Brignac-Bridges Lead NOLA area Sofball Resurgence

[NewsCopy]

Led by Curtis pitcher Ashley Brignac and other top metro area players, s2007 oftball teams enjoyed success this season Sunday, May 27, 2007By Lori Lyons The fact that the New Orleans metro area has become a hotbed of softball is reflected in the most recent list of champions. A New Orleans area team has been crowned a state champion in each of the last six years. It also is reflected in the redesigned All-Metro softball team. Make that teams. For the first time since 1989, The Times-Picayune has selected both a large schools and a small schools All-Metro softball team. Atop the list of local champions has been John Curtis Christian School, which has now won five titles in a row. And atop the list of dominant players has been Curtis senior pitcher Ashley Brignac, who has been selected the small schools Pitcher of the Year. Curtis senior first baseman Gabby Bridges is the small schools Player of the Year. St. Charles Catholic first-year softball coach Ty Monica is the Coach of the Year. On the large schools team, Belle Chasse pitcher Samantha Brooks is the Pitcher of the Year. Mount Carmel shortstop Monica Zeringue is the Player of the Year and Belle Chasse's Paul Wolf is the Coach of the Year. Brignac's statistics are staggering. This season alone, Brignac, a University of Louisiana-Lafayette signee, was a perfect 25-0. She also threw seven perfect games and finished with a 0.00 earned run average. She faced 528 batters and struck out 421. She allowed just 14 hits. She also pitched 21 shutouts and 18 no-hitters. She also was pretty lethal at the plate, where she hit .500 with six home runs. The rest of the story Lori Lyons llyons@timespicayune.com (985) 652-0959.

[J-Town Cajun]

Brignac struck out 80% of the batters she faced this year with 17 no-hitters in 25 starts.