Softball Returns to Lamson for Preseason Practice

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball's preparation for the upcoming 2017 season began in earnest on Tuesday as members of the team reported to Lamson Park.

"This team is excited to be back together and pick up where we left off before Christmas," head coach Michael Lotief said. "This group works extremely hard and keeps preparing methodically and diligently. We have to stay committed to getting better day by day and we have to get contributions from everybody.

"We have to do this together," Lotief added. "I know our fans and our University family are eager to help develop, support and love these kids as they chase their dreams."

The Ragin' Cajuns will practice throughout the month of January and into February leading up to start of the 2017 season which begins Feb. 10-12 with the 31st Annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park.

The Ragin' Cajuns, 46-9 during the 2016 season, are coming off of a fifth straight appearance in the NCAA Super Regionals. A total of 26 players return from the 2016 squad as Louisiana enters its 15th season under Michael Lotief's guidance.

Despite losing four starters in the batting order to graduation, the Ragin' Cajuns return the majority of their everyday starters including career .360-hitter Haley Hayden and home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders who both clubbed 18 home runs last season.

Key positions to fill are catcher, first base, outfield and designated player – all held by departed seniors (Lexie Elkins, Kelsey Vincent, Shellie Landry, Sara Corbello) last year.

All pitchers from last year's unit, which ranked Top 10 nationally in ERA, return. 2016 All-American and Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (29-6, 1.94 ERA) is joined by veterans Victoria Brown, Macey Smith and Kylee Jo Trahan, as well as sophomore Alison Deville and redshirt freshman Summer Ellyson.

While Stewart figures to remain the squad's lead pitcher, the development of the staff's No. 2 hurler will be an area of focus during the buildup to opening day.

The Ragin' Cajuns welcome nine newcomers to the roster for the 2017 campaign. The incoming group is headlined by Kansas transfer Daniella Chavez, the 2015 Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year who clubbed 26 home runs and 122 RBI over two seasons with the Jayhawks. The freshman class of eight includes four pitchers and Kourtney Gremillion, the younger sister of Kara Gremillion who debuted and started at third base last season.

Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by phone at (337) 265-2357, online at RaginCajuns.com using Account Manager, or by visiting the Cajundome Box Office in-person Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and extended hours during Ragin' Cajuns basketball events.

Louisiana begins the 2017 season with a 23-game homestand at Lamson Park which opens Feb. 10 and features three tournaments, a Top 25 weekend series against Alabama (Feb. 17-19) and a midweek doubleheader with Baylor (March 7).

For more information on Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball, as well as all of Ragin' Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball),Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsSoftball).

DIAMOND NOTES:

The Ragin' Cajuns enter the 37th season in program history in 2017. The current all-time record is 1,543-442-1 (.777).
Louisiana enters 2017 as the three-time defending Sun Belt Conference champion, having won each regular season title since 2014. The Ragin' Cajuns have claimed 14 titles overall in the 16 years of league competition since 2001.
The Ragin' Cajuns carry an active streak of 18 straight seasons (1999-2016) appearing in the NCAA Tournament into the 2017 season.
Louisiana is just one of nine schools to play in the NCAA Tournament every year since 2000. The list also includes: Alabama, Arizona, Florida State, Michigan, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, UCLA and Washington.
The Ragin' Cajuns have an active streak of five consecutive years advancing to the NCAA Super Regional round. Since 2008 the Ragin' Cajuns have appeared in the NCAA Super Regionals in seven of the last nine seasons (2008, 2010, 2012-16).
Lamson Park has been the host site of an NCAA Regional the past three seasons (2014-2016). The Ragin' Cajuns last hosted four straight regionals in the mid-1990s (1994-97).
Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball has finished the season ranked inside the Top 15 of both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball poll the past five years. The current stretch of five straight seasons finishing in the Top 15 is the second-longest period in program history trailing only eight straight seasons from 1990-97.
In 14 previous seasons with Michael Lotief as head coach, the Ragin' Cajuns have finished Top 15 nationally eight times: 2003, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The Ragin' Cajuns will play the program's 2,000th all-time game on Sunday, Feb. 26 vs. Bradley in the Mardi Gras Classic at Lamson Park.
The 2017 schedule is a fans dream: 36 total home games at Lamson Park with the longest stretch without softball at the facility all season long being two weeks (March 25-26 at South Alabama and April 1-2 at Georgia Southern).
Head coach Michael Lotief is 16 wins shy of his 700th career triumph. Lotief, the 2016 recipient of the NFCA's Donna Newberry Perseverance Award and ASA/USA Softball Louisiana Softball Hall of Fame inductee, carries a career record of 684-168-1 (.802).
Louisiana will be tasked with replacing the vast majority of its home run (58%), RBI (49%), hits (42%) and total bases (47%) production from 2016. In the pitching circle, the Ragin' Cajuns did not lose a single inning pitched from 2016.
Haley Hayden has been the Ragin' Cajuns most consistent hitter throughout her career. The senior second baseman has hit above .370 the past two seasons and carries a career .360 average into her final campaign.
Last season was a prime example of the stability Haley Hayden provides in the Ragin' Cajuns lineup – hit .362 in February, .360 in March, .388 in April and .390 in May. She posted at least one base hit in 45 of 55 games, had 10 different hitting streaks – ending season with an 11-game hit streak – and went the entire season without consecutive hitless games.
One of two All-Americans, alongside Alex Stewart, returning for the Ragin' Cajuns in 2017, Aleah Craighton ranked Top 10 nationally in slugging, Top 20 in home runs, Top 40 in runs per game and Top 50 in RBI per game last season. She's poised to take over as the leader of the Ragin' Cajuns offense following graduation of Lexie Elkins.
Aleah Craighton set personal season-bests for doubles (12), home runs (18), RBI (56) and extra base hits (32) during the 2016 season. In Sun Belt Conference play, she led the league in slugging percentage (1.069), on base percentage (.593), runs (33) and home runs (11).
Shortstop DJ Sanders, a 2017 USA Softball Women's National Team Selection camp invitee, saw a significant increase in power (from four home runs as a freshman to 18) and run production (from 27 RBI as a freshman to 58) last season.
Kara Gremillion anchors the left side of the infield. As a freshman in 2016, Gremillion had only four errors over 152 chances (60 PO, 88 A, 4 E) at third base.
Kara Gremillion displayed poise at the plate, with 30 walks against 11 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances (.480 on base percentage). She finished the 2016 season strong, raising her batting average 45 points over the final month (from .286 to .331).
Reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year and second team All-American choice Alex Stewart emerged as the team's lead pitcher in 2016, appearing in 41 games with 38 starts and compiling a 29-6 record with a 1.94 ERA.
Alex Stewart finished No. 5 nationally in victories in 2016 (one of only 20 pitchers to reach 25 wins) and posted five wins over ranked teams – defeated No. 5 Oregon (twice) and No. 19 Baylor in regular season, plus No. 25 Texas and No. 16 Texas A&M in NCAA Lafayette Regional

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Softball Returns to Lamson for Preseason Practice

Players Mentioned

Victoria Brown

Sara Corbello

Aleah Craighton

Alison Deville

Lexie Elkins

Summer Ellyson

Kara Gremillion

Kourtney Gremillion

Haley Hayden

Shellie Landry

DJ Sanders

Macey Smith

Alex Stewart

Kylee Jo Trahan

Kelsey Vincent

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