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Hannah Vidallier’s softball career ended like she had hoped.
In her two years at LSU-Eunice, she leaves with two Division II Junior College National Championships.
The LSU-Eunice Lady Bengals won their fifth national championship with a dramatic 8-7 win over top-ranked Jones County Junior College, Saturday at Traceway Park.
Vidallier, a North Vermilion High graduate, pitched the final three innings in the finals. She gave up one run, two hits, and walking one.
“All I wanted to do was contribute to a World Series Championship, and I did that,” said Vidallier. “It went in my favor.”
In the finals, Lady Bengal starter Abigail Leonards (Iota HS) threw four innings, surrendering six earned runs, 10 hits with one strikeout and two walks
Throughout the season, Vidallier was considered the Lady Bengels closer. She had not pitched in the World Series until the final three innings.
After being told to go warm up, she came back in the dugout with her game face on. Her coach asked her if she was ready.
“Yes sir,” she said. “I’m ready.”
LSUE was down 6-4 when she got on the mound.
Was she nervous?
“I don’t get nervous anymore,” she said. “When I pitched in the state softball tournament for North Vermilion as a freshman, I was really nervous then. But not now.”
Emily Henderson (North Desoto HS) scored the game winning run when she advanced on a squeeze bunt by Haley Godeaux (Cecilia HS) and the Lady Bengals’ celebration began.
Jordan Bishop (Newton County HS) singled to open the inning and pinch runner Abby Trahan (Hackberry HS) tied the game when she scored on a wild pitch.
LSUE trailed 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning after the Lady Bengal defense held the Lady Bobcats forcing a double play and a ground-out to snuff an offensive threat.
LSUE (53-11) finished with 12 hits, led by tournament MVP Rebecca Skains who went 3-for-4 including two home runs.
Also, at the plate, in the first game of the World Series, Vidallier hit two home runs to help LSUE win.
When she was not pitching, she was the designated player (hitter). In 35 at bats, she had hit only one home run this year. In the World Series, she hit two. She finished the year with around a .340 batting average and was 5-0 on the mound.
“I got what I wanted when I came to LSUE,” said Vidallier on Sunday. “I came to LSUE to win a national championship. We won two. I also had to fight for a position. There are so many talented girls on this team. You had to work for your position. Nothing was given.”
When she walked off the mound, it also meant the end of her pitching career because LSUE is only a two-year school.
It is now time for her to move on and begin focusing on her career.
In the fall, she will enroll in Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge.
She will begin studying to become a physical therapist assistant over the next two years.
But don’t think she is walking away from softball. It has been a part of her life for the last 16 years.
“I have been playing softball since I was three,” she said. “I will stay involved by coaching or giving pitching lessons.”

Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville (JA of Abbeville) held their end of the year social on Friday, May 12, 2017. The event was hosted by new Associate Member Megan Landry-Lalande and Outgoing President Shelly Libersat at the home of Mrs. Dorothy Collins.
Members gathered to celebrate accomplishments of the 2016-2017 JA year and to recognize members for their hard work and dedication.
The chapter honored the outgoing executive board, new associate members, inducted new active members and recognized several associate members who make their chapter shine.
The women who were inducted into the organization as active members have participated in service and finance projects, attended chapter meetings and completed training during the year. New active members of the JA of Abbeville are Brandy Duplantis of Delcambre, Christina Comeaux of Delcambre, Victoria Sagrera of Abbeville and Kelli Knickerbocker of Maurice.
Several members were acknowledged and awarded at the social for their contributions throughout the year. Liz Perry and Rita Broussard were gifted tokens of appreciation for tireless service, enthusiasm and dedication to the children of Vermilion Parish as associate members.
Also recognized were new associate members. These women have provided service and unwavering dedication to the chapter for six years, one year as a provisional and five as active members. New associate members are Dr. Anita Carrere, Angie Detraz, Laurie Gunter, Jamie Hebert, Laurie Hulin, Megan Landry-Lalande and Aimee Puhekker. The chapter is thankful for all of their contributions to help better the organization and community.
JA of Abbeville, during the 2016-2017 JA Year, had 23 women serving 15 projects. The Chapter provided 2,243 service hours and served 1,100 children across Vermilion Parish.
Moreover, JA of Abbeville raised $12,112 and donated $10,346 to the community. The chapter would like to thank the outgoing officers, board members and all levels of membership for the leadership, dedication and service to the chapter and community over the past year.
To learn more about the Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville visit www.jaofabbeville.org.

March 9, 1942 ~ May 18, 2017

ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:00 PM on Monday, May 22, 2017 at St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Catholic Church honoring the life of Lydia Marie Lege Arnold, 75, who died Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Vermilion Health Care Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Rev. Gregory Cormier officiating the services.
Lydia is survived by her children, Esther A. Mayeaux and her husband, Luke, Catherine A. Baker and her husband, Steve, and Frank “Troy” Arnold, Jr. and his wife, Jodi; siblings, Clarence “Pete” Lege and his wife Barbara, Natalia “Pupie” Hebert and her husband, Jim, Mae Hebert and her husband, Hayward, and George Lege and his wife, Brenda; her roommate at Vermilion Health Care Center, Thelma Trahan; grandchildren, Seth A. LeBlanc and his wife, Tiffany, Simone A. Peltier and her husband, Brody, Trisha K. Mayeaux, Steven Baker, Joshua N. Baker and his wife, Chastine, Jakob N. Baker and his wife, Courtney, Stefaney L. Baker, Karsen A. Hebert and her husband, Adrian, Frank Troy Arnold, III and his wife, Elizabeth, and Zachary E. Arnold; special friends, Robert Hernandez and Sarah Owens; great grandchildren, Bryce Comeaux and his wife, Fernanda, Carlee and Andrew Leblanc, Rylan, Rhett, Noah and Elijah Peltier, Juliaunna, Amelia and Ilenia Baker, Chelsey, Chloe and Jayton Baker, Annabeth, Lily and Rosalie Hebert, and expecting to arrive in June – Frank Troy Arnold, IV.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Troy Arnold, Sr., parents, Esther Joseph and Rena S. Lege; siblings, Roland P. Lege, Virginia L. Herring, Esta J. Lege and Raymond J. Lege; and in laws, Homer W. and Allie R. Arnold.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, May 21, 2017 from 2:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Monday, May 22, 2017 from 8:00 AM until 11:45 AM when the procession will depart for the church.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff of Vermilion Health Care Center, Hospice of Acadiana, and NSI Hospice; all of you provided comfort and happiness to our mother.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Lydia L. Arnold’s memory to either Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503-3240 or NSI Hospice of Lafayette, 1025 Camellia Blvd # 201, Lafayette, LA 70508.
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.