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f0fs24 cf0 Riverside’d5s Zimmer signs scholarship to continue career with Southeastern

Shortstop will be reunited with former teammate Summer Delaneuville in Hammond

Daphne Michele Zimmer, 17, a 2005 graduate of Riverside Academy signed a softball scholarship at Southeastern Louisiana University on May 17. Recruited by Southeastern Head Coach Pete Langlois and assistant Rusty Miller, Zimmer will attend Southeastern in the fall and will play for the Lady Lions beginning in the 2006 season.

‘d2I had several offers from out-of-state colleges and decided to pick SLU because of how much interest the coach showed in me,’d3 Zimmer said. ‘d2I am very excited of the fact that my entire family will be able to come and watch me play since it is only a 45-minute drive. My family supports me a lot and I want them to be able to watch every game they can.’d3

Zimmer said the comfort level that Southeastern presented her was a major factor in her choosing to play in Hammond.

I went to a couple of their games and practices and loved their facilities compared to other colleges I saw,’d3 Zimmer said. ‘d2The coaches and players are extremely nice and make me feel comfortable.’d3

Helping the Lady Rebels reached the state quarterfinals in 2005, Zimmer hit .371 her senior season with 22 runs driven in. The senior shortstop was even more lethal at the plate in district 10-2A play, hitting a team-high .640.

Zimmer will have a chance to play immediately in Hammond as the Lady Lions struggled in 2005 to a 20-27 record and failed to qualify for the Southland Conference tournament.

A four-year letterman in softball at Riverside under coaches Matt White and Mickey Roussel her senior season, Zimmer started her freshman season in the outfield before moving to shortstop for the past two seasons. She was a starter on the Class 2A State Championship squad as a freshman in 2002.

Winner of numerous awards throughout her athletic career at Riverside, Zimmer was named to the All-River Parish softball and volleyball squads, as well as the All-L’d5Observateur softball squad her junior and senior season. She was also named to the coaches All-District softball squad for three seasons and was a member of the coaches All-District volleyball team for one season.

A captain of the softball, volleyball and soccer squad, she was voted Softball Sweetheart by her teammates and was also voted by her senior class as Most Likely to Succeed, Hardest Worker and Most Athletic.

Giving the salutatorian address at graduation, Zimmer is academically eligible to play immediately at Southeastern. She was a WWL-TV A+Athlete, Wendy’d5s High School Heisman nominee, River Parish Senior Salute and All-Academic volleyball and softball team member. Her major goal this year was for everyone to know that she is not only an athlete but also an athlete with great academics. She has maintained all A’d5s this year and is ranked second in her class.

Daphne will major in physical therapy at Southeastern while enjoying playing for the Lady Lions. Making the trip to Hammond, Zimmer will once again be reunited with former teammate Summer Delaneuville, who is a pitcher for Southeastern.

Daphne is the daughter of Byron and Sheila Zimmer of Lutcher. She has two brothers, Dustin and Derek, who along with their parents wish Daphne the best of luck in the future.