Central baseball players commit to UNO, LSU-E

• Advocate staff report
• Published: Oct 9, 2008 - UPDATED: 7:05 a.m.

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Two Central High baseball players, Justin Creel and Cade LeBlanc, have announced commitments to different colleges.

Creel, a shortstop, has committed to the University of New Orleans. Leblanc, a pitcher-outfielder, has committed to LSU-Eunice.

Both Creel and Leblanc earned All-Metro honors last season for the Wildcats.

“I wanted to go to a place with good academics and a good program where I’d have the chance to play,” Creel said. “That’s what I think I’m going to get with UNO.

“They made a good scholarship offer. I plan on going into pre-med and they have the courses I want, plus I think I’ll be able to play right away.”

The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Creel hit .451 last spring with 12 doubles three home runs and 52 runs batted in.

Creel said he picked UNO over scholarship offers Baylor and LSU-Eunice. He also considered Ole Miss.

Creel is the second member of his family to commit recently. His older brother Matt, a former Central Private standout who will be a sophomore this spring at LSU-Eunice, committed to the University of the Houston.

The fact Matt Creel and a number of other local players have done well at LSU-Eunice

In addition to LSU-Eunice, the 6-2, 180-pound Leblanc said he also had scholarship offers from Florida-based Okaloosa-Walton Junior College and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“Having Matt and other local players doing so well did influence me,” Leblanc said. “Coach (Jeff) Willis did a good job of selling the program and the school to me when I went there on my visit. I like what the school has to offer.”

Last spring Leblanc compiled a 10-1 record that included 93 strikeouts and a 2.66 earned run average.