Maniax 16U clinch Gulf Coast national title

The Maniax 16U marked the third local travel softball team to earn a national championship in July 2022.

The team, based in the Brusly, Addis, and Plaquemine areas, features 10 players on the Brusly High varsity softball team, as well as one player from Zachary and Livonia respectively.

Brusly High softball coach Beau Bouvier coached the Maniax to the championship. His assistant was former Brusly standout and current Southeastern University pitcher Mary-Cathryn Comeaux.

The team went 6-1 on the way to winning the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) Gulf Coast National Championship in Orange Beach, Alabama, on July 16.

Bouvier’s squad was the last one standing out of the 17 teams in Alabama. The Maniax beat the Alabama Fury Platinum 8-0 to clinch the title.

The Fury gave them their only loss with a 7-2 score the game before. In the championship-clinching game, Laila Clark belted two home runs, a two-run blast in the second, and a solo homer in the fourth to help seal the victory. She was perfect at the plate in the game, finishing with three hits in three at-bats.

“This was the first year with this team together,” Bouvier said. “Nine of them were on the team last year and then we added Laila (Clark), Madison (Gonzalez), and Peyton (Albert).”

Gonzales and Kayden Labouliere had two RBIs apiece in the win. Ryleigh Carline tossed a complete four innings, allowing no runs on six hits with a walk.

The Maniax outscored their opponents 29-15 in the tournament. The national championship run capped off a 26-6 record this summer in five tournaments.

“That was us the whole summer,” Bouvier. “We didn’t pick up anybody. They played well all summer. We played really good competition out there. I liked that there were teams from different states and no others from Louisiana so you can see how you stack up against other states.”

Now, Bouvier turns his focus to the high school season, which begins this spring.

“It was exciting to see the girls celebrate and come out on top,” he said. “I really enjoyed working with the group. We only played five tournaments and we were competitive throughout. I’m just proud of the girls and how they finished it out.”