Kaplan's Kennedy Marceaux picks Alabama

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!”