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KAPLAN — Kaplan High junior Kennedy Marceaux knew when she walked onto the University of Alabama campus that it was the place she wanted to spend the next four years of her life.
For the last month, Marceaux has been recruited by most softball programs in the country. She could have written her ticket as to where she wanted to play.
Marceaux and her family visited four softball programs — UL-Lafayette, LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. On her fourth university visit, the Marceauxs traveled six hours to Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
When Marceaux walked onto the campus, it was love at first sight. The family toured the campus, and she fell more in love with the University of Alabama.
That night, in the hotel room, she had trouble falling asleep. She tossed and turned.
“Alabama? LSU? UL-L?”
“I started thinking about the campus, the program. I could not sleep. When I first walked on campus, I thought the university was so pretty. I told myself I wanted to come here. I repeated it to myself.”
That Saturday, the Marceauxs revisited the campus. They met with Alabama softball head coach Pat Murphy (who coached at USL in the 1990s) and assistant coach Allison Habetz (a Crowley native who played for the Cajuns in the early 1990s under Murphy).
While her decision was made the night before, she did not tell her parents of her decision until the next day, after talking with the Alabama coaches. Then, after telling her parents, she told the Alabama coaches.
“When you know, you know,” she said. “I knew what I wanted. That is what I wanted. So I was really happy.”
There were a lot of factors that went into selecting Alabama. First, the softball program is a top 10 program in the country. They attended the College World Series two years ago. They won the national title in 2012 under coach Murphy. They played again in the finals in 2014. Alabama wins an average of 40 games a year.
Another major factor in her decision was the university was only six hours from Kaplan, so her family can drive to watch her play, and if she wants to go home, she can.
Marceaux has been a starter for Kaplan in her freshman and sophomore years. In only two years, she has put up career numbers.
Her batting average is .655 (139 hits in 212 at-bats), 128 runs batted in (RBI), 40 home runs, 38 doubles and eight triples. But one of the most impressive offensive stats is how many times she has struck out in 212 at-bats. She has struck out only three times. That equals one strikeout for every 70 at-bats.
Marceaux’s highly anticipated recruiting war began at midnight on Sept. 1 — the first official day of recruiting for high school juniors.
College coaches began calling her not long after midnight. Murphy called her at 12:01 a.m. to invite her to visit Alabama. She received another 15 phone calls over the next several minutes.
“I experienced such an amazing night that I will never forget. It was the beginning of official recruitment for my junior year that I had been anxiously awaiting for as long as I can remember.
“To describe the adrenaline rush and excitement I felt when receiving over 15 calls from D1 Coaches at the stroke of midnight is impossible! Beginning with legendary coach Patrick Murphy ringing my phone at exactly midnight has to be the most incredible moment I have ever experienced! It was the wow factor of all time.”
This past month has been one she will never forget. By committing to Alabama, college coaches should back off from recruiting her. However, she is not an official Alabama softball player until she signs a letter of intent during her senior year.
Marceaux did not hesitate to think about the people who significantly influenced her life. She thanked the late Douaine Conner, Nathan Nelson, Mel Dumezich, Dale Serie, Coach Shay Herpin, and Coach Brittany Lebeouf. In addition, she praised her Kaplan High teammates and her summer travel ball teammates, who have supported her.
“I cannot love the Lady Pirates and Hotshots enough for all the encouragement and good vibes they’ve sent my way.”
When Marceaux plays softball for the Lady Pirates, she is the shortstop. However, when she plays summer ball, she plays a catcher. When asked what position she would play in college, Marceaux said any position that gets her on the field.
She made her decision two weeks ago, called the coaches she visited, and informed them of her decision. After everyone was called, she announced her decision on social media this week.
“My decision was far from easy as I’ve been traveling every weekend to different universities since the day of Sept 1. My official visits to UL, LSU, and Ole Miss were amazing, and I had the pleasure of spending time with Coaches and staff.
“The itineraries were filled from Fridays to Sundays with celebratory and fun-filled activities on campus. I’m still in awe and will be forever grateful for these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and offers. It’s been an amazing ride which is so hard to put into words, but my heart landed in Bama that day when I put on that crimson jersey. It was the best feeling in the world I always imagined it would feel like.
“I am so proud to make the University of Alabama my new home away from home — Sweet Home Alabama! Roll Tide!”

The first paved streets in a town were cause for celebration of the end to mud in the winter and dust in the summer, and because they were the sign of a progressive community.
For example, when Opelousas paved its first streets in 1914 car owners called for “a mammoth parade” of every automobile in the area. The idea almost caught on, too.
There had been some debate about the paving, first over the cost and then over what to pave with, but the board of aldermen finally agreed that the work was worth the money, and agreed on creosote-soaked wood blocks as the paving material.
Organizers wanted to invite every car owner in St. Landry, Evangeline, Acadia, and St. Martin parishes, all 200 of them, to parade over “every inch of paving in the city,” nearly three miles of it.
“The purpose of holding the parade is to display a certain pride in the municipal improvements in Opelousas,” the St. Landry Clarion reported in February. “Prominent automobile owners” in the town wanted to “show that the people of this city are happy … in having these streets paved” while boosting the idea of good roads throughout the area.
“If the people of Opelousas, St. Landry and Evangeline will turn out for this occasion, as it is earnestly believed that they will, it will be a sign that these people are anxious to have good roads,” the newspaper continued.
No date was set for the big parade, but the newspaper announced in March that it would be “in the near future.” By that time the event had blossomed into an Opelousas Day celebration. The car parade was still the “principal feature” but “many public improvements” were also to be showcased.
“That prominent residents … are bent upon making this day the greatest in the history of the city is evident,” the Clarion said.
The prominent citizens met a week later and proposed that the cars should be decorated “from the first to the last,” and that merchants on the newly paved street should “have their places of business decorated for the occasion, as well as especially illuminated that night.”
They still did not set a date for the big day and bright night. The newspaper expected it to be “some time next month,” but that turned out to be in the middle of Lent. The prominent citizens postponed the big celebration until after Easter.
In May, the Clarion said “the much talked about Opelousas Day is now almost an assured fact.” But the “most prominent” citizens leading the affair had not yet decided on a date for it, and the car parade had turned into a Flower Parade.
“The committees are now planning to make the flower parade a howling success,” according to a report in May. “It is proposed that the automobiles of the parish, the Opelousas Fire Department and other vehicles properly decorated will take part in the parade.”
The newspaper suggested that the Fourth of July would be a good day to do it.
But the big event covered by the Clarion on Independence Day was a baseball game between Opelousas and St. Martinville (won by Opelousas after a timely hit by Leo Dejean).
There was a story about new gravel on the road between Opelousas and Washington, but there was no mention of paving, or of a parade car, flower, or of any sort in that edition, or any other for the rest of the year.
You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

May 24, 1930 ~ September 21, 2022

ABBEVILLE —Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM on Friday, September 23, 2022 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Ruby Mae LeBlanc Broussard, 92, who died Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at Eastridge Nursing Center. She was laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Fr. François Sainte-Marie officiating the services.
She is survived by her children, Michael Broussard and his wife, Trudie, Brenda Broussard, David Broussard and his wife, Yvette, Kay B. Theall and her husband, Elliott, Margaret B. Barras and her husband, Harold, Ellen B. Lege’ and her husband, John, and Elliot J. Broussard; eight grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren with two on the way.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Irvin J. Broussard; father, Gustave LeBlanc, Jr.; mother, Marie Bernard LeBlanc; and three brothers, Alfred LeBlanc, Bernard LeBlanc and Elliot LeBlanc.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

ABBEVILLE — A private burial will be held celebrating the life of Mr. James Calvin Landry, 84, at Landry Cemetery in Henry, La.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 from 8:30am until time of services at 2pm.
James lived in many places in his life following his passion working with horses and welding. Finally coming home to Henry and Abbeville where he worked for Omega Protein until he retired. James passed away at his residence in Abbeville surrounded by his family.
He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dolores LeBlanc Landry; his sons, Anthony (Tony) Landry and his wife Penny, and Tracy Landry; his daughters, Gloria Hulin and her husband Fabian, Angela LeMoine and her husband Rodney, and Fanny Roche and her husband David; his grandchildren, Crystal Kirkconnell (Ryan), Tricia Landry, Ashley Eichorn (Ross), Mia Boudreaux (Trent), Lacey Landry, Brodie Duhon (Alisha), Zachary Hulin (John), Cassie Duhon (Raymond), Blair Landry (Patrick), Hailey Bodin (Tate), Chance Landry, Andrew Roche, Blake Roche, Shelby Hargrave, Ellie Roche, and Selene Watkins; his 19 great grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren; and his brothers, Kelly Landry (Cynthia) and Lindsey Landry (Gloria).
He is preceded in death by his daughter, Celeste Marie Landry; his parents Fanna and Velma Landry; and his in-laws, Lillian Comeaux and Harry LeBlanc.
The family would like to thank Concept of Care, Hospice of Acadiana, and his doctors for the care for their dad.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville (337)893-3777 2600 Charity St. will be handling the arrangements.