The Nicholls State Colonels softball team is not only losing the bats of three seniors at the end of this season, but also the mindsets of three individuals whose actions are set to build for years to come.

Brittany Ezell, redshirt senior and health sciences junior from Ventress, Ashley Ray, general studies senior from Lafayette, and Megan Gaspard, general studies senior from Coteau, said they are sadly realizing that they may never share the same dusty diamond again, and are preparing to take the next steps into their futures.

“Softball will teach you a lot about life upfront,” head coach Angel Santiago said. “The end for these three seniors has been bitter sweet. Between looking out for the team’s future, assisting in recruiting, and helping in the community, the girls can leave comfortably knowing that they have done enough.”

The girls said they enjoy every aspect of the game and have been doing so together since high school. The girls went to different schools, but when the summer came around they met on the field for the Louisiana United softball team. It was there that they came to know one another as family.

“I can go to either one of these girls for anything. We’re here for one another,” Gaspard said.

With the combined total of at-bats nearing 1,000, the girls have seen the batter box plenty of times. When asked about their favorite game, the girls decided on the Oklahoma State game played in Texas last year. In this game, the girls went in as complete underdogs and competed in a game that Ezell called a “dog fight.”

The girls went 10 innings with the ranked Cowboy squad and eventually fell by one point.

“We proved to ourselves that we could go toe-for-toe with a great team and fought till the end,” Ray said. “It didn’t even matter that we lost.”

Each girl has provided for Nicholls softball in different ways, and two have instilled their names into the Nicholls record books.

Ray transferred to Nicholls from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as an entering junior. Her presence has been felt not only within the fence but outside, for that is where her hits are known to go.

After only two seasons with the Colonels, Ray has worked her way to the third spot on the homerun list with 24 and rising. She set the school record for homeruns in a season with 17 and homeruns in a game with three. She said she looks to enroll in the police academy after graduation.

Gaspard, who said she is confident that she has the best game day hair, also has her name in the record books. Gaspard has displayed great endurance while starting every game of her Nicholls career. In those games, Gaspard showed off her eye at the plate and speed on the bags. Gaspard currently holds the fourth spot in stolen bases and hits from her four years here with 66 swipes and 197 hits.

“The only goal I haven’t met was to hit a home run yet,” Gaspard said.

Gaspard said she plans to get married and come back for her masters after graduation.

Ezell, who just announced her graduation this year, said she is just grateful to be able to play. Unfortunately for Ezell, she had to delay play as a redshirt freshman her first year due to an injury which has carried over into her playing time.

“Brittany is a blessing to have on the team,” Santiago said. “She is a key role player who is always on the up. She is patient, kind and refuses to quit.”

Ezell said she plans to enroll in physical therapy school after graduation.

As for the team, the girls said they would like to see a constant drive to compete. The team faces off against the University of Texas at San Antonio in San Antonio tomorrow at 6 p.m.

The seniors will arrange their team’s pre-game huddle for prayer and write their individual numbers in the dirt behind Nicholls home plate for the last time on May 5.

“These girls are prepared for the next realm of opportunity,” Santiago said. “Each of them has the tools to succeed.”