SHREVEPORT, La. - The Centenary Softball team will celebrate all the accomplishments of its four-member senior class against Dallas in a doubleheader Saturday, April 15.
"The members of this year's senior class has all been a big part of rebuilding the Centenary softball program," said head coach Mark Suire. "Their efforts in bringing about a positive change in the program will not be forgotten and will continue through the underclassman they have influenced."
The quartet has helped the Ladies turn in the best three-year stretch in a decade. From their freshman year to the current season, the class has totaled 241 games played, 58 wins, 29 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference wins, five appearances on the SCAC Scholar's List, and four All-Conference selections.
As the fifth seed, the Ladies went 3-2 and finished third in the 2016 SCAC Tournament, completing the year with its most wins in seven seasons. For the 2017 season, their 12 wins in SCAC play were the most conference wins since 2009.
Kelsey Ancelot transferred to Centenary for the 2017 season and made an immediate impact, being named First Team All-Conference as an outfielder. That year, she led the team in batting average (.429) and on-base percentage (.463) while finishing second in slugging percentage (.429).
In fact, Ancelot lists her First Team All-Conference accolade as her favorite Centenary softball memory.
The Orange, Texas, native is a communications major and was named to the SCAC Scholar's List for the spring of 2017. Her future plans are finishing up her bachelor's degree at Centenary.
Shreveport native Anna Dunn will graduate as one of the best hitters for Centenary during the past eight seasons. Her 21 home runs and .351 career batting average ranks first and second for Ladies softball during the NCAA Division III era. A two-time All-Conference performer, Dunn was named SCAC Newcomer of the year in 2015 after leading the conference in home runs (five) and slugging percentage (.677).
Dunn was also recently named the SCAC Character and Community Female Athlete of the Week.
A psychology major, Dunn appeared on the Dean's List for five semesters during her collegiate career and has been named to the SCAC Scholar's list both her sophomore and junior seasons. Dunn also serves as the publicity chair for the Resident Hall Association at Centenary.
Her favorite memory with Centenary softball was seeing Lani Zeno busting out of the box to first base after she drew a walk earlier this season.
A Shreveport native, Jordan Hughes transferred to Centenary for the 2018 season and has appeared in 23 games. In just her second game in a Ladies uniform, she scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh of Centenary's thrilling 11-10 win against Westminster.
A sociology major, she is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and the Panhellenic Association. Following graduation, she plans to attend LSU for graduate school for social work.
Besides every moment with the team, her favorite memory is when Coach Suire canceled an early morning practice and took the team to breakfast at Strawn's.
The final senior playing her last home games for Centenary softball is Haley Miller. In 2016, Miller became the first Ladies softball player to be named to the All-Conference First Team in three seasons when she helped the Ladies earn a SCAC Tournament berth and a fifth seed. At the plate, Miller finished third for the Ladies with a .338 average. In the circle, she finished the season 5-5 with two complete games and a pair of saves.
A history major, the Haughton, Louisiana native has appeared on the SCAC Scholar's list twice. At Centenary, Miller has served as the softball representative for the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee the past three seasons. Following graduation, she plans to pursue her master's in education at Centenary and become a teacher and a coach of the sport that she loves.
Miller's favorite softball memory is her sophomore year at the conference tournament.
"It was the most fun I had playing softball. The team shocked everyone by not only qualifying for the tournament, but also by continually winning games and knocking other teams out," said Miller. "It was the greatest time I had ever had in softball, and I am so thankful I had a chance to experience it with some of my best friends and teammates."
The four seniors will be recognized following the doubleheader against Dallas on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Ladies conclude the series with the Crusaders Sunday with another pair of games beginning at noon.
