Lady Bengals sign 10 for 2018-2019 class

The two-time defending National Champs LSU Eunice announces its incoming class for next season with the addition of ten signees.
They will join the softball program in the 2018-2019 academic year.
“We’re excited about this group,” head coach Andy Lee said. “They have all had great success at the high school level and we believe that will translate to us.
An Acadiana heavy crop headlines the group – all from perennial powerhouse programs in the area. Mary Kate Bourgeois (Church Point, La./Notre Dame), Abbey Higginbotham (Church Point, La./Notre Dame) and Kennedy Smith (Rayne, La./Notre Dame) make up a trio of high school teammates turned collegiate teammates. Amie Vincent (Maurice, La./North Vermilion) gives the class a championship pedigree after helping lead the Patriots to last year’s Class 3A state title.
Mallory Little (Opelousas, La./Opelousas Catholic) and Rylie Candella (Centerville, La./Centerville) round out the Acadiana contingency.
Jennifer Perkins (Lake Charles, La./Barbe) and Lauren Parson (DeRidder, La./DeRidder) continue a trend for Andy Lee finding talent in the Lake Charles area. Brooke Romano (St. Amant, La./St. Amant) is the lone Bayou State signee not from the greater southwest Louisiana area.
Maddux Kirkland (Monticello, Ms./Lawrence County) is the lone out-of-state signee, hailing from Mississippi.
“The signees have a great blend of power, speed and versatility,” Lee added. “I look forward to following them during their senior years and then when they make their way here to LSUE.”
2018-2019 LSU Eunice Bengals Softball Signing Class
Mary Kate Bourgeois – OF, 5-3, L/R, Church Point, (Notre Dame High)
A three-year starter for Notre Dame High that has helped the Pioneers to three straight FastPitch 56 appearances.
Bourgeois helped the Pios to a state runner-up (2017), semifinals (2016) and quarterfinals (2015). The outfielder is a two-time first team All-District and All-Acadia Parish performer. Bourgeois was a second-team All-District outfielder as a freshman.
Her parents are Marty and Nancy Bourgeois.
Rylie Candella – SS/UTL, 5-8, R/R, Centerville, (Centerville High)
A two-sport standout, Rylie has excelled in softball and basketball for Centerville High.
The shortstop has helped the Bulldogs to three consecutive district championships.
In 2017, she was named a first team All-District member. Her sophomore season, Rylie earned All-State honorable mention, first team All-District and “Best Of The Teche”. She was also tabbed to the “Best of the Teche” as a freshman.
Over her six years in varsity (she began in sixth grade), Rylie has amassed a .476 batting average, 111 RBIs, 154 runs and 12 home runs.
Last year, Candella broke out with a .656 batting average, 43 RBIs, 39 runs, 22 doubles and ten home runs.
In basketball, Rylie was given All-District Defensive Team honors the last two seasons.
She is the daughter of Rhett and Their Jo Candella.
Abbey Higginbotham – C, 5-6, R/R, Church Point, (Notre Dame High)
The softball and basketball standout will provide athleticism at the catcher position. Abbey is a two-time All-State selection including a .338 batting average for her junior season. The Church Point native has helped the Pioneers to a state runner-up finish last season and the semifinals as a sophomore. She’s also earned first team All-District honors as a junior and sophomore.
Higginbotham also excels on the hardwood, helping Notre Dame to the quarterfinals last year while earning first team All-District accolades.
She is the daughter of Chris and Nenna Higginbotham
Maddux Kirkland – C, 5-7, R/R, Monticello, Ms. (Lawrence County High)
The Magnolia State product is the lone out-of-state signee in this year’s class. Maddux is a three-sport athlete from Lawrence County High, participating in softball, soccer and cheerleading.
The All-District selection in both fast and slow pitch, Maddux was named the All-Star Game MVP for Classes 4A-6A, a 2016 Golden Glove and 2016 Hammer Award.
She helped lead her team to the third round of the softball playoffs this past season.
She is the daughter of Wayne and Tina Kirkland.
Mallory Little – 1B, 5-7, R/R, Opelousas, (Opelousas Catholic High)
The first baseman has enjoyed a standout career at Opelousas Catholic. The first baseman helped the Vikings to the LHSAA Division IV Quarterfinals a year ago while earning All-District and All-Parish first team accolades.
Little earned the same awards her sophomore season averaging .362 at the plate, driving in 18 and scoring 16 runs. She has twice been named the Vikings’ defensive most valuable player.
She is the daughter of JJ and Kathy Little.
Lauren Parson – P/3B, 5-4, R/R, DeRidder, (DeRidder High)
The two-way star helped DeRidder enjoy of its best seasons in school history last year. Parson paced the Dragons to a 33-5 season and Class 4A semifinals appearance.
The pitcher and third baseman earned first team All-State, All-Southwest and All-District accolades as a pitcher after going 31-5.
She is the daughter of Brian and Kelley Parson.
Jennifer Perkins – UTL, 5-2, L/R, Lake Charles (Barbe High)
The utility player comes from a successful Barbe program and continues a pipeline from the Lake Charles area school.
Perkins earned first team All-State, All-Southwest and All-District accolades helping lead the Bucs to the Class 5A Quarterfinals. The outfielder earned an All-District designation as a junior in another quarterfinal year for Barbe.
She is the daughter of Wade and Patty Perkins.
Brooke Romano – 3B/C, 5-8, R/R, St. Amant, (St. Amant High)
The two-sport standout has enjoyed success both in softball and basketball for St. Amant.
The corner infielder is part of a powerhouse Gator program that has reached the Class 5A quarterfinals last year and the Class 5A semifinals in Brooke’s sophomore and freshman seasons.
She was a first team All-District and second team All-Metro pick last year, also earning second team All-District accolades as a sophomore.
She is the daughter of B.J. and Bridget Romano.
Kennedy Smith – OF, 5-7, S/R, Rayne (Notre Dame High)
The switch hitting outfielder continues a strong pipeline from Notre Dame. Smith received first-team All-State, All-Acadiana, and All-District honors after batting .402 last year for the Pioneers.
The Rayne native was also tabbed as a first-team All-District selection as a sophomore.
Kennedy is the daughter of Jason and Mica Smith.
Amie Vincent – SS/3B, 5-3, R/R, Maurice (North Vermilion High)
The softball and volleyball athlete has made an immediate impact since joining the Lady Patriots. Vincent is a three-time All-District performer including first-team honors last season. The shortstop and third baseman was a vital part of North Vermilion’s run to the 2017 Class 3A State Championship.
She is the daughter of Tammy and Jonathan Vincent.