By Glenn Quebedeaux

Written for the LSWA

CROWLEY — Heading into the 2022 softball season, Notre Dame’s Corine Poncho had a reputation much like Ringo Starr of the Beatles “Fab Four” — she was the “other” member of the Lady Pioneers’ “Big Three.”

Poncho was often in the background while others were the headliners. Then she stepped into the spotlight to help Notre Dame (30-5) win its fourth straight Division III championship.

Among those taking note were voters for the Louisiana Sports Writers Association, who selected Poncho as the winner of the prestigious 2022 Louisiana Farm Bureau Insurance/Miss Softball award.

Playing on a team that featured two LSU signees, Maci Bergeron and Abigail Savoy, Poncho steadily developed into one of the most-feared softball players in Louisiana in 2022 while playing with Bergeron, who was a Pan American games competitor and the 2021 Miss Softball.

Poncho broke the state record for home runs in a single season set a year earlier by Bergeron and was the national leader in the home runs in a single season with 32.

“Heading into the 2022 season, I really wanted to focus on myself and my team and just be the best I could be for them to help us get to where we wanted to be,” said Poncho, who decommitted from Houston earlier this spring and is being courted other schools. “I had a personal goal of 25 home runs and I just wanted to be the best version of myself to help the team in any way I could.”

In her first plate appearance in the Division III final with St. Charles fans chanting “We want Poncho,” she uncharacteristically struck out.

But in her second time at the plate, she launched a towering two-run home run, which, in the end, proved to be the difference in a 6-4 Notre Dame victory.

When Poncho strolled to the plate for her third appearance, an opposing fan repeated the refrain and was silenced by another St. Charles fan. That time, Poncho was intentionally walked with two NDHS players already on base.

Poncho had eight games with at least two home runs, including two games with three. Her final overall numbers were  staggering: .480 batting average, 49 hits, 72 RBI, a .561 on-base percentage 32 home runs and an end-of-the season 17-game hitting streak.

In the circle, Poncho posted a 13-1 record with 60 strikeouts in 60 2/3 innings. She was the winning pitcher in relief in the state semifinals and she was credited with the save in championship game.

Of course, her power-hitting stood out above all other statistics.

“I really tried not to focus on hitting home runs and just get base hits,” she said. “The home runs were gifts from God in helping me reach my goal (helping the team). “Home runs were in the back of my mind, but my big focus was helping my team win another championship.”

La. Farm Bureau Insurance/Miss Softball winners:

1996: Ashley Lewis, Central

1997: Ashleigh Ivey, Barbe-Lake Charles

1998: Micah Barbato, Lafayette

1999: Mandy Mullins, Sacred Heart-Ville Platte

2000: Sarah Meadors, Denham Springs

2001: Beth Provost, Teurlings Catholic

2002: Beth Provost, Teurlings Catholic

2003: Britni Bowen, Sterlington

2004: Leah Heintze, St. Amant

2005: Kellie Eubanks, St. Amant

2006: Ashley Brignac, John Curtis

2007: Ashley Brignac, John Curtis

2008: Lauren Crane, Vandebilt Catholic

2009: Lauren Wilson, Belle Chasse

2010: Christina Hamilton, Rosepine

2011: Courtney Ivey, Oak Hill

2012: Baylee Corbello, Sam Houston

2013: Baylee Corbello, Sam Houston

2014: Katie Brignac, John Curtis

2015: Tanner Wright, Sam Houston

2016: Bailey Hemphill, St. Thomas More

2017: Emma Callie Delafield, North DeSoto

2018: Abby Allen, Ouachita Parish

2019: Mary-Cathryn Comeaux, Brusly

2020: season canceled

2021: Maci Bergeron, Notre Dame

2022: Corine Poncho, Notre Dame