Myers' Sixth Inning Double Lifts Cajuns Over NPF
LAFAYETTE -- Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers' double in the sixth inning lifted the Ragin’ Cajuns softball team to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars Saturday night at Lamson Park in the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour stop at the facility.
A crowd of 1,285 witnessed the exhibition contest continuing the community's support of world class softball.
Sophomore ace pitcher Jordan Wallace earned the win in the circle for the Cajuns, throwing all seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.
Louisiana’s six hits came off the bat of six different players. The biggest hit of the night was Myers’ deep double to left field in the bottom of the sixth that brought home the winning run.
Myers, who posted a team-best two RBI's, was named the Ragin’ Cajuns “Star of the Game” presented by Wilson. Ashley Charters, who scored two runs and drew two walks, was named the NPF’s “Star of the Game” presented by Schutt.
It was only the NPF's third loss during the three-year history of the Back to School Tour, which is now 57-games old. UL joins Oklahoma (2011) and Michigan (2012) as the only schools to defeat the NPF All-Stars.
The NPF got on the board in the first inning as Jenn Salling walked, advanced to second off a wild pitch, and scored on an Andrea Duran RBI sacrifice fly. Senior centerfielder Brianna Cherry made a diving catch, minimizing the damage and holding the All-Stars to just one run.
UL came back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning as Myers walked and freshman Sara Corbello hit a towering homerun into the right center bleachers.
The NPF tied the game 2-2 in the second after Francesca Enea and Kelsey Bruder both drew walks, advanced off an Ashley Charter’s single, and scored off a Wallace wild pitch. Wallace was able to settle down and retired the next two batters.
The All-Stars took the lead in the top of the fourth off Kelly Kretschman’s single to right field, bringing home Charters who walked and advanced to second off Jenn Salling’s bunt single.
The NPF added to their lead in the top of the sixth after Kelsey Bruder shoved a single up the middle to bring home Charters who reached on a fielding error.
DiSalvatore and Duran continued the rally, picking up back-to-back singles. Wallace was able to retire the next batter and hold the NPF to a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Shellie Landry started the Cajuns sixth inning rally with a double to right centerfield and Matte Haack’s single to left advanced her to third. The All-Stars replaced starting pitcher Hillary Bach and placed Jamee Juarez in the circle,
Juarez struck out the first batter she faced. Leandra Maly then sent a chopper back to Juarez in the circle and the Cajuns plated a run when the toss at home went wide. The next at bat, Myers doubled deep to left field, clearing the bases and catapulting the Cajuns to a 5-4 lead.
The All-Stars made things interesting in the top of the seventh, getting a pair of runners on first and second with two outs before Wallace induced a foul out and Myers made a nice grab near the brick wall down the left field line to register the final out.
The Cajuns continue their fall season Wednesday, October 24, welcoming LSU-Eunice to Lamson Park at 4:30 p.m.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE -- Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers' double in the sixth inning lifted the Ragin’ Cajuns softball team to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars Saturday night at Lamson Park in the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour stop at the facility.
A crowd of 1,285 witnessed the exhibition contest continuing the community's support of world class softball.
Sophomore ace pitcher Jordan Wallace earned the win in the circle for the Cajuns, throwing all seven innings, giving up four runs on eight hits.
Louisiana’s six hits came off the bat of six different players. The biggest hit of the night was Myers’ deep double to left field in the bottom of the sixth that brought home the winning run.
Myers, who posted a team-best two RBI's, was named the Ragin’ Cajuns “Star of the Game” presented by Wilson. Ashley Charters, who scored two runs and drew two walks, was named the NPF’s “Star of the Game” presented by Schutt.
It was only the NPF's third loss during the three-year history of the Back to School Tour, which is now 57-games old. UL joins Oklahoma (2011) and Michigan (2012) as the only schools to defeat the NPF All-Stars.
The NPF got on the board in the first inning as Jenn Salling walked, advanced to second off a wild pitch, and scored on an Andrea Duran RBI sacrifice fly. Senior centerfielder Brianna Cherry made a diving catch, minimizing the damage and holding the All-Stars to just one run.
UL came back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the first inning as Myers walked and freshman Sara Corbello hit a towering homerun into the right center bleachers.
The NPF tied the game 2-2 in the second after Francesca Enea and Kelsey Bruder both drew walks, advanced off an Ashley Charter’s single, and scored off a Wallace wild pitch. Wallace was able to settle down and retired the next two batters.
The All-Stars took the lead in the top of the fourth off Kelly Kretschman’s single to right field, bringing home Charters who walked and advanced to second off Jenn Salling’s bunt single.
The NPF added to their lead in the top of the sixth after Kelsey Bruder shoved a single up the middle to bring home Charters who reached on a fielding error.
DiSalvatore and Duran continued the rally, picking up back-to-back singles. Wallace was able to retire the next batter and hold the NPF to a 4-2 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Shellie Landry started the Cajuns sixth inning rally with a double to right centerfield and Matte Haack’s single to left advanced her to third. The All-Stars replaced starting pitcher Hillary Bach and placed Jamee Juarez in the circle,
Juarez struck out the first batter she faced. Leandra Maly then sent a chopper back to Juarez in the circle and the Cajuns plated a run when the toss at home went wide. The next at bat, Myers doubled deep to left field, clearing the bases and catapulting the Cajuns to a 5-4 lead.
The All-Stars made things interesting in the top of the seventh, getting a pair of runners on first and second with two outs before Wallace induced a foul out and Myers made a nice grab near the brick wall down the left field line to register the final out.
The Cajuns continue their fall season Wednesday, October 24, welcoming LSU-Eunice to Lamson Park at 4:30 p.m.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Softball Welcomes NPF All-Stars for Contest at Lamson Park
LAFAYETTE – The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team hosts the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars on Saturday, October 20 at 5 p.m. at Lamson Park. The exhibition game will be the second of six games UL plays at home this fall.
Reserved grandstand seats are priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield are $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Cajundome Ticket Office located at 444 Cajundome Blvd. Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Louisiana is one of 22 colleges selected to be a part of the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour.
“We are excited to be chosen as one of the host sites,” head coach Michael Lotief stated. “This is a unique opportunity for our fans to be able to watch the Ragin’ Cajuns compete against pro softball players and former Olympians on a Louisiana Saturday Night.”
The Cajuns squad features 15 returning players, five of which were all-conference selections, including Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Jordan Wallace, and NFCA All-American Nerissa Myers. UL has also added three transfers, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with eight freshmen making their debut this fall.
The NPF roster includes: Ashley Charters (Washington), Charlotte Morgan (Alabama), Jamee Juarez (Ohio State), Kelly Kretschman (Alabama), Jenn Salling (Washington), Nikia Williams (Washington), Andrea Duran (UCLA), Francesca Enea (Florida), Kelsey Bruder (Florida), Hillary Bach (Arizona State), Angeline Quiocho (BYU), Kristyn Sandberg (Georgia), Brittany Mack (LSU) and GiOnna DiSalvatore (UCLA).
The All-Stars currently hold a 13-1 record during its fall tour, which makes 21 stops across 16 states and competes against 22 different schools in a 40-day span. The squad has criss crossed the nation, starting the tour in Springfield, Mo. beating Missouri State, 13-0. The all-stars have not allowed more than three runs scored on them thus far this fall. Michigan handed the team their first and only loss, beating the squad, 3-2. Prior to their stop in Lafayette, the NPF will play LSU in Baton Rouge on Friday.
The Cajuns opened a stretch of six games to be played at Lamson Park this fall against Lamar last Satuday. The squad opened the fall portion of their schedule in Spring, Texas at the Spring-Klein College Classic, playing St. Edwards University and Baylor.
Live coverage, live stats, and live video is available at RaginCajuns.com
Prior to the game, the NPF All-Stars will conduct an all-skills clinic from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility. Cost for the camp is $15 per session or $30 for all three. Those participating receive free admission into the game.
Reserved grandstand seats are priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield are $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Cajundome Ticket Office located at 444 Cajundome Blvd. Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Louisiana is one of 22 colleges selected to be a part of the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour.
“We are excited to be chosen as one of the host sites,” head coach Michael Lotief stated. “This is a unique opportunity for our fans to be able to watch the Ragin’ Cajuns compete against pro softball players and former Olympians on a Louisiana Saturday Night.”
The Cajuns squad features 15 returning players, five of which were all-conference selections, including Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year Jordan Wallace, and NFCA All-American Nerissa Myers. UL has also added three transfers, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with eight freshmen making their debut this fall.
The NPF roster includes: Ashley Charters (Washington), Charlotte Morgan (Alabama), Jamee Juarez (Ohio State), Kelly Kretschman (Alabama), Jenn Salling (Washington), Nikia Williams (Washington), Andrea Duran (UCLA), Francesca Enea (Florida), Kelsey Bruder (Florida), Hillary Bach (Arizona State), Angeline Quiocho (BYU), Kristyn Sandberg (Georgia), Brittany Mack (LSU) and GiOnna DiSalvatore (UCLA).
The All-Stars currently hold a 13-1 record during its fall tour, which makes 21 stops across 16 states and competes against 22 different schools in a 40-day span. The squad has criss crossed the nation, starting the tour in Springfield, Mo. beating Missouri State, 13-0. The all-stars have not allowed more than three runs scored on them thus far this fall. Michigan handed the team their first and only loss, beating the squad, 3-2. Prior to their stop in Lafayette, the NPF will play LSU in Baton Rouge on Friday.
The Cajuns opened a stretch of six games to be played at Lamson Park this fall against Lamar last Satuday. The squad opened the fall portion of their schedule in Spring, Texas at the Spring-Klein College Classic, playing St. Edwards University and Baylor.
Live coverage, live stats, and live video is available at RaginCajuns.com
Prior to the game, the NPF All-Stars will conduct an all-skills clinic from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Leon Moncla Indoor Practice Facility. Cost for the camp is $15 per session or $30 for all three. Those participating receive free admission into the game.
Softball Opens Home Portion of Fall Slate on Saturday
Lafayette, La. – The nationally ranked Ragin’ Cajuns softball team continues their fall portion of the season on Saturday, October 13, as they open their home schedule against Lamar.
First pitch in the “RUN TO THE ROAR” game is set for 1:30 p.m. at Lamson Park on the campus of the University of Louisiana.
Admission is free to the public.
In conjunction with the “RUN TO THE ROAR” game, fans are encouraged to bring a new or used fielders glove. Gloves will be collected at the main entrance and distributed to a local youth organization. Cash donations will also be accepted.
This weekend’s game against Lamar is the first of six games the Cajuns will play at Lamson Park this fall. The National Professional Fastpitch All-Stars come to town next weekend for a 7-inning game against the Cajuns on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m.
First pitch in the “RUN TO THE ROAR” game is set for 1:30 p.m. at Lamson Park on the campus of the University of Louisiana.
Admission is free to the public.
In conjunction with the “RUN TO THE ROAR” game, fans are encouraged to bring a new or used fielders glove. Gloves will be collected at the main entrance and distributed to a local youth organization. Cash donations will also be accepted.
This weekend’s game against Lamar is the first of six games the Cajuns will play at Lamson Park this fall. The National Professional Fastpitch All-Stars come to town next weekend for a 7-inning game against the Cajuns on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m.
Individual Tickets for National Pro Fastpitch Game On Sale Today
LAFAYETTE – Individual game tickets went on sale today for the nationally ranked Ragin’ Cajuns softball team’s fall exhibition contest against the National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5:00 p.m. at Lamson Park.
Reserved grandstand seats are priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield are $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Cajundome Ticket Office located at 444 Cajundome Blvd. Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A premium package, which includes five tickets, parking pass and access to all players post game, valued at $105 is also on sale.
The Cajuns and NPF players will conduct a clinic from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. the morning of gameday for any interested players or travel coaches and parents. Those participating receive FREE admission into the game.
The contest with the National Pro Fastpitch All-Star team is part of the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour and one of six contests the Cajuns host at Lamson Park this fall.
About National Pro Fastpitch:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The four teams are located in Chicago, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002. -- Ragin' Cajuns --
Reserved grandstand seats are priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield are $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected]. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Cajundome Ticket Office located at 444 Cajundome Blvd. Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A premium package, which includes five tickets, parking pass and access to all players post game, valued at $105 is also on sale.
The Cajuns and NPF players will conduct a clinic from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. the morning of gameday for any interested players or travel coaches and parents. Those participating receive FREE admission into the game.
The contest with the National Pro Fastpitch All-Star team is part of the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour and one of six contests the Cajuns host at Lamson Park this fall.
About National Pro Fastpitch:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The four teams are located in Chicago, Florida, North Carolina, and Ohio. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002. -- Ragin' Cajuns --
Softball Opens Fall Season This Weekend
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team begins the fall portion of the 2012-13 season with games on Saturday, Oct. 6 in the Spring Klein College Classic at Collins Park in Spring, Texas.
To view the complete fall schedule for the Ragin' Cajuns click here.
Louisiana is set to open the Spring Klein College Classic on Saturday against St. Edwards University with the first pitch scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Immediately after the Cajuns meet Baylor at 2:30 p.m. for the squad’s final game of the tournament.
Both of the Cajuns games can be seen on Field #1 at Collins Park. Players with jerseys get in free while all others pay $10.00 for a weekend pass.
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team, coming off the 14th consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance and 14th consecutive 45-plus win season returns sophomore ace Jordan Wallace, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, where she was 27-2 and set an NCAA mark by beginning her career with 23 consecutive wins to start her career.
Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers paces the offensive attack for the Cajuns after hitting .391 with 13 home runs and leading the country with 83 runs scored in 2012. Slap hitting third baseman Natalie Fernandez will enter her junior season looking to build off last season where she hit for a career-high .436 average.
UL has added three transfers for the upcoming season, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with seven freshmen who will make their debut this fall.
For fans attending games at the Spring Klein College Classic the address for Collins Park is listed below:
Collins Park
6727 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
Next week, the Ragin' Cajuns open their first of six fall contests at Lamson Park, hosting Lamar University on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. The National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars come to town that next weekend, Oct. 20 for a 5 p.m. game against the Cajuns.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team begins the fall portion of the 2012-13 season with games on Saturday, Oct. 6 in the Spring Klein College Classic at Collins Park in Spring, Texas.
To view the complete fall schedule for the Ragin' Cajuns click here.
Louisiana is set to open the Spring Klein College Classic on Saturday against St. Edwards University with the first pitch scheduled for 12:15 p.m.
Immediately after the Cajuns meet Baylor at 2:30 p.m. for the squad’s final game of the tournament.
Both of the Cajuns games can be seen on Field #1 at Collins Park. Players with jerseys get in free while all others pay $10.00 for a weekend pass.
The Ragin' Cajuns softball team, coming off the 14th consecutive NCAA Regionals appearance and 14th consecutive 45-plus win season returns sophomore ace Jordan Wallace, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, where she was 27-2 and set an NCAA mark by beginning her career with 23 consecutive wins to start her career.
Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers paces the offensive attack for the Cajuns after hitting .391 with 13 home runs and leading the country with 83 runs scored in 2012. Slap hitting third baseman Natalie Fernandez will enter her junior season looking to build off last season where she hit for a career-high .436 average.
UL has added three transfers for the upcoming season, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with seven freshmen who will make their debut this fall.
For fans attending games at the Spring Klein College Classic the address for Collins Park is listed below:
Collins Park
6727 Cypresswood Drive
Spring, TX 77379
Next week, the Ragin' Cajuns open their first of six fall contests at Lamson Park, hosting Lamar University on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. The National Pro Fastpitch All-Stars come to town that next weekend, Oct. 20 for a 5 p.m. game against the Cajuns.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
Causey, Gomez and Tillman Comprise 2012 Hall of Fame Class
LAFAYETTE - The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club is proud to announce the 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.
The 2012 class features a school record setter and national champion in men’s high jump who represented the Cajuns internationally his post-collegiate days. There’s also the greatest slugger ever to step up to the plate at Lamson Park who joined an elite group in NCAA history at the conclusion of her career. And, a football player who has been a shining beacon for the University both on and off the playing field.
They are Jackie Causey – Track and Field; Danyele Gomez – Softball; and Charles “Peanut” Tillman – Football.
The Hall of Fame reception and meet-and-greet will be held Friday, October 5 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the UL Alumni Center. The inductees will be officially inducted during halftime of the 2012 Homecoming football game against the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, October 6.
Jackie Causey (track and field) was a three-year letterman in track and field for then-USL from 1968-1970. While at USL, he was Gulf States Conference Champion in the high jump in 1969 and 1970—setting the school record in 1969 with a jump of 6’-10”.
Causey won the NCAA Division II Outdoor National title in 1969 with a jump of 6’-10” and was NAIA Indoor Champion in 1970 with a jump of 6‘-10”. He earned All-American honors in high jump in 1969 and 1970.
In 1970 he broke the 7’ barrier at the USTFF Indoor National Championships where he won first place. Jackie’s personal best while at USL was 7’-3/4”.
His post-USL career continued at Southern California College and in international competition where he posted a personal best jump of 7’-2” high.
Presently the CEO of Vernon Home Health in Leesville, La., Jackie is married to Debbie Stracner Causey and has three children—Andrew, Aimee and Rachel. The Causey family currently resides in Leesville.
Danyele Gomez (softball) was a four-year softball letterman as an outfielder – playing primarily left field – for co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief from 2003-2006.
She was a three-time NFCA All-American, becoming only the fifth student-athlete in softball program history to be named a three-time Division I All-American (2003, 2005, 2006). Gomez was also a four-time All-Louisiana selection and a three-time All-South Region selection. She earned the distinction of first-ever, two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, was a two-time Louisiana Player of the Year, and Sun Belt and Louisiana Freshman of the Year.
As a freshman in 2003, Gomez helped guide the Ragin’ Cajuns to the school’s fourth Women’s College World Series appearance – the first WCWS berth of Lotief era – where she delivered a mammoth home run shot off of Texas’ Cat Osterman in the Cajuns’ opening game. In addition, Danyele was selected to compete for Team USA as a member of the Elite team.
Gomez completed her career as a Ragin’ Cajun with a .359 batting average, 83 home runs, 588 total bases and a .946 fielding percentage.
Her senior season was one that just might stand the test of time in the Cajuns annals. That season (2006), she won the Sun Belt Conference’s "triple crown" with a league-leading 30 homers, 68 RBI and a .442 batting average, and set school single season records for homers, runs (77) and slugging percentage (.957). Her 30 homers made her just the third player in NCAA Division I history to reach that mark in a season, and when she turned in her uniform and hung up her cleats for the final time ranked fourth in NCAA history with 83 career home runs.
She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2007. The Cajuns’ all-time career home run leader currently resides is Metairie, La., where she is a nurse at Tulane Medical Hospital.
Charles “Peanut” Tillman (football) was a four-year letterman in football from 1999-2002 playing for head coaches Jerry Baldwin and Rickey Bustle.
In 2002, he received All-American recognition, was named an All-Independent selection in 2000 and was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection. Charles ended his career as a Ragin’ Cajun with 284 tackles, 12 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked punts.
Following his stellar collegiate career, Tillman was the third pick in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears—where he still serves as the starting cornerback.
As a Bear, Charles was named Sports Illustrated Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003. He has recorded 686 tackles, 30 interceptions, 29 forced fumbles and four touchdowns and has been named to a Pro Bowl team.
Tillman has received the prestigious Walter Peyton Man of the Year award four times, Brian Piccolo award twice, Ed Block Courage award and NFL Neighborhood MVP award. He has been an ambassador of the University with his pregame introduction of “Charles Tillman, Cornerback, THE University of Louisiana”.
Charles received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 3-1/2 years and is currently enrolled in graduate school at Kaplan University.
Tillman currently resides in Chicago, Ill., with his wife, Jackie, and their two daughters.
The mission of the UL Athletics Hall of Fame is to give recognition to those athletes who have made significant contributions to the good name of the University by demonstrating exceptional ability and sportsmanship on the playing fields, commendable scholarship in the classroom, high quality leadership on campus, and who after leaving the University have established a personal reputation for character and citizenship in the community which they reside.
“Our goal is to remind each new generation of athletes of the tradition they must uphold and the ideals that they should strive for while they are wearing the Ragin’ Cajuns uniforms,” said Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club President Tom Carroll (baseball ’71-’74).
The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club Alumni Chapter is comprised of men and women who lettered in athletics while they were students at SLI/USL/UL. The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club is a constituent chapter of the University of Louisiana Alumni Association and it retains close ties to the Athletic Department.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE - The University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club is proud to announce the 2012 Athletic Hall of Fame inductees.
The 2012 class features a school record setter and national champion in men’s high jump who represented the Cajuns internationally his post-collegiate days. There’s also the greatest slugger ever to step up to the plate at Lamson Park who joined an elite group in NCAA history at the conclusion of her career. And, a football player who has been a shining beacon for the University both on and off the playing field.
They are Jackie Causey – Track and Field; Danyele Gomez – Softball; and Charles “Peanut” Tillman – Football.
The Hall of Fame reception and meet-and-greet will be held Friday, October 5 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the UL Alumni Center. The inductees will be officially inducted during halftime of the 2012 Homecoming football game against the Tulane Green Wave on Saturday, October 6.
Jackie Causey (track and field) was a three-year letterman in track and field for then-USL from 1968-1970. While at USL, he was Gulf States Conference Champion in the high jump in 1969 and 1970—setting the school record in 1969 with a jump of 6’-10”.
Causey won the NCAA Division II Outdoor National title in 1969 with a jump of 6’-10” and was NAIA Indoor Champion in 1970 with a jump of 6‘-10”. He earned All-American honors in high jump in 1969 and 1970.
In 1970 he broke the 7’ barrier at the USTFF Indoor National Championships where he won first place. Jackie’s personal best while at USL was 7’-3/4”.
His post-USL career continued at Southern California College and in international competition where he posted a personal best jump of 7’-2” high.
Presently the CEO of Vernon Home Health in Leesville, La., Jackie is married to Debbie Stracner Causey and has three children—Andrew, Aimee and Rachel. The Causey family currently resides in Leesville.
Danyele Gomez (softball) was a four-year softball letterman as an outfielder – playing primarily left field – for co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief from 2003-2006.
She was a three-time NFCA All-American, becoming only the fifth student-athlete in softball program history to be named a three-time Division I All-American (2003, 2005, 2006). Gomez was also a four-time All-Louisiana selection and a three-time All-South Region selection. She earned the distinction of first-ever, two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, was a two-time Louisiana Player of the Year, and Sun Belt and Louisiana Freshman of the Year.
As a freshman in 2003, Gomez helped guide the Ragin’ Cajuns to the school’s fourth Women’s College World Series appearance – the first WCWS berth of Lotief era – where she delivered a mammoth home run shot off of Texas’ Cat Osterman in the Cajuns’ opening game. In addition, Danyele was selected to compete for Team USA as a member of the Elite team.
Gomez completed her career as a Ragin’ Cajun with a .359 batting average, 83 home runs, 588 total bases and a .946 fielding percentage.
Her senior season was one that just might stand the test of time in the Cajuns annals. That season (2006), she won the Sun Belt Conference’s "triple crown" with a league-leading 30 homers, 68 RBI and a .442 batting average, and set school single season records for homers, runs (77) and slugging percentage (.957). Her 30 homers made her just the third player in NCAA Division I history to reach that mark in a season, and when she turned in her uniform and hung up her cleats for the final time ranked fourth in NCAA history with 83 career home runs.
She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2007. The Cajuns’ all-time career home run leader currently resides is Metairie, La., where she is a nurse at Tulane Medical Hospital.
Charles “Peanut” Tillman (football) was a four-year letterman in football from 1999-2002 playing for head coaches Jerry Baldwin and Rickey Bustle.
In 2002, he received All-American recognition, was named an All-Independent selection in 2000 and was a two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection. Charles ended his career as a Ragin’ Cajun with 284 tackles, 12 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries and three blocked punts.
Following his stellar collegiate career, Tillman was the third pick in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears—where he still serves as the starting cornerback.
As a Bear, Charles was named Sports Illustrated Rookie of the Year and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2003. He has recorded 686 tackles, 30 interceptions, 29 forced fumbles and four touchdowns and has been named to a Pro Bowl team.
Tillman has received the prestigious Walter Peyton Man of the Year award four times, Brian Piccolo award twice, Ed Block Courage award and NFL Neighborhood MVP award. He has been an ambassador of the University with his pregame introduction of “Charles Tillman, Cornerback, THE University of Louisiana”.
Charles received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 3-1/2 years and is currently enrolled in graduate school at Kaplan University.
Tillman currently resides in Chicago, Ill., with his wife, Jackie, and their two daughters.
The mission of the UL Athletics Hall of Fame is to give recognition to those athletes who have made significant contributions to the good name of the University by demonstrating exceptional ability and sportsmanship on the playing fields, commendable scholarship in the classroom, high quality leadership on campus, and who after leaving the University have established a personal reputation for character and citizenship in the community which they reside.
“Our goal is to remind each new generation of athletes of the tradition they must uphold and the ideals that they should strive for while they are wearing the Ragin’ Cajuns uniforms,” said Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club President Tom Carroll (baseball ’71-’74).
The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club Alumni Chapter is comprised of men and women who lettered in athletics while they were students at SLI/USL/UL. The Ragin’ Cajuns Lettermen Club is a constituent chapter of the University of Louisiana Alumni Association and it retains close ties to the Athletic Department.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
NPF Back to School Tour Set to Stop at Lamson Park
LAFAYETTE – The nationally ranked and renowned Ragin’ Cajuns softball program is set to host a “Louisiana Saturday Night” against the National Pro Fastpitch All-Star team as part of the 2012 NPF Back to School Tour on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. at Lamson Park, head coach Michael Lotief announced Thursday.
“We are excited to be chosen as one of the host sites,” Lotief stated. “This is a unique opportunity for our fans to be able to watch the Ragin’ Cajuns compete against pro softball players and former Olympians on a Louisiana Saturday Night.”
A premium package, which includes five tickets, parking pass and access to all players post game, valued at $105 is currently on sale through the Cajundome Ticket Office. Starting Monday, Oct. 8, individual game tickets go on sale with reserved grandstand seats priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield priced at $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected].
The signature event of the Cajuns fall 2012 schedule will showcase prominent NPF athletes including former Olympians Caitlin Lowe and Kelly Kretschman plus Charlotte Morgan (Alabama), Andrea Duran (UCLA), Francesca Enea (Florida) and Jenn Salling (Washington).
“Not only will this be a fun Louisiana Saturday Night, but also an opportunity to generate funds for our softball program,” Lotief mentioned.
The game is one of six contests the Ragin’ Cajuns are set to host at Lamson Park during their fall 2012 season.
The Cajuns and NPF players will conduct clinics the morning of gameday for any interested players or travel coaches and parents.
The game marks the first time UL has been scheduled on the NPF Back to School Tour. The Cajuns have played exhibition contests against the U.S. Olympic team three times (2004 and 2008 seasons) in previous seasons, but this is the first time the Cajuns will host an event of this caliber at Lamson Park.
“We are challenging our fans to pack the stands in order to continue to show how this community embraces world class softball,” Lotief said.
Lamson Park has sold out twice since its renovation, including the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2011 and the 2012 NCAA Lafayette Regional in which Louisiana led all 16 regional sites in attendance, with a total of 14,097 over the six games.
The stop at Lamson Park will mark the 16th of 21 different venues on the NPF All-Stars’ 2012 Back to School Tour. Other stops prior to Cajun Country include: College Park, Md. (Maryland), Batesville, Miss. (Mississippi State), Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan), Columbia, S.C. (South Carolina), Seattle, Wash. (Washington), Waco, Texas (Baylor), San Marcos, Texas (Texas State), and Baton Rouge (LSU).
“The Tour is one of my favorite events of the year for the NPF and this year’s schedule is super,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “The goal of this Tour is to continue to broaden the fan base for professional softball in a competitive environment and to let many of the college programs we play against, celebrate their former players that have gone onto become professionals. We are grateful for, and appreciative of the programs that are so willing to share in that mission with us, and take a crack at the professionals along the way.”
Over the two year history of the NPF Back to School Tour, the team of professional All-Stars has a 41-1 record, with the only loss coming at the hands of the University of Oklahoma on the Fall 2011 Tour.
UL returns sophomore pitcher Jordan Wallace, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, where she was 27-2 and set a NCAA mark by beginning her career with 23 consecutive wins to start her career.
Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers paces the offensive attack for the Cajuns after hitting .391 with 13 home runs and leading the country with 83 runs scored in 2012. Slap hitting third baseman Natalie Fernandez will enter her junior season looking to build off last season where she hit for a career-high .436 average.
UL has added three transfers for the upcoming season, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with seven freshmen who will make their debut this fall.
The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team enters the 11th season under the direction of Michael Lotief, his first as head coach in the 2012-13 season. Prior to this season, he compiled a 500-122 (.794) record over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
About Ragin’ Cajuns Softball:
The Cajuns are entering their 33rd season in program history (first season was 1981)…Louisiana carries an all-time record of 1,359-396 (.774) into the 2013 campaign…The Cajuns have posted 31 consecutive winning seasons (1982-2012)…Since the inception of the league, UL has claimed 11 of the 12 regular season Sun Belt titles and 12 of the 13 conference tournament championships…Louisiana carries one of the nation’s lengthiest strings of consecutive NCAA postseason appearances into 2013, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the past 14 seasons (1999-2012) – the eighth longest streak in NCAA Tournament history…UL’s all-time NCAA Tournament record of 56-44 marks the 10th-highest victory total in NCAA history…The Cajuns have compiled a 194-48 (.802) record over the last four years which ranks fifth in the country only behind Missouri, Arizona State, Alabama and Florida.
About National Pro Fastpitch:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
“We are excited to be chosen as one of the host sites,” Lotief stated. “This is a unique opportunity for our fans to be able to watch the Ragin’ Cajuns compete against pro softball players and former Olympians on a Louisiana Saturday Night.”
A premium package, which includes five tickets, parking pass and access to all players post game, valued at $105 is currently on sale through the Cajundome Ticket Office. Starting Monday, Oct. 8, individual game tickets go on sale with reserved grandstand seats priced at $18 and general admission tickets in the outfield priced at $10. For all ticket inquiries, call 337-265-2357 or e-mail [email protected].
The signature event of the Cajuns fall 2012 schedule will showcase prominent NPF athletes including former Olympians Caitlin Lowe and Kelly Kretschman plus Charlotte Morgan (Alabama), Andrea Duran (UCLA), Francesca Enea (Florida) and Jenn Salling (Washington).
“Not only will this be a fun Louisiana Saturday Night, but also an opportunity to generate funds for our softball program,” Lotief mentioned.
The game is one of six contests the Ragin’ Cajuns are set to host at Lamson Park during their fall 2012 season.
The Cajuns and NPF players will conduct clinics the morning of gameday for any interested players or travel coaches and parents.
The game marks the first time UL has been scheduled on the NPF Back to School Tour. The Cajuns have played exhibition contests against the U.S. Olympic team three times (2004 and 2008 seasons) in previous seasons, but this is the first time the Cajuns will host an event of this caliber at Lamson Park.
“We are challenging our fans to pack the stands in order to continue to show how this community embraces world class softball,” Lotief said.
Lamson Park has sold out twice since its renovation, including the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in 2011 and the 2012 NCAA Lafayette Regional in which Louisiana led all 16 regional sites in attendance, with a total of 14,097 over the six games.
The stop at Lamson Park will mark the 16th of 21 different venues on the NPF All-Stars’ 2012 Back to School Tour. Other stops prior to Cajun Country include: College Park, Md. (Maryland), Batesville, Miss. (Mississippi State), Ann Arbor, Mich. (Michigan), Columbia, S.C. (South Carolina), Seattle, Wash. (Washington), Waco, Texas (Baylor), San Marcos, Texas (Texas State), and Baton Rouge (LSU).
“The Tour is one of my favorite events of the year for the NPF and this year’s schedule is super,” commented NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf. “The goal of this Tour is to continue to broaden the fan base for professional softball in a competitive environment and to let many of the college programs we play against, celebrate their former players that have gone onto become professionals. We are grateful for, and appreciative of the programs that are so willing to share in that mission with us, and take a crack at the professionals along the way.”
Over the two year history of the NPF Back to School Tour, the team of professional All-Stars has a 41-1 record, with the only loss coming at the hands of the University of Oklahoma on the Fall 2011 Tour.
UL returns sophomore pitcher Jordan Wallace, who is coming off a stellar freshman campaign, where she was 27-2 and set a NCAA mark by beginning her career with 23 consecutive wins to start her career.
Senior shortstop Nerissa Myers paces the offensive attack for the Cajuns after hitting .391 with 13 home runs and leading the country with 83 runs scored in 2012. Slap hitting third baseman Natalie Fernandez will enter her junior season looking to build off last season where she hit for a career-high .436 average.
UL has added three transfers for the upcoming season, including Shelbi Redfearn (Baylor), Kristin Martinez (Kansas) and Leandra Maly (Blinn College) to go along with seven freshmen who will make their debut this fall.
The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team enters the 11th season under the direction of Michael Lotief, his first as head coach in the 2012-13 season. Prior to this season, he compiled a 500-122 (.794) record over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
About Ragin’ Cajuns Softball:
The Cajuns are entering their 33rd season in program history (first season was 1981)…Louisiana carries an all-time record of 1,359-396 (.774) into the 2013 campaign…The Cajuns have posted 31 consecutive winning seasons (1982-2012)…Since the inception of the league, UL has claimed 11 of the 12 regular season Sun Belt titles and 12 of the 13 conference tournament championships…Louisiana carries one of the nation’s lengthiest strings of consecutive NCAA postseason appearances into 2013, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the past 14 seasons (1999-2012) – the eighth longest streak in NCAA Tournament history…UL’s all-time NCAA Tournament record of 56-44 marks the 10th-highest victory total in NCAA history…The Cajuns have compiled a 194-48 (.802) record over the last four years which ranks fifth in the country only behind Missouri, Arizona State, Alabama and Florida.
About National Pro Fastpitch:
National Pro Fastpitch is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. The league, created to give elite female fastpitch players the opportunity to pursue a professional career in their chosen sport, has operated since 1997 under the names of Women’s Pro Fastpitch (WPF) and Women’s Pro Softball League (WPSL). NPF is the Official Development Partner of Major League Baseball in the category of women’s fastpitch softball since 2002.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
More Midweeks, Twinbills at OU and Texas on 2013 Softball Slate
LAFAYETTE – An increase is midweek contests, two trips to Florida for prestigious tournaments and games with SEC and Big 12 schools highlight the 2013 schedule for the perennially ranked Ragin’ Cajuns softball program. The schedule was announced on Wednesday.
Louisiana has scheduled 15 playing dates and a total of 23 games at Lamson Park.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will have nine midweek matchups giving fans more opportunities to see the team play during the week (four Wednesdays at Lamson Park).
UL meets SEC-member Mississippi State in a home-and-home series (Feb. 13 & March 20). The Bulldogs’ visit to Lafayette marks the 2013 home opener for the Cajuns.
The marquee matchups on the slate pit Louisiana against two of the nation’s most recognized softball programs. The Cajuns travel to Austin, Texas, on March 6 for a twinbill with the Longhorns, then in April has set a doubleheader date in Norman, Okla., with 2012 Women’s College World Series finalist Oklahoma.
“The schedule is going to challenge us again,” head coach Michael Lotief said. “The idea always is to try and play the best competition, both home and away, so we can give our fans an opportunity to see some good softball and also to challenge us on the road because sometimes that is the challenge you face in postseason.
“Oklahoma and Texas both hosted Super Regionals last season. Going there gives us an opportunity to be able to experience a potential Super Regional site to see how the team handles that type of environment,” Lotief mentioned. “Part of the deal in us traveling and competing against Oklahoma, which advanced to the finals of the WCWS, and Texas, who is a perennial NCAA postseason team, is those teams have agreed to come here in the future.
“We’ve decided to use our resources to not only challenge our team when we go out on the road, but to also enhance the home schedule in the future and build relationships which really is what scheduling is all about.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team enters the 11th season under the direction of Michael Lotief, and his first as head coach. Prior to this season, he compiled a 500-122 (.794) record over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
The first full campaign for Michael Lotief as head coach begins at the University of Houston Invitational Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8-10. Joining UL and UH for the event will be Iowa, Texas State, Lipscomb and Texas-Arlington.
Following the home opener on Feb. 13 against Mississippi State, the Cajuns host the annual Louisiana Classics softball tournament Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17 at Lamson Park. Teams presently committed to join UL are Mississippi Valley State and Texas State.
A Wednesday trip to Lake Charles to face Interstate 10-rival McNeese State (Feb. 20) precedes back-to-back weekend trips to Florida. Louisiana is set to participate in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 22-24 and the ESPN Disney Tournament March 1-3 in Orlando, Fla.
The doubleheader at Big 12-member Texas (March 6) marks the final games before UL starts Sun Belt play with a three-game series against Western Kentucky Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10 at Lamson Park.
One trip missing from the 2013 slate is the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., a tournament that the Cajuns had participated in each year since 1994. Instead, the Cajuns play their Sun Belt road opener at South Alabama (March 16-17).
“That’s been an awesome venue for us and it’s exposed us to some of the West coast teams,” Lotief commented. “In recent years our conference schedule has already started and in order for us to have been able to go there required us to shuffle conference series. A lot times it put us at a disadvantage because we played a conference series on the weekend then in the middle of the following week and again the next weekend.
“This year we were unable to work it out,” Lotief added. “It put us at such a disadvantage in our conference schedule that it wasn’t worth the benefit of being on the road. In lieu of that, we picked up the additional tournament (Disney Tournament) in Florida which is before conference play begins. This is short term. We will be back in California.”
Louisiana concludes March by completing the home-and-home with Mississippi State (March 20) and hosting FIU in a SBC series Easter Weekend (March 29-30).
The Cajuns’ Spring Break trip follows and takes the squad to Oklahoma for the twinbill at OU (April 3) and a single game at Tulsa on April 4. Before returning home for a seven-game homestand, the Cajuns visit Denton, Texas, to meet North Texas for the final time as Sun Belt foes.
A Wednesday doubleheader with Southern Miss (April 10) jumpstarts the season-long, seven-game homestand at Lamson Park. UL hosts Middle Tennessee (April 13-14) and finishes the homestand against Houston on Wednesday, April 17.
The UH doubleheader marks the final non-conference action. Louisiana closes out the regular season with road Sun Belt series at Florida Atlantic (April 20-21) and La.-Monroe (May 4-5) and a home series with Troy (April 27-28).
The 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be held May 8-11 in Troy, Ala. The NCAA Regionals are scheduled to begin Friday, May 17 at campus sites.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
SHORT HOPS: The Cajuns are entering their 33rd season in program history (first season was 1981)…Louisiana carries an all-time record of 1,359-396 (.774) into the 2013 campaign…The Cajuns have posted 31 consecutive winning seasons (1982-2012)…Lamson Park enters its 29th season of service to Ragin’ Cajuns softball (opened in 1985)…The all-time record at Lamson Park stands at 660-104 (.864)…Mississippi State appears at Lamson Park for the first time since competing in the 2005 Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational…This year’s Louisiana Classics softball tournament marks the 27th edition of the event and is the lone in-season tournament at Lamson Park…UL is appearing in the NFCA Leadoff Classic for the 10th time…This is the second straight season the event is held in Clearwater, Fla…Louisiana was selected to participate in the ESPN Disney Tournament for the second time in the past three seasons (competed in the 2011 event)… Matchups for the four in-season tournaments will be released as the 2013 season draws closer…The UL-Texas doubleheader on March 6 marks the Cajuns’ first trip to Austin, Texas, for a regular season contest…The Western Kentucky series starts the 13th season of competition in the Sun Belt Conference…UL’s all-time Sun Belt record stands at 207-38 (.845)…The trip to Starkville, Miss., to complete the home-and-home with the Bulldogs marks UL’s first trip since May 2, 1999…The Easter weekend series with FIU at Lamson Park marks the final showdown between the two programs as Sun Belt rivals (FIU leaves for Conference USA in 2014)…Louisiana visits Norman, Okla., for a regular season contest for the first time since competing in the 2002 Oklahoma Nike Classic…The doubleheader with OU on April 3 marks the first midweek meetings in Norman with the Sooners since March 31, 1990…For the seventh consecutive season (2007-present), Louisiana and La.-Monroe conclude the regular season....The Sun Belt Tournament returns to Troy for the second time and first since the Trojans hosted the 2008 event…Louisiana carries one of the nation’s lengthiest strings of consecutive NCAA postseason appearances into 2013, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the past 14 seasons (1999-2012) – the eighth longest streak in NCAA Tournament history… UL’s all-time NCAA Tournament record of 56-44 marks the 10th-highest victory total in NCAA history…The Cajuns have compiled a 194-48 (.802) record over the last four years which ranks fifth in the country only behind Missouri, Arizona State, Alabama and Florida.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Louisiana has scheduled 15 playing dates and a total of 23 games at Lamson Park.
The Ragin’ Cajuns will have nine midweek matchups giving fans more opportunities to see the team play during the week (four Wednesdays at Lamson Park).
UL meets SEC-member Mississippi State in a home-and-home series (Feb. 13 & March 20). The Bulldogs’ visit to Lafayette marks the 2013 home opener for the Cajuns.
The marquee matchups on the slate pit Louisiana against two of the nation’s most recognized softball programs. The Cajuns travel to Austin, Texas, on March 6 for a twinbill with the Longhorns, then in April has set a doubleheader date in Norman, Okla., with 2012 Women’s College World Series finalist Oklahoma.
“The schedule is going to challenge us again,” head coach Michael Lotief said. “The idea always is to try and play the best competition, both home and away, so we can give our fans an opportunity to see some good softball and also to challenge us on the road because sometimes that is the challenge you face in postseason.
“Oklahoma and Texas both hosted Super Regionals last season. Going there gives us an opportunity to be able to experience a potential Super Regional site to see how the team handles that type of environment,” Lotief mentioned. “Part of the deal in us traveling and competing against Oklahoma, which advanced to the finals of the WCWS, and Texas, who is a perennial NCAA postseason team, is those teams have agreed to come here in the future.
“We’ve decided to use our resources to not only challenge our team when we go out on the road, but to also enhance the home schedule in the future and build relationships which really is what scheduling is all about.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team enters the 11th season under the direction of Michael Lotief, and his first as head coach. Prior to this season, he compiled a 500-122 (.794) record over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
The first full campaign for Michael Lotief as head coach begins at the University of Houston Invitational Friday-Sunday, Feb. 8-10. Joining UL and UH for the event will be Iowa, Texas State, Lipscomb and Texas-Arlington.
Following the home opener on Feb. 13 against Mississippi State, the Cajuns host the annual Louisiana Classics softball tournament Friday-Sunday, Feb. 15-17 at Lamson Park. Teams presently committed to join UL are Mississippi Valley State and Texas State.
A Wednesday trip to Lake Charles to face Interstate 10-rival McNeese State (Feb. 20) precedes back-to-back weekend trips to Florida. Louisiana is set to participate in the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla., Feb. 22-24 and the ESPN Disney Tournament March 1-3 in Orlando, Fla.
The doubleheader at Big 12-member Texas (March 6) marks the final games before UL starts Sun Belt play with a three-game series against Western Kentucky Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10 at Lamson Park.
One trip missing from the 2013 slate is the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., a tournament that the Cajuns had participated in each year since 1994. Instead, the Cajuns play their Sun Belt road opener at South Alabama (March 16-17).
“That’s been an awesome venue for us and it’s exposed us to some of the West coast teams,” Lotief commented. “In recent years our conference schedule has already started and in order for us to have been able to go there required us to shuffle conference series. A lot times it put us at a disadvantage because we played a conference series on the weekend then in the middle of the following week and again the next weekend.
“This year we were unable to work it out,” Lotief added. “It put us at such a disadvantage in our conference schedule that it wasn’t worth the benefit of being on the road. In lieu of that, we picked up the additional tournament (Disney Tournament) in Florida which is before conference play begins. This is short term. We will be back in California.”
Louisiana concludes March by completing the home-and-home with Mississippi State (March 20) and hosting FIU in a SBC series Easter Weekend (March 29-30).
The Cajuns’ Spring Break trip follows and takes the squad to Oklahoma for the twinbill at OU (April 3) and a single game at Tulsa on April 4. Before returning home for a seven-game homestand, the Cajuns visit Denton, Texas, to meet North Texas for the final time as Sun Belt foes.
A Wednesday doubleheader with Southern Miss (April 10) jumpstarts the season-long, seven-game homestand at Lamson Park. UL hosts Middle Tennessee (April 13-14) and finishes the homestand against Houston on Wednesday, April 17.
The UH doubleheader marks the final non-conference action. Louisiana closes out the regular season with road Sun Belt series at Florida Atlantic (April 20-21) and La.-Monroe (May 4-5) and a home series with Troy (April 27-28).
The 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be held May 8-11 in Troy, Ala. The NCAA Regionals are scheduled to begin Friday, May 17 at campus sites.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
SHORT HOPS: The Cajuns are entering their 33rd season in program history (first season was 1981)…Louisiana carries an all-time record of 1,359-396 (.774) into the 2013 campaign…The Cajuns have posted 31 consecutive winning seasons (1982-2012)…Lamson Park enters its 29th season of service to Ragin’ Cajuns softball (opened in 1985)…The all-time record at Lamson Park stands at 660-104 (.864)…Mississippi State appears at Lamson Park for the first time since competing in the 2005 Ragin’ Cajuns Invitational…This year’s Louisiana Classics softball tournament marks the 27th edition of the event and is the lone in-season tournament at Lamson Park…UL is appearing in the NFCA Leadoff Classic for the 10th time…This is the second straight season the event is held in Clearwater, Fla…Louisiana was selected to participate in the ESPN Disney Tournament for the second time in the past three seasons (competed in the 2011 event)… Matchups for the four in-season tournaments will be released as the 2013 season draws closer…The UL-Texas doubleheader on March 6 marks the Cajuns’ first trip to Austin, Texas, for a regular season contest…The Western Kentucky series starts the 13th season of competition in the Sun Belt Conference…UL’s all-time Sun Belt record stands at 207-38 (.845)…The trip to Starkville, Miss., to complete the home-and-home with the Bulldogs marks UL’s first trip since May 2, 1999…The Easter weekend series with FIU at Lamson Park marks the final showdown between the two programs as Sun Belt rivals (FIU leaves for Conference USA in 2014)…Louisiana visits Norman, Okla., for a regular season contest for the first time since competing in the 2002 Oklahoma Nike Classic…The doubleheader with OU on April 3 marks the first midweek meetings in Norman with the Sooners since March 31, 1990…For the seventh consecutive season (2007-present), Louisiana and La.-Monroe conclude the regular season....The Sun Belt Tournament returns to Troy for the second time and first since the Trojans hosted the 2008 event…Louisiana carries one of the nation’s lengthiest strings of consecutive NCAA postseason appearances into 2013, having qualified for the NCAA Tournament each of the past 14 seasons (1999-2012) – the eighth longest streak in NCAA Tournament history… UL’s all-time NCAA Tournament record of 56-44 marks the 10th-highest victory total in NCAA history…The Cajuns have compiled a 194-48 (.802) record over the last four years which ranks fifth in the country only behind Missouri, Arizona State, Alabama and Florida.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Softball Announces Fall 2012 Schedule
LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns softball head coach Michael Lotief announced Wednesday the program’s schedule of games for the Fall 2012 season.
The 2012 NCAA Super Regional participants are slated to start team practice on Thursday, Sept. 27. The fall schedule consists of seven games, all but two at Lamson Park.
Louisiana opens fall play Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Spring-Klein College Classic in Spring, Texas. The annual event is held at Collins Park (6727 Cypresswood Dr. in Spring, Texas). UL is scheduled to play two games with opponents to be determined at a later date.
The following weekend the Ragin’ Cajuns host Lamar at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 13. The contest with the Cardinals, who are bringing softball back for the first time since 1987, is the first of three scheduled games at Lamson Park in October.
Other October contests include a midweek tilt with nearby JUCO power LSU-Eunice on Oct. 24 and a meeting with in-state rival Nicholls State on Oct. 27.
UL finishes its fall schedule with a pair of Saturday afternoon contests in November. The Cajuns host Chipola College (Nov. 3) and Galveston College (Nov. 10).
Louisiana is coming off one of the more successful seasons in program history. The Cajuns finished the 2012 season with a record of 53-6, won a regional title at Lamson Park and came within one victory of reaching the Women’s College World Series.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns softball head coach Michael Lotief announced Wednesday the program’s schedule of games for the Fall 2012 season.
The 2012 NCAA Super Regional participants are slated to start team practice on Thursday, Sept. 27. The fall schedule consists of seven games, all but two at Lamson Park.
Louisiana opens fall play Saturday, Oct. 6 at the Spring-Klein College Classic in Spring, Texas. The annual event is held at Collins Park (6727 Cypresswood Dr. in Spring, Texas). UL is scheduled to play two games with opponents to be determined at a later date.
The following weekend the Ragin’ Cajuns host Lamar at 2 p.m., on Saturday, Oct. 13. The contest with the Cardinals, who are bringing softball back for the first time since 1987, is the first of three scheduled games at Lamson Park in October.
Other October contests include a midweek tilt with nearby JUCO power LSU-Eunice on Oct. 24 and a meeting with in-state rival Nicholls State on Oct. 27.
UL finishes its fall schedule with a pair of Saturday afternoon contests in November. The Cajuns host Chipola College (Nov. 3) and Galveston College (Nov. 10).
Louisiana is coming off one of the more successful seasons in program history. The Cajuns finished the 2012 season with a record of 53-6, won a regional title at Lamson Park and came within one victory of reaching the Women’s College World Series.
For all of the latest news and information on Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow the athletics department on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/ULRaginCajuns along with @ULRaginCajuns on Twitter.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Lotief Announces Newest Members of Softball Staff
LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns softball head coach Michael Lotief announced two additions to the program’s staff on Saturday, naming Joshua Johnson as the program’s second assistant coach and Katie Smith as director of operations.
The hirings are pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
Johnson previously completed a three-year stint as head coach at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, Ala., where he led the Sun Chiefs to a 119-59 record and the school’s first state championship appearance.
He is also a member of the U.S. Men’s National Professional Fastpitch Softball Team, playing centerfield and pitcher.
“Josh is going to expand our recruiting footprint. He is going to recruit mainly in the Georgia, Alabama and Florida region, and occasionally venture out to the West coast,” Lotief said. “Utilizing his fastpitch background, he will be able to handle all of the scouting reports and video breakdown.
“Coming from a Division II Junior College, Josh has a lot to learn making the jump to Division I softball. It will be a great experience for him and we are confident he will be able to get the job done.”
While Johnson is the “newest” member of the Cajuns program, Smith is a familiar face.
Smith, whose responsibilities are as the program’s director of operations and marketing, was a member of the Cajuns from 2008-12, and earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing last December. The Ruston, La., native set the single-season record for batting average hitting .447 last season, earning her Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors.
“Katie is a familiar face in our softball program,” Lotief mentioned. “She earned her degree in marketing and will assist us with sponsorships, ticket sales and business administrative duties.”
Johnson and Smith join Lotief and returning assistant coach Joy Webre-LeBlanc on the Cajuns staff for the 2012-13 season.
Lotief begins his first year as the head coach having compiled a record of 500-122 (.794) over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
Webre-Leblanc returns for her fourth year with the Cajuns and works primarily with the pitchers and catchers, including the development of sophomore pitcher Jordan Wallace, who set an NCAA mark with a record of 23-0 start last season.
“The pursuit of excellence on the field and in the classroom, as well as our involvement in this community remains the mission of this staff,” Lotief noted. “We are all committed to doing things the Ragin’ Cajuns way. Hard work, daily improvement and teamwork are values that we will compete by.”
Louisiana is coming off one of the more successful seasons in program history. The Cajuns finished the 2012 season with a record of 53-6, won a regional title at Lamson Park and came within one victory of reaching the Women’s College World Series.
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The hirings are pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
Johnson previously completed a three-year stint as head coach at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette, Ala., where he led the Sun Chiefs to a 119-59 record and the school’s first state championship appearance.
He is also a member of the U.S. Men’s National Professional Fastpitch Softball Team, playing centerfield and pitcher.
“Josh is going to expand our recruiting footprint. He is going to recruit mainly in the Georgia, Alabama and Florida region, and occasionally venture out to the West coast,” Lotief said. “Utilizing his fastpitch background, he will be able to handle all of the scouting reports and video breakdown.
“Coming from a Division II Junior College, Josh has a lot to learn making the jump to Division I softball. It will be a great experience for him and we are confident he will be able to get the job done.”
While Johnson is the “newest” member of the Cajuns program, Smith is a familiar face.
Smith, whose responsibilities are as the program’s director of operations and marketing, was a member of the Cajuns from 2008-12, and earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing last December. The Ruston, La., native set the single-season record for batting average hitting .447 last season, earning her Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American honors.
“Katie is a familiar face in our softball program,” Lotief mentioned. “She earned her degree in marketing and will assist us with sponsorships, ticket sales and business administrative duties.”
Johnson and Smith join Lotief and returning assistant coach Joy Webre-LeBlanc on the Cajuns staff for the 2012-13 season.
Lotief begins his first year as the head coach having compiled a record of 500-122 (.794) over a 10-year span as co-head coach with his wife, Stefni Lotief, who recently stepped aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
Webre-Leblanc returns for her fourth year with the Cajuns and works primarily with the pitchers and catchers, including the development of sophomore pitcher Jordan Wallace, who set an NCAA mark with a record of 23-0 start last season.
“The pursuit of excellence on the field and in the classroom, as well as our involvement in this community remains the mission of this staff,” Lotief noted. “We are all committed to doing things the Ragin’ Cajuns way. Hard work, daily improvement and teamwork are values that we will compete by.”
Louisiana is coming off one of the more successful seasons in program history. The Cajuns finished the 2012 season with a record of 53-6, won a regional title at Lamson Park and came within one victory of reaching the Women’s College World Series.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Eight Softball Members Named NFCA Scholar Athletes
LAFAYETTE, La. -- Eight members of the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team were recognized as National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Scholar Athletes for their accomplishments in the classroom during the 2011-12 academic year.
The NFCA program recognizes all student-athletes, who are able to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
“This university challenges our student-athletes to pursue excellence on the field and in the classroom,” head coach Michael Lotief said. “We are extremely proud of the academic success of our players. The quality of their education is the biggest win we will ever achieve.”
Ashley Brignac completed the academic year with a 4.0 GPA and was named the 2012 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for the second consecutive season. The Cajuns as a team posted a team GPA of 3.0.
All-Americans Christi Orgeron and Katie Smith were also named scholar athletes along with Marie Hoag, Megan Waterman, Callie Philen, Jordan Wallace and Paige Cormier.
“These honors are a tribute to our awesome university deans, professors, advisors and tutors,” Lotief stated. “Thank you for teaching and pushing these kids to be the best, for believing in them and for caring and sharing your time and talents to help make them better and prepare them for future challenges.
“Additionally, special thanks to the softball athletic advisor, Christi Alford, and faculty athletic advisor for softball, Dr. Geoff Stewart. Again, thanks to our university community for being on our team and making a difference in these players lives.”
--Ragin’ Cajuns--
The NFCA program recognizes all student-athletes, who are able to maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
“This university challenges our student-athletes to pursue excellence on the field and in the classroom,” head coach Michael Lotief said. “We are extremely proud of the academic success of our players. The quality of their education is the biggest win we will ever achieve.”
Ashley Brignac completed the academic year with a 4.0 GPA and was named the 2012 Capital One Academic All-American of the Year for the second consecutive season. The Cajuns as a team posted a team GPA of 3.0.
All-Americans Christi Orgeron and Katie Smith were also named scholar athletes along with Marie Hoag, Megan Waterman, Callie Philen, Jordan Wallace and Paige Cormier.
“These honors are a tribute to our awesome university deans, professors, advisors and tutors,” Lotief stated. “Thank you for teaching and pushing these kids to be the best, for believing in them and for caring and sharing your time and talents to help make them better and prepare them for future challenges.
“Additionally, special thanks to the softball athletic advisor, Christi Alford, and faculty athletic advisor for softball, Dr. Geoff Stewart. Again, thanks to our university community for being on our team and making a difference in these players lives.”
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Softball Adds Kansas Transfer Pitcher Kristin Martinez
LAFAYETTE, La. – The UL softball program has added junior transfer Kristin Martinez, a left-handed pitcher from Kansas, to their 2012-13 recruiting class head coach Michael Lotief announced on Thursday.
Martinez appeared in 26 games last season, while going 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA. She recorded 43 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched and will be a junior and eligible to play for the Cajuns in the 2012-13 season.
The Texas City, Texas native becomes the second transfer the Ragin’ Cajuns have added this offseason, joining Baylor transfer Shelbi Redfearn.
“Kristin brings a different look and adds depth to our pitching staff,” head coach Michael Lotief stated. “She is our first left-hander in quite some time.”
The southpaw finished her two-year stint at Kansas with an 18-13 record and a ERA of 3.39. She was named Rookie of the Year her freshman season after posting a 12-10 record with eight complete games and two shutouts.
Referring to former UL pitcher Cheryl Longeway Lotief mentioned, “She reminds me of Longeway and I think Cajun fans will see a lot of similarities between the two, which would bring a major impact to our program.
“Kristin enjoyed great success at Kansas her freshman year. I think a change of scenery and a fresh start will give her a better perspective and a great opportunity to reach her potential. We are so excited to welcome Kristin to our Ragin’ Cajun family!”
Martinez recorded 121 strikeouts in 194.1 innings as a Jayhawk, while tallying 11 complete games and three shutouts.
The O’Connell College Prep alum was a multi-sport athlete, lettering in softball, soccer and volleyball in high school. Martinez guided the Bucs to a softball state championship in 2009 and state runners-up in 2010.
She was selected first team all-state in softball in 2009 and first team all-district in 2009 and 2010.
UL’s current signing class also includes Leandra Maly (Webster, La./Blinn College) Cassidy White (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS), Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La./Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La./Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La./St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La./St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas/Tomball HS).
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Martinez appeared in 26 games last season, while going 6-3 with a 3.57 ERA. She recorded 43 strikeouts in 67.1 innings pitched and will be a junior and eligible to play for the Cajuns in the 2012-13 season.
The Texas City, Texas native becomes the second transfer the Ragin’ Cajuns have added this offseason, joining Baylor transfer Shelbi Redfearn.
“Kristin brings a different look and adds depth to our pitching staff,” head coach Michael Lotief stated. “She is our first left-hander in quite some time.”
The southpaw finished her two-year stint at Kansas with an 18-13 record and a ERA of 3.39. She was named Rookie of the Year her freshman season after posting a 12-10 record with eight complete games and two shutouts.
Referring to former UL pitcher Cheryl Longeway Lotief mentioned, “She reminds me of Longeway and I think Cajun fans will see a lot of similarities between the two, which would bring a major impact to our program.
“Kristin enjoyed great success at Kansas her freshman year. I think a change of scenery and a fresh start will give her a better perspective and a great opportunity to reach her potential. We are so excited to welcome Kristin to our Ragin’ Cajun family!”
Martinez recorded 121 strikeouts in 194.1 innings as a Jayhawk, while tallying 11 complete games and three shutouts.
The O’Connell College Prep alum was a multi-sport athlete, lettering in softball, soccer and volleyball in high school. Martinez guided the Bucs to a softball state championship in 2009 and state runners-up in 2010.
She was selected first team all-state in softball in 2009 and first team all-district in 2009 and 2010.
UL’s current signing class also includes Leandra Maly (Webster, La./Blinn College) Cassidy White (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS), Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La./Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La./Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La./St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La./Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La./St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas/Tomball HS).
--Ragin’ Cajuns--
Hudspeth and Orgeron Awarded with Annual Sugar Bowl Honors
LAFAYETTE, La. – Ragin’ Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth was named the Outstanding College Coach for the state of Louisiana, while softball All-American Christi Orgeron was recognized as the Outstanding Female Amateur from New Orleans, as part of the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Awards, which were announced on Tuesday.
The two honorees will be recognized at a banquet on Saturday, August 4 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The awards are based on achievements for the 2011-12 academic year, which runs from July-June.
In his first season at UL, Hudspeth flipped the script in 2011, improving UL’s win total from 3-9 in 2010 to 9-4 last season including a thrilling New Orleans Bowl victory over San Diego State. The Cajuns made their first bowl game in 41 years and tied a school record with nine wins, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home.
Cajun Nation helped UL set a school and Sun Belt attendance record with an average of 29,171 per game, leading the nation with an increased attendance of 11,788 per contest.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Sugar Bowl with this award,” Hudspeth said. “It is the culmination of a year of hard work by the coaches, players and staff at the University of Louisiana and I look forward to working together again this year to take the program to even greater accomplishments."
Orgeron had another impressive year for the Ragin’ Cajuns softball team, who finished the season with a 53-6 record and a season-high ranking of No. 5 in the country. The New Orleans native was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and was a finalist for both the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Orgeron was selected to the Team USA for the second consecutive season and was recognized as the 2011-12 Sun Belt Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
The Mt. Carmel product led the nation in RBI in back-to-back season with 94 and finished her career sixth on the NCAA all-time list with 288 runs driven in. Orgeron tied NCAA records with six grand slams in 2012 and nine in her career, while ranking fourth nationally in runs scored (66) and seventh in home runs (22).
“I would like to thank the Sugar Bowl for selecting me as the Female Athlete of New Orleans,” Orgeron mentioned. “The honor is a tribute to my coaches, teammates and all the Cajun fans that have supported me throughout my journey. This is special recognition and I am excited to represent UL with such a great honor.”
--Ragin’ Cajuns--
LAFAYETTE, La. – Ragin’ Cajuns head football coach Mark Hudspeth was named the Outstanding College Coach for the state of Louisiana, while softball All-American Christi Orgeron was recognized as the Outstanding Female Amateur from New Orleans, as part of the annual Allstate Sugar Bowl Greater New Orleans Awards, which were announced on Tuesday.
The two honorees will be recognized at a banquet on Saturday, August 4 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The awards are based on achievements for the 2011-12 academic year, which runs from July-June.
In his first season at UL, Hudspeth flipped the script in 2011, improving UL’s win total from 3-9 in 2010 to 9-4 last season including a thrilling New Orleans Bowl victory over San Diego State. The Cajuns made their first bowl game in 41 years and tied a school record with nine wins, including a perfect 5-0 mark at home.
Cajun Nation helped UL set a school and Sun Belt attendance record with an average of 29,171 per game, leading the nation with an increased attendance of 11,788 per contest.
"It is an honor to be recognized by the Sugar Bowl with this award,” Hudspeth said. “It is the culmination of a year of hard work by the coaches, players and staff at the University of Louisiana and I look forward to working together again this year to take the program to even greater accomplishments."
Orgeron had another impressive year for the Ragin’ Cajuns softball team, who finished the season with a 53-6 record and a season-high ranking of No. 5 in the country. The New Orleans native was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and was a finalist for both the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award and USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year. Orgeron was selected to the Team USA for the second consecutive season and was recognized as the 2011-12 Sun Belt Conference Female Student-Athlete of the Year.
The Mt. Carmel product led the nation in RBI in back-to-back season with 94 and finished her career sixth on the NCAA all-time list with 288 runs driven in. Orgeron tied NCAA records with six grand slams in 2012 and nine in her career, while ranking fourth nationally in runs scored (66) and seventh in home runs (22).
“I would like to thank the Sugar Bowl for selecting me as the Female Athlete of New Orleans,” Orgeron mentioned. “The honor is a tribute to my coaches, teammates and all the Cajun fans that have supported me throughout my journey. This is special recognition and I am excited to represent UL with such a great honor.”
--Ragin’ Cajuns--
Stefni Lotief To Step Aside As Cajuns Co-Head Coach
LAFAYETTE, La. — Stefni Lotief, who has won 601 games in 12 seasons as head coach of the Ragin’ Cajuns softball program, has elected to step aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
Lotief will remain with the program as a volunteer assistant coach.
Michael Lotief, who has served as co-head coach since 2003, will take over as head coach and a search for a full-time assistant coach will begin immediately.
“After much thought and prayer and after weighing what is in the best interest of my family and just coming to terms with where I am in this stage of my life, I have decided to take a step back from coaching in order to spend more time with my children,” Stefni Lotief said.
“Coaching the softball team has always been a joint venture between Michael and I. Our roles and responsibilities have changed, evolved and shifted over the years, but we have always done things together. Our titles and roles will change, but our commitment to this community, our university and our student-athetes will not.“
As part of her decision, Stefni Lotief has accepted a position at Ascension Episcopal School in nearby Youngsville, where her children, Chelsea and Andrew, attend.
“The timing is right because we are at the end of another successful cycle of players who have excelled in the classroom and on the field,” Stefni Lotief said. “I know in my heart that this softball program is in great shape and good hands.”
”For the last two years, we have discussed the best way to structure the coaching staff to meet the ever changing challenges of college softball,” Michael Lotief said. “Our number one consideration has always been what is in the best interest of the program, our student-athletes and how we can continue the pursuit of excellence. We feel that these changes are what is best for the program and best for our family.”
“I can unequivocally say that Dr. Savoie and I both understand Stefni’s decision to spend more time with her family. We believe that the Ragin’ Cajuns softball program remains in good hands and remains headed in the right direction,” Director of Athletics Scott Farmer said.
“The Lotief family has dedicated their lives to this university and its softball program. We appreciate the commitment and loyalty that they have to the university and our athletic program.
“Although Stefni’s title will change, it is reassuring to know that she wants to remain heavily involved in this program. By becoming a volunteer assistant, we will be able to add a second full-time assistant coach which can only help the program,” Farmer added.
Stefni Lotief has been a fixture in the UL softball program as both a coach and player for the last three decades.
She won 78 games as a pitcher from 1987-90 and still owns the second-lowest ERA in program history (0.66). She was the program’s first All-American in 1989 and became the first Cajun to receive first team All-America honors the following year. She excelled in the classroom as well, being named the 1990 GTE Academic All-American of the Year in softball.
A 1990 UL graduate, she returned to the program to serve as an assistant coach in both 1996 and 1997.
In 2001, Stefni Lotief took over as head coach and the program has thrived. The Ragin' Cajuns are 601-145 (.806) in her 12 seasons, ranking her fourth all-time in NCAA history in winning percentage.
The Cajuns have won 50 or more games in a season eight times under Lotief, claiming 11 Sun Belt Conference regular season and 10 SBC tournament titles. She has been honored as the Sun Belt Coach of the Year seven times and the Louisiana Coach of the Year five times.
Under Lotief, UL has made the NCAA Championships field 11 times, including appearances in the Women’s College World Series in 2003 and 2008. She has coached 14 All-Americans, 39 all-region and four Academic All-Americans, including Ashley Brignac who was named the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year in both 2011 and 2012.
“We are so grateful to Dr. Savoie and Scott Farmer for their love and support of this program. We appreciate all of the contributions that the university community has made over the years to help our student-athletes grow,” Stefni Lotief said.
“What really makes this softball program so special is that we have the best fans anywhere. They are the rock upon which the program has been built and we owe everything to them. Change is never easy, but we know that our fans will help us through it and they will continue to help make this program very special,” Stefni Lotief added.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE, La. — Stefni Lotief, who has won 601 games in 12 seasons as head coach of the Ragin’ Cajuns softball program, has elected to step aside as co-head coach in order to spend more time with her family.
Lotief will remain with the program as a volunteer assistant coach.
Michael Lotief, who has served as co-head coach since 2003, will take over as head coach and a search for a full-time assistant coach will begin immediately.
“After much thought and prayer and after weighing what is in the best interest of my family and just coming to terms with where I am in this stage of my life, I have decided to take a step back from coaching in order to spend more time with my children,” Stefni Lotief said.
“Coaching the softball team has always been a joint venture between Michael and I. Our roles and responsibilities have changed, evolved and shifted over the years, but we have always done things together. Our titles and roles will change, but our commitment to this community, our university and our student-athetes will not.“
As part of her decision, Stefni Lotief has accepted a position at Ascension Episcopal School in nearby Youngsville, where her children, Chelsea and Andrew, attend.
“The timing is right because we are at the end of another successful cycle of players who have excelled in the classroom and on the field,” Stefni Lotief said. “I know in my heart that this softball program is in great shape and good hands.”
”For the last two years, we have discussed the best way to structure the coaching staff to meet the ever changing challenges of college softball,” Michael Lotief said. “Our number one consideration has always been what is in the best interest of the program, our student-athletes and how we can continue the pursuit of excellence. We feel that these changes are what is best for the program and best for our family.”
“I can unequivocally say that Dr. Savoie and I both understand Stefni’s decision to spend more time with her family. We believe that the Ragin’ Cajuns softball program remains in good hands and remains headed in the right direction,” Director of Athletics Scott Farmer said.
“The Lotief family has dedicated their lives to this university and its softball program. We appreciate the commitment and loyalty that they have to the university and our athletic program.
“Although Stefni’s title will change, it is reassuring to know that she wants to remain heavily involved in this program. By becoming a volunteer assistant, we will be able to add a second full-time assistant coach which can only help the program,” Farmer added.
Stefni Lotief has been a fixture in the UL softball program as both a coach and player for the last three decades.
She won 78 games as a pitcher from 1987-90 and still owns the second-lowest ERA in program history (0.66). She was the program’s first All-American in 1989 and became the first Cajun to receive first team All-America honors the following year. She excelled in the classroom as well, being named the 1990 GTE Academic All-American of the Year in softball.
A 1990 UL graduate, she returned to the program to serve as an assistant coach in both 1996 and 1997.
In 2001, Stefni Lotief took over as head coach and the program has thrived. The Ragin' Cajuns are 601-145 (.806) in her 12 seasons, ranking her fourth all-time in NCAA history in winning percentage.
The Cajuns have won 50 or more games in a season eight times under Lotief, claiming 11 Sun Belt Conference regular season and 10 SBC tournament titles. She has been honored as the Sun Belt Coach of the Year seven times and the Louisiana Coach of the Year five times.
Under Lotief, UL has made the NCAA Championships field 11 times, including appearances in the Women’s College World Series in 2003 and 2008. She has coached 14 All-Americans, 39 all-region and four Academic All-Americans, including Ashley Brignac who was named the Capital One Academic All-American of the Year in both 2011 and 2012.
“We are so grateful to Dr. Savoie and Scott Farmer for their love and support of this program. We appreciate all of the contributions that the university community has made over the years to help our student-athletes grow,” Stefni Lotief said.
“What really makes this softball program so special is that we have the best fans anywhere. They are the rock upon which the program has been built and we owe everything to them. Change is never easy, but we know that our fans will help us through it and they will continue to help make this program very special,” Stefni Lotief added.
-- Ragin' Cajuns --
Softball Adds Pair to 2012-13 Recruiting Class
LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns softball co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief announced on Wednesday the signing of Leandra Maly and Cassidy White to National Letters of Intent as members of the 2012-13 recruiting class.
Maly, an outfielder who hails from Webster, Texas, comes to Louisiana after spending her freshman season at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. She prepped at Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas.
White, also an outfielder, is a recent graduate of Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas. She’ll join fellow Flower Mound native Sarah Draheim (Marcus HS) on the Cajuns roster.
Maly, a second team National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I All-American during her freshman campaign at Blinn, will be a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Leandra was the leader of her team as a freshman,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “She has postseason experience, but she has a desire to be even better and go further.
“She fills a need for us as a speedy left-handed slapper and outfielder. She excelled last year at Blinn both on the field and in the classroom and a number of schools pursued her.”
Maly posted a team-high, .457 batting average, and also scored 53 runs and stole 16 bases during the 2012 season. Her 97 hits ranks third all-time in Blinn history. She ranked 37th in the NJCAA Division I rankings in batting average.
Maly helped lead the Buccanneers to their fourth consecutive Region XIV Conference championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships.
She was a four-year letterwinner at Pearland High for head coach Laneigh Clark. Maly was a three-time first team all-district selection for the Oilers (2009-11) and capped off her prep career with Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A all-state honors.
“All of my hard work is finally paying off,” Maly said. “My dreams are coming true and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I am extremely excited to have the chance to play with the Ragin’ Cajuns.”
White will be a will be freshman with four seasons of eligibility. She was a two-time all-district performer at Flower Mound High for head coach Mark Larriba.
White helped guide the Jaguars to state playoff appearances each of her final three seasons.
This past season, FMHS advanced to the quarterfinal round of the UIL state softball playoffs. In the second round contest against Richland High School, White recorded a leadoff single and came around to score the first run of a 5-0 triumph.
“Cassidy is another speedy left-handed slapper and outfielder,” Lotief remarked. “She came to our camp this summer and worked extremely hard, picked up on things quickly and really fell in love with Cajun Country.
“She comes from an area where she faced top notch competition and her high school coach highly recommended her. She is another athlete who excels both in the classroom and on the field athletically.”
White comes to Cajun Country coming off second team all-district honors in spring 2012. The sports medicine major also earned academic all-district and academic all-state honors. White was one of only 57 athletes in Class 5A to receive academic all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Maly and White join Baylor transfer Shelbi Redfearn (Stillwater, Okla.) in becoming members of the Ragin’ Cajuns 2012-13 signing class during the regular signing period (April 11-August 1).
UL’s current signing class also includes Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La. – Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La. – Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La. – St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La. – Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La. – St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas – Tomball HS), all who signed a national letter of intent during the early signing period in November.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE – Ragin’ Cajuns softball co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief announced on Wednesday the signing of Leandra Maly and Cassidy White to National Letters of Intent as members of the 2012-13 recruiting class.
Maly, an outfielder who hails from Webster, Texas, comes to Louisiana after spending her freshman season at Blinn College in Brenham, Texas. She prepped at Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas.
White, also an outfielder, is a recent graduate of Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, Texas. She’ll join fellow Flower Mound native Sarah Draheim (Marcus HS) on the Cajuns roster.
Maly, a second team National Fastpitch Coaches Association NJCAA Division I All-American during her freshman campaign at Blinn, will be a sophomore with three seasons of eligibility remaining.
“Leandra was the leader of her team as a freshman,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “She has postseason experience, but she has a desire to be even better and go further.
“She fills a need for us as a speedy left-handed slapper and outfielder. She excelled last year at Blinn both on the field and in the classroom and a number of schools pursued her.”
Maly posted a team-high, .457 batting average, and also scored 53 runs and stole 16 bases during the 2012 season. Her 97 hits ranks third all-time in Blinn history. She ranked 37th in the NJCAA Division I rankings in batting average.
Maly helped lead the Buccanneers to their fourth consecutive Region XIV Conference championship and a fifth-place finish at the NJCAA National Championships.
She was a four-year letterwinner at Pearland High for head coach Laneigh Clark. Maly was a three-time first team all-district selection for the Oilers (2009-11) and capped off her prep career with Texas Sports Writers Association Class 5A all-state honors.
“All of my hard work is finally paying off,” Maly said. “My dreams are coming true and this is the opportunity of a lifetime. I am extremely excited to have the chance to play with the Ragin’ Cajuns.”
White will be a will be freshman with four seasons of eligibility. She was a two-time all-district performer at Flower Mound High for head coach Mark Larriba.
White helped guide the Jaguars to state playoff appearances each of her final three seasons.
This past season, FMHS advanced to the quarterfinal round of the UIL state softball playoffs. In the second round contest against Richland High School, White recorded a leadoff single and came around to score the first run of a 5-0 triumph.
“Cassidy is another speedy left-handed slapper and outfielder,” Lotief remarked. “She came to our camp this summer and worked extremely hard, picked up on things quickly and really fell in love with Cajun Country.
“She comes from an area where she faced top notch competition and her high school coach highly recommended her. She is another athlete who excels both in the classroom and on the field athletically.”
White comes to Cajun Country coming off second team all-district honors in spring 2012. The sports medicine major also earned academic all-district and academic all-state honors. White was one of only 57 athletes in Class 5A to receive academic all-state honors from the Texas Girls Coaches Association.
Maly and White join Baylor transfer Shelbi Redfearn (Stillwater, Okla.) in becoming members of the Ragin’ Cajuns 2012-13 signing class during the regular signing period (April 11-August 1).
UL’s current signing class also includes Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La. – Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La. – Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La. – St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La. – Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La. – St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas – Tomball HS), all who signed a national letter of intent during the early signing period in November.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
Softball Adds Baylor Transfer Shelbi Redfearn to 2013 Roster
LAFAYETTE – The Ragin’ Cajuns softball program announced Monday the addition of Shelbi Redfearn, who is transferring from Baylor after her sophomore season. She will be eligible to play during the 2013 season as a junior.
“We recruited Shelbi out of high school and she attended our camps, so we are very familiar with her,” Louisiana co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “She is very strong and athletic and is an intense competitor. Her energy level and passion for the game is contagious.
“She’s been to the WCWS, playing the game at the highest level, and now comes to Cajun Country to be pushed to be better and go further,” Lotief added. “She comes from a great family and we are happy to finally welcome her to ours.”
A native of Stillwater, Okla., Redfearn appeared in 95 games at Baylor the past two seasons, garnering 78 starts.
As a freshman in 2011, she started 48 games and led the Bears in sacrifice flies (4), tied for second in doubles (7) and ranked third in home runs (5). Last season, Redfearn appeared in 42 games and tied for the team lead in home runs.
Redfearn, an outfielder, committed only three errors in 92 chances and ended her two-year stay in Waco, Texas, with 19 extra base hits (11 doubles, eight home runs).
She helped guide BU to a pair of NCAA postseason appearances – including a trip to Lamson Park for an NCAA Regional back in May – and was a member of the 2011 Baylor squad that advanced to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
“Even though I played at Baylor University for two years, UL has always been my dream school,” Redfearn remarked. “I am ready to start this new chapter in my life and I am excited for the opportunity to be a Ragin’ Cajun.”
Redfearn was ranked as the nation’s No. 21 recruit according to ESPN RISE coming out of Stillwater High School. The four-year letterwinner was named a 2010 third team ESPN RISE All-American.
The right-handed slugger left her mark in the Stillwater High record books, finishing first in home runs (18), doubles (42), second in hits (159) and stolen bases (39), and third in batting average (.384) and RBI (88).
Redfearn collected first team all-conference honors in 2007-08, was the co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2008-09 and was named the 2009-10 Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The Pioneers were regional champions during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, advancing to the state tournament. She played club softball with Tulsa Elite Gold.
Redfearn intends to complete a degree in speech pathology while competing with the Ragin’ Cajuns. Her future plans include attending graduate school to work toward becoming a certified speech pathologist and eventually work in geriatric speech development.
Redfearn joins the Ragin’ Cajuns 2012-13 signing class which includes Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La. – Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La. – Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La. – St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La. – Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La. – St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas – Tomball HS), all who signed a national letter of intent during the early signing period in November.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --
LAFAYETTE – The Ragin’ Cajuns softball program announced Monday the addition of Shelbi Redfearn, who is transferring from Baylor after her sophomore season. She will be eligible to play during the 2013 season as a junior.
“We recruited Shelbi out of high school and she attended our camps, so we are very familiar with her,” Louisiana co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “She is very strong and athletic and is an intense competitor. Her energy level and passion for the game is contagious.
“She’s been to the WCWS, playing the game at the highest level, and now comes to Cajun Country to be pushed to be better and go further,” Lotief added. “She comes from a great family and we are happy to finally welcome her to ours.”
A native of Stillwater, Okla., Redfearn appeared in 95 games at Baylor the past two seasons, garnering 78 starts.
As a freshman in 2011, she started 48 games and led the Bears in sacrifice flies (4), tied for second in doubles (7) and ranked third in home runs (5). Last season, Redfearn appeared in 42 games and tied for the team lead in home runs.
Redfearn, an outfielder, committed only three errors in 92 chances and ended her two-year stay in Waco, Texas, with 19 extra base hits (11 doubles, eight home runs).
She helped guide BU to a pair of NCAA postseason appearances – including a trip to Lamson Park for an NCAA Regional back in May – and was a member of the 2011 Baylor squad that advanced to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City.
“Even though I played at Baylor University for two years, UL has always been my dream school,” Redfearn remarked. “I am ready to start this new chapter in my life and I am excited for the opportunity to be a Ragin’ Cajun.”
Redfearn was ranked as the nation’s No. 21 recruit according to ESPN RISE coming out of Stillwater High School. The four-year letterwinner was named a 2010 third team ESPN RISE All-American.
The right-handed slugger left her mark in the Stillwater High record books, finishing first in home runs (18), doubles (42), second in hits (159) and stolen bases (39), and third in batting average (.384) and RBI (88).
Redfearn collected first team all-conference honors in 2007-08, was the co-Offensive Player of the Year in 2008-09 and was named the 2009-10 Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
The Pioneers were regional champions during her freshman and sophomore campaigns, advancing to the state tournament. She played club softball with Tulsa Elite Gold.
Redfearn intends to complete a degree in speech pathology while competing with the Ragin’ Cajuns. Her future plans include attending graduate school to work toward becoming a certified speech pathologist and eventually work in geriatric speech development.
Redfearn joins the Ragin’ Cajuns 2012-13 signing class which includes Shyanne McDowell (Haughton, La. – Haughton HS), Corin Voinche’ (Scott, La. – Teurlings Catholic HS), Shellie Landry (Broussard, La. – St. Thomas More HS), Sara Corbello (Lake Charles, La. – Barbe HS), Gabby Felps (Gonzales, La. – St. Amant HS) and Kelsey Vincent (Tomball, Texas – Tomball HS), all who signed a national letter of intent during the early signing period in November.
-- Ragin’ Cajuns --