Destrehan head softball coach Craig Perrier and his Ladycats knew there was a challenge to take on to begin the 2026 season – the Ladycats would have to replace the production of slugger Ava Burkett, St. Charles Parish’s all-time single season and career home run leader.
They’ve taken that challenge to heart – and they’ve absolutely charged out the gates.
Destrehan jumped out to wins in its first eight games of the season, with all of those victories coming by multiple runs. It lifted Destrehan to the top spot in the state in Division I non-select’s power point ranking.
“We had meetings before the season about how to take the next step,” said Perrier, who guided the team to the District 8-5A championship last season, the first outright district crown in the program’s history. “Coaches, players, everything … it came down to a lot of little things. Just get a little bit better, 10 percent better in each area … these players have faith in each other and faith in us, and we as coaches trust in them just as much.”
When it came to replacing Burkett’s production, it was understood it would have to be a team effort all the way around.
“You talk about losing 22 home runs that came from just one player … how do you make that up?” Perrier said. “For us, we want to score runs any way we can. Swing it, or being able to bunt, but we’re going to try to put pressure on the defense. We’re as confident in the bottom of our order as we are at the top.”
That is a reality in part because this is an experienced Wildcats team.
“Six of these girls have been starting since they were freshmen. And with the designated player, eight of them have been playing in some kind of role since they were freshmen,” Perrier said. “And we’ve tested them. We had a real tough schedule last year, some real tough games the year before.”
The unbeaten run includes the Wildcats’ 6-2 victory over a Benton team that eliminated Destrehan in the second round of the state playoffs a season ago. Benton was the 2nd seed in Division I non-select last season.
This time around, Jolie Lozano allowed no earned runs over the complete game to earn the win for Destrehan. She struck out six batters, walked non and allowed 10 hits. Bayleigh Moniz took the loss for Benton (3-4), allowing three earned runs on eight hits.
At the plate, Wildcats’ leadoff batter Chloe Burford went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Lozano went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. Leanna Vicknair went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Burford stole two bases while Victoria Morrow stole one.
Destrehan jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two innings of work. Benton got on the board for the first time in the top of the fifth with a run, but DHS scored twice in the bottom half.
On Tuesday, DHS earned a 17-0 victory over a previously unbeaten East St. John team – ESJ entered the game with a 5-0 record and sits ninth in Division I non-select power points.
It was another big game for Burford, who homered and scored three runs while driving in two. Rylie Staton went 2-for-2 with five RBIs and two runs scored and Gracie Bourgeois went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Lillian St. John went 2-for-2 with an RBI while Vicknair drove in two runs. St. Jogn, Staton and Londyn Lee all doubled while Bourgeois tripled.
Burford, Lailah Nelson 2 and Luci Cassagne 2 each stole two bases for Destrehan, while Aaliyah Matherne and Lozano also stole bags on the day.
DHS earned the win in three innings by the 15-run rule. Lozano earned the win with a perfect inning of work, while Lee and Ava Breazeale combined for two hitless innings. Breazeale struck out three batters in one inning pitched.
Those three have largely rotated as starters this season – Lozano the team’s returning ace, with Lee and Breazeale expanding their roles and finding success.
“I don’t know if Jolie Lozano ever gets tired,” Perrier said. “She’s as hard-nosed as they come, both mentally and physically. With our other two, Londyn and Ava, they want the ball. They want to get up there and they’ve been delivering. Having everybody fresh, it’s good for us. And if somebody’s having a bad day, hey, they can pick one another up and we can go from there.”
