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American Press
30-04-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Landreneau, 5 players earn honors
James Landreneau won his fourth SLC Coach of the Year honor Wednesday. (Kirk Meche/Special to the American Press) After a historic run to their fourth straight Southland Conference regular season title, the Cowgirls earned the postseason honors on the eve of tournament play. Led by their head coach, five Cowgirls were rewarded for their seasons by the SLC on Wednesday when the league announced its All-conference squads. Head coach James Landreneau was named the league's Coach of the Year for the fourth time in his nine seasons leading the Cowgirls. He is also a repeat winner from last season, leading his young team to a 37-18 record, including 23-4 in league play. Right-hander Maddie Taylor earned both Pitcher and Freshman of the Year honors while posting a 16-7 record with a 3.68 earned run average. Joining Taylor on the first team are fellow freshmen Sarah Allen (catcher) and Kassidy Chance (utility). Allen hit .329 while Chance leads the team with a .400 average. Sophomore outfielder Samantha Mundine also earned first-team honors after hitting .375 and driving in 27 runs heading into Pod play, which opens Thursday at Joe Miller Field. Senior Reese Reyna and sophomore Nyjah Fontenot were selected to the second team at shortstop and outfield, respectively.. Reyna is hitting .308 with five homers and 29 RBIs. Fontenot, a redshirt sophomore who transferred from Arkansas, is hitting .394 with 37 RBIs. Ironically, perhaps McNeese's MVP this season, Jada Munoz, didn't make any team. The junior is second in the league in home runs with 14, one off the lead. She leads the conference in RBIs (53) and doubles (19) and is second in runs scored (51). Superlatives Player of the Year – Victoria Altamirano, UIW Coach of the Year – James Landreneau, McNeese Newcomer of the Year – Macie LaRue, Southeastern Freshman of the Year – Kassidy Chance, McNeese Hitter of the Year – Victoria Altamirano, UIW Pitcher of the Year – Maddie Taylor, McNeese First Team C – Sarah Allen, McNeese 1B – Victoria Altamirano, UIW 2B – Claire Sisco, Nicholls 3B – Maria Detillier, Southeastern SS – Chloe Magee, Southeastern OF – Shenita Tucker, Southeastern OF – Samantha Mundine, McNeese OF – AB Garcia, HCU DP – Veronica Harrison, Lamar UTL – Kassidy Chance, McNeese P – Macie LaRue, Southeastern P – Maddie Taylor, McNeese Second Team C – Adelynn Becerra, SFA 1B – Tatum Wright, East Texas A&M 2B – Ellie Vance, SFA 3B – Haylie Savage, HCU SS – Reese Reyna, McNeese OF – Reagan Heflin, Nicholls OF – Maddie Cason, East Texas A&M OF – Nyjah Fontenot, McNeese DP – Kyi'Marri Ester, SFA UTL – Molly VandenBout, Nicholls P – Larissa Jacquez, UIW P – Britney Lewinski, Southeastern All-Defensive Team C – Jaisy Caceres, UIW 1B – Cala Wilson, Lamar 2B – Claire Sisco, Nicholls 3B – Trinity Brandon, Lamar SS – Reese Reyna, McNeese LF – Maddy Bailey, HCU CF – Sophia Livers, Northwestern State RF – Reagan Heflin, Nicholls P – Maddie Taylor, McNeese
American Press
25-04-2025
- Sport
- American Press
Delayed rivalry revisited
Freshman Maddie Taylor have a shot at history this weekend at SFA. (Raymond Stewart/McNeese Athletics) The Cowgirls travel back to Nacogdoches, Texas, to renew an old rivalry and hope to make history. They open the final three-game series of the Southland Conference's regular season against Stephen F. Austin Saturday at noon with a doubleheader. It is McNeese State's first trip back to Nacogdoches since 2019 as SFA returns to the Southland. The series was pushed back one day due to weather concerns in the area on Friday. 'It does change some things, opening with the two games instead of one,' said McNeese head coach James Landreneu. 'We will just have to adapt. We have been dealing with adversity all season.' McNeese has won five straight against the Lady Lumberjacks, but these three are ultra-important. The Cowgirls (34-18, 20-4) are looking to become the first program in SLC history to win four straight softball regular-season titles. They enter the weekend tied for first with Southeastern, which plays Nicholls. That series began Friday with a pair of games and will end about the same time the Cowgirls are getting their set started. 'It will be hard not to be watching what they do, and that could change things, but we have to worry about ourselves and how we play,' said Landreneau. 'I'm excited to see how we react to the pressure.' McNeese holds the tiebreaker with the Lady Lions. Both teams have already wrapped up hosting a pod in the upcoming postseason. 'It is important to be home for the tournament,' said Landreneau. 'We want to sleep in our own beds and keep our routines the same. It would reward our fans for their support.' McNeese enters the weekend hot, having won 11 of its last 12 but coming off a 5-2 loss at the hands of No. 10 LSU Tuesday in Baton Rouge. SFA is 26-24, 14-10, but lost last Tuesday as well, falling to Louisiana Tech. 'They will be a real challenge for us,' said Landreneau. 'They have been getting better and better as the season has moved along. They would love to beat us.' SFA is led by left-hander Alexis Telford, who is 10-6 with a 2.97 earned run average. She is coming off being named the Southland's Pitcher of the Week. 'She has been pitching really well,' said Landreneau. 'We are going to have to work to get to her.' In league games, Telford's ERA is third-best at 1.89. Kaylee Paul leads the SFA offense with a .443 batting average. Adelyn Becerra is the Lady Jacks' top power hitter with eight home runs. McNeese has six players in the starting lineup hitting over .300, with Jada Munoz leading the power surge with 13 home runs, good for second in the conference. Freshman Maddie Taylor is 15-7 with fellow rookie Kadence Williams at 10-7. Now comes the big test for the young team, playing in big games. 'What we have talked about is not the championships, but what it takes to get to this point,' said Landreneau. 'We have talked about staying focused mentally and staying focused on doing our job. 'You don't want to worry about everyone else. What matters is how we play and how we work through the adversity that is going to come.' With just three starters returning, winning this title would show just how far this young softball team has come in a short period of time. 'We have three games to play on the road to win a championship, to show how far we have developed,' said Landreneau. 'That would give us a lot of confidence moving forward.'
