Blanchard Signs with Senior College

WESSON – The Co-Lin Softball team recently celebrated several of their sophomores signing with senior colleges. One of those sophomores was Cera Blanchard who will continue her career at Southeastern Louisiana University.

The Metairie, Louisiana native had a sophomore season for the record books in 2022. The Southeastern Louisiana commit finished the season with a 1.37 earned run average allowing 55 runs, 37 earned, on 131 hits with 56 walks. Blanchard finished the season 25-6 setting a single season record for wins and had 183 strikeouts in 189.1 innings pitched (both marks are Top-5 for a single season) through 33 appearances which is also a Top-5 single season mark. Offensively, Blanchard had 35 hits in 121 at-bats with a team-leading 11 doubles along with two home runs, 23 RBIs, and 18 runs scored while posting a .289 batting average, .363 on-base percentage, and a .430 slugging percentage.

As a freshman, Blanchard had a 15-4 record with 138 strikeouts in 140.1 innings pitched and had a 1.55 ERA in the circle. Offensively she had 40 hits in 102 at-bats with eight doubles, one triple, three home runs, 22 runs scored, and 20 RBIs while posting a .367 batting average, .470 on-base percentage, and a .541 slugging percentage. For her career Blanchard had 75 hits in 230 at-bats with 19 doubles, one triple, five home runs, 43 RBIs, and 40 runs scored with a .326 career batting average, .416 on-base percentage, and .483 slugging percentage. In the circle, Cera finishes her with 57 appearances (50 starts) and has the second-most career wins and strikeouts at 40 and 321 respectively with a career record of 40-10, one career save, and career ERA of 1.44.

As a freshman, Blanchard was named First Team All-MACCC, All-Region 23, Second Team NFCA NJCAA DII All-South Region, Second Team NFCA NJCAA DII All-American and Second Team NJCAA DII All-American. Blanchard's performance during her sophomore season earned her First-Team All-MACCC, MACCC Pitcher of the Year, All-Region 23, First Team NFCA NJCAA DII All-South Region, First Team NFCA NJCAA DII All-American, and First Team NJCAA DII All-American honors.

"What an unbelievable career Cera has had over the last two years," state Co-Lin head coach Meleah Howard. "She has led our team to new heights and we're just so thankful that she chose to come be a part of Co-Lin Softball. We look forward to watching her continue her career at Southeastern and know that she'll continue to represent our program at a high level."

The Lady Wolves finished the 2022 season with a 42-10 overall record, setting a single season record for wins, while also winning the first conference championship since 2009 and earned the number one ranking in the NJCAA Division II Softball poll for the first time in program history.