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This Hall of Fame class is specialBruce Brown • bbrown@theadvertiser.com • October 24, 2010 There may be a more impressive group of inductees into UL’s Ragin’ Cajun Lettermen Club Hall of Fame, but Saturday’s four enshrinees will do nicely until something better comes along. All-American softball pitcher Brooke Mitchell Garrity, football defenders Todd Scott and Jeff Mitchell, and track and field thoroughbred Winston Sinclair are clearly among the best performers in any sport ever produced by the school. And, the way the homecoming contest went, their halftime introduction served as a reminder of how good Cajun athletics can be. "I’m very excited," said Garrity, who pitched the Ragin’ Cajuns to the Women’s College World Series in 2003 and was a three-time Sun Belt Conference and Louisiana Pitcher of the Year. "It’s such an honor. It’s not somethiing you think about at all. That’s way too far down the road when you’re in the moment." Garrity was 119-27 in her UL career with a 1.09 earned run average and 1,309 strikouts, and was a staggering 45-5 in 2004. But it is the WCWS trip in 2003 that remains paramount. "That’s the whole reason why you play the game — to have that opportunity," she said. "I remember defeating Arizona in the regionals, and them not making the World Series for the first time in a long time, and winning the regional in Fullerton to reach the World Series. "When you get there, you try to treat it like any other game. Every practice, every game, leads up to that." Jamaican-born Sinclair was a four-time Sun Belt Conference indoor champion in the 400 meters, a two-time indoor 200 champ, won the SBC outdoors 400 twice and 400 hurdles three times. He was fourth and All-American in 1994 in the 400 hurdles. "He was a workhorse," said Westminster Christian coach Tommy Badon, an assistant at UL when Sinclair competed. "That 400 and 400 hurdles is a heck of a double, and he won conference in both. That’s incredible. He’s come a long way from inner-city Kingston." "When I got the (Hall of Fame) call, it was unexpected," Sinclair said. "It was good to finally be recognized for what I had done over the years. I remember all the conference meets. We always wanted to win championships, so we focused to always do well. "The 400-400hurdles was not as bad as it seems. Coach Badon prepared us for all our challenges."
Scott (1987-90) is recognized as the model for defensive backs to follow at UL, a confident, physical presence who also set punt return records (70 for 553) before embarking on an NFL career. "Todd was the best pure athlete I probably ever coached," said Mike Doherty, a current Teurlings Catholic assistant who coordinated UL’s defense and ran the defensive backfield. "He was a great football player, who was here at the same time as Brian Mitchell. "He had such great feet. He could change direction and stay with people. He was extremely intelligent that he could make up for his shortcomings — and he didn’t have any." "I used to call coach Doherty and say, ‘Mike, this is the best defensive back you ever coached,’ " Scott said with a laugh. "You had to be laid back to coach me. I told my mom when I was 8 that I was going to play in the pros. A lot of players have talent. It’s a matter of being relentless, and whether you recover quickly from a lack of success." The weekend was an enjoyable one for Scott and his family, who live in Houston. "It’s been great, a lot of fun," he said. "It’s more special being able to bring my kids back, seeing a lot of old friends and being recognized." Loreauville’s Mitchell (1992-95), still UL’s career sacks leader, is the only area native honored. "It’s very exciting," said Mitchell. "When word trickled out, I started to hear from friends and ex-teammats. It all built up to today. It felt like a game I was preparing for." The Cajuns could have used both Scott and Mitchell on Saturday. "They’re two great kids," Doherty said. "I’m happy they’re getting inducted. Those are the caliber of kids who ought to get in the Hall. Jeff was literally unblockable. You always knew he would get to the quarterback." Told of Doherty’s "unblockable" comment, Mitchell smiled and said, "There were days that felt like that." Athletic Network Footnote: Click here for more on Hall of Fame 2020 inductees
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