Softball Adds Pair to 2012-13 Recruiting Class

Contact: Matt Hebert

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 37^th 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 --

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics

Softball Adds Pair to 2012-13 Recruiting Class

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