Renewed energy

Soileau moves on to Louisiana College
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The 2020 high school softball season was filled with an enormous sense of loss after the shut-down due to COVID-19.
However, one student-athlete will not let the disappointment of not being able to play her senior year get in her way of the future.
That student-athlete, former Sacred Heart Lady Trojan, Camille Soileau, has found a renewed energy after signing on with Louisiana College to continue her diamond career.
“It was very disappointing not to be able to play my senior year, because that is what you look forward too when you are an underclassman,” stated Soileau. “We started the year off rough, but I just knew that we were on the way to putting it together. But, I am ready to move on and I am excited to start playing at Louisiana College.”
Soileau’s career on the diamond did not start off in the typical fashion. When Soileau was only four-years old, her parents, Joey and Kim Soileau, signed her up to play T-Ball with the Dixie Youth organization, making her one of only two girls to play with the boys at that time.
“I wasn’t old enough at the time to play for the girls’ softball league,” said Soileau. “When you are four-years old, you don’t really notice that you are a girl playing with all boys, but now that I look back it was a cool experience.”
After that season, Soileau entered into the Ville Platte Girls Softball Association. From there Soileau competed for the Sacred Heart junior high program beginning in fifth grade.
Soileau’s ability led to a starting spot on the varsity squad her freshman season. By the time she was a junior, Soileau had been named as a second team All-District and All-Parish player.
During her junior high and high school career, Soileau played travel ball with a couple of teams including Cajun Express out of Lafayette. Along with that, Soileau also attended a number of softball camps, including one at Louisiana College her junior year.
It was there that Wildcat head coach Barry Roberts noticed the talented Soileau.
“After the camp at Louisiana College, Coach Roberts reached out to me,” commented Soileau. “I guess I was able to show him that I was ready to play college softball. In December, he asked me to come and tour the school. That’s when I verbally committed to coming here to play. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and how welcoming everyone was.”
With the upcoming move to Pineville and the preparation needed to get ready for the college experience, Soileau decided to take a break this summer from all softball competition.
“I have always enjoyed playing softball,” stated Soileau. “I have really never had a break during the summer. I started off playing with my travel team, but I decided to take a break to focus on myself and my preparation for college.”
As excited as Soileau is, she is still a little apprehensive about the move to campus.
“The hardest transition for me will be having to live on my own,” said Soileau. “I have never had to be away from home for a long period of time. A good thing is that it is not far from home, so my parents, grandparents and family can come and still see my play. Also, there is a player from my travel ball team already there. ”
As far as her academic career, Soileau has huge plans for life after college.
“I am going to major in biology and then go on to study orthodontics,” commented Soileau. “Ever since I got my braces on, I really enjoyed my orthodontist’s practice. Her personality and the way she approached me as a patient made me point in that direction.”