Iota's Armand signs with Jones County

IOTA –Growing up, McKenzie Armand’s first love was baseball.
That was glaringly evident as she starred on numerous All-Star and travel teams with the boys.
But as she grew older and entered her teens, she was forced to give softball a try.
Not surprising, the transition was fairly easy and the move has paid big dividends.
On Thursday, the senior signed a National Letter of Intent to play softball at Jones County Community College in Ellisville, Mississippi beginning in the fall.
“Signing today is what I have been waiting for ever since I began playing sports,” said Armand. “It’s not just for my parents that I’ve wanted to play and get a college education at the same time, but for myself. This is just something to show how I’ve worked through 18 years of growing up and playing sports all my life.”
Armand, a Class 3-A All-State selection last year, chose Jones County over a handful of schools including McNeese, Nicholls, LSU-Eunice and a few schools in Texas.
“I was looking at some other schools, but when they (Jones County) talked to me, their coach was more of a family coach to me and he showed me that he was going to take care of the whole team, including myself,” said Armand.
“Every school I looked at was a good school. There was nothing different about Jones other than the family environment. I just liked the program and the success they have had the last few years.”
That success has included three trips to the NJCAA National Championship Tournament the last three years. Last season the Bobcats made it to the championship game undefeated but they were beaten twice in the finals by LSUE.
“LSUE was another school that looked at me and I really wanted to go there, but I just felt that Jones was a better fit for me,” said Armand.
Armand was one of the top catchers in the state as a freshman. But two knee injuries forced her to move from behind the plate and she is now Iota’s starting shortstop. The power-hitting lefty, however, can pretty much play anywhere on the field and she has no problem moving around.
“They told me that once I get there they would see where I am best fitted at the time to make the team the best that we can be,” said Armand. “I would prefer to play first (base) because that’s where I grew up playing and that’s where I’m most comfortable. But I will play anywhere that benefits the team the most.”
For Iota, a team that fell one game short of advancing to the state tournament last year, the most beneficial place for Armand is at shortstop, despite being left handed. She is athletic enough to compensate at the position that is typically suited for right-handed players.
But it is at the plate where the slugger does most of her damage.
Armand hit for a .593 average as a junior and led the Lady Dogs in nearly every offensive category. She banged out 14 home runs, drove in 54 runs and had nine triples and 15 doubles while also hitting for the cycle for the first time in her prep career.
Armand says that getting her signing out of the way is a weight off her shoulders heading into what looks to be another promising season in Iota.
“The high school season is going to be a lot more relaxing now that this is out of the way,” said Armand. “But I’m still going to play to the best of my ability for my team because that’s what it’s about. It’s about the team and the family that we have bonded together since I’ve been here. It’s more about We instead of Me.”
McKenzie is the daughter of Albert and Kristy Armand of Iota.