MAURICE - There was a time when Vallie Gaspard thought basketball was in her future.
But she switched to softball, and enjoyed that sport so much that it became her ticket to a college education.
The swift North Vermilion outfielder signed with the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Wednesday morning at school and then enjoyed the moment with a gathering for family and friends last night.
"UL is always nationally ranked, and it's close to home," Gaspard said. "They have good players and coaches who are friendly. They were very welcoming. They've always been the local team and have been fun to watch."
Gaspard got an up-close look at the Cajun program when she attended camps there in the past, and then last summer she played on a summer league squad coached by UL assistant coach Lacy Prejean.
"I played on a team with a lot of girls who are signing with UL," said Gaspard, who joins summer teammate Monique Prejean (Lacy's younger sister) of Teurlings Catholic in signing with the Cajuns.
"Summer is definitely more competitive than high school softball is. We play bigger teams with better athletes."
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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com