind friends and family to celebrate his life, including his daughter Linda LeBlanc, his daughter Sharlene Dubois, husband Harvey, and his son Tim LeBlanc, wife Kassey. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Nicole LeBlanc, his grandson, Ryan Faulk, and great grandchildren Nicholas Faulk, Payton LeBlanc, and Nora Faulk.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife Hazel, and granddaughters Michele and Heather LeBlanc, as well as his parents Adela & Claude LeBlanc, and siblings.
The family wishes to thank all who helped him and visited him during the last years of his life, and are particularly grateful for the staff at Pelican Pointe Healthcare in Maurice and Traditions Hospice, who loved and cared for him the last years of his life.
Condolences may be sent to the LeBlanc family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home 209 E. Putnam St. Erath 337-937-0405 is in charge of arrangements.