MCHS’ Williams signs with Southern

Morgan City’s Celestina Williams took the scenic route to Baton Rouge.
Williams played travel softball around the country as a member of the Louisiana Voodoo. Her itinerary included Florida, Colorado, California and Oklahoma, but she ultimately found a home at Southern University, signing her letter of intent Monday at Morgan City High School to play for the Jaguars.
“Southern’s coach became like a friend more than a coach, and I liked the school,” Williams said. “It felt like a family there on my visit, so I’m a Jaguar.”
Williams had offers from Bethune-Cookman University and Mississippi Valley State, among others.
The Louisiana Voodoo is based in New Orleans and has players from across the Gulf Coast.
Williams, who also has been a standout soccer player for Morgan City, only played high school softball her sophomore year, earning second-team all-district honors, according to her mother, Elizabeth Williams.
“I didn’t play with the high school team because I wanted to concentrate on grades,” Williams said. “I was the youngest member on the Voodoo team, and my coach, Jeff Burns, thought I had collegiate ability so he moved me up (to) the 18 Gold team.”
18 Gold is the highest level of fastpitch softball.
This past summer, the Voodoo made it to the Amateur Softball Association 18u Gold nationals in Oklahoma where the team placed 13th nationally.
At the Premier Girls Fastpitch Platinum Nationals in Huntington Beach, California, the team placed 17th nationally.
Williams thanked her Voodoo softball coaches, Burns and Jesse Barksdale, noting she didn’t think she would be where she is now without their help.
Burns said Williams has a strong arm and quick feet.
“She also has a quick bat with power off the bat,” Burns said. “I knew when I first saw her play that we could develop those qualities and make her a good hitter. And she has been around the program for a while, and she’s done well for us. Plus, she’s a good kid from a good family, and that’s the kind of kids we want to develop. She is (willing) to do anything I ask her to do, she’s a good kid and I think she will do very well at Southern.”
The Southern Lady Jags recruited Williams as a third baseman.
“I have played all the middle infield positions, so I can jump in and play anywhere they need me to,” she said. “I want to start my freshman year and make my parents proud because they did a lot to make this happen.”
Additional information from www.voodoosoftballclub.com and additional reporting by Review Sports Editor Geoff Stoute.