Zimmer and St. Amant named to first team, Poirrier named Honorable Mention

By DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

RESERVE-The prep softball season officially came to an end this past week.

After all the playoff and all-star games, the announcement of the All-State squads has taken place.

In Class 2A, three Riverside Lady Rebels took home honors as senior shortstop Daphne Zimmer and outfielder Jenna St. Amant were named to the first team. Sophomore sensation Nicole Poirrier took home honorable mention honors for her performance in the circle this season.

All three players had outstanding seasons for Riverside, as they were three of main reasons for the Rebels return to the state tournament.

A member of the state championship squad her freshman season, Zimmer concluded a fantastic 2005 as the second leading hitter for the Lady Rebels.

Zimmer hit .371, good for second on the team and also drove in 22 runs, which was also tied for second on the team.

In district play, the Southeastern signee hit a mind-boggling .640 and drove in 0 runs in only 25 at-bats.

St. Amant concludes her softball career with an unbelievable senior campaign.

Leading the team with a .405 average, she also drove in 25 runs and struck out only nine times in 116 at-bats.

St. Amant also knocked around her district opponents, hitting .645 on the season and driving in 16 runs.

In only her sophomore season, Poirrier turned into one of the best duel threat players in the area.

Hitting .318 on the year with 16 runs driven in, the 15-year-old right-hander was more known for her exploits in the circle.

The ace of the Riverside pitching staff, Poirrier finished the year 20-16 with a miniscule 1.88 ERA. In 189 innings of work, she allowed only 136 hits and 51 earned runs. She also struck out 137 and walked only 16.

Riverside Head Coach Mickey Roussel said he was happy to see several of his players get the statewide recognition that they earned because of their hard work throughout the year.

“It’s a great thing for Riverside softball,” Roussel said. “Especially coming into this season with a fairly young softball team. To have two seniors make the All-State squad knowing that they have experience and that they made it to the state tournament. The seniors really handled it well.”

Zimmer said she was very excited to end her Riverside career with such a high accolade.

“You go out and work hard everyday and it is nice to have something to show for all of your hard work,” Zimmer said.

Roussel echoed his shortstops comments and said she will have the chance to become a special player on the next level.

“There is no doubt that she is definitely a coachable player,” Roussel said of Zimmer. “They (Southeastern coaching staff) are going to hone in on her skills and what she is doing well and work on what she needs to work on. It is going to be interesting to see how she pans out.”

Not a life-long softball player, St. Amant said she was happy to find out she had made the All-State squad.

“All-State is an honor that I don’t even know how to explain,” St. Amant said. “My mom woke me up and said that I had made All-State. I really didn’t know what to say.

“It is a great way to end my softball career. You cannot get any better than All-State.”

Roussel said St. Amant will be sorely missed.

“Jenna was a story in itself,” Roussel said. “I think she started playing softball in the eighth grade. She hadn’t been playing her whole life, but was a very talented individual and great softball player.

The soft-spoken flame-thrower, Poirrier credited her teammates with a lot of her success and subsequent individual recognition.

“I was very excited,” Poirrier said of finding out. “I never thought being a sophomore I could make something like the All-State squad.

“I have to give all the credit to my teammates. They were always there behind me. We lose only three seniors from this past year’s squad, so next year should be very interesting.

“As a sophomore she definitely has a lot of room for improvement,” Roussel said of his ace in the circle. It is going to be interesting to see how much she improves. If her work ethic remains consistent, maybe the sky is the limit for her.”