University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Ragin' Cajuns Softball 2017 Season Preview
2/9/2017 11:14:00 AM | Softball
LAFAYETTE – Long before the days to the start of the 2017 season began to dwindle down, the No. 11-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball team was well-versed with the task laid before them.
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A heralded group of sluggers – namely Sara Corbello, Lexie Elkins, Shellie Landry and Kelsey Vincent – was departing after the 2016 season's final out was recorded. That group powered the nation's leading home run club two years running.
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"This team has worked hard and prepared thoroughly," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "But now the season will challenge us to establish our own identity and chart a brand new course."
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The Ragin' Cajuns are figured to transition to a different style of producing results in 2017.
Â
"We may be able to replace the home run production of two of them, but not all four," Lotief mentioned. "Maybe have a speed kid and a few more slappers in the lineup this year."
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The mission gets underway this weekend as No. 11 Louisiana begins the season with the 31st Annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park. Opening Day is set for Friday, Feb. 10 with the Ragin' Cajuns facing DePaul at 3 p.m. and Iowa State at 5:30 p.m.
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On paper the transition may appear daunting. However, several pieces from the 2016 team, which advanced to the program's fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional, return – a total of 26 players to be exact.
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The core group of returnees in the lineup include career .360-hitter Haley Hayden, home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders, who both clubbed 18 home runs last season, and Kara Gremillion, who finished the 2016 season as one of the team's hottest hitters (hit .457 in May).
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There's also Kelli Martinez, who started the entire 2015 campaign as a freshman and finished last year as the starter in right field, plus Kassidy Zeringue who has proved to be a vital asset defensively and last year worked her way into a starter's role.
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"This core group has been together for three years now," Lotief remarked. "It's been fun to watch them grow and develop. Now it's their turn to lead and pass it on to the next group of youngsters."
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Others who have worked their way through the system and waited for their opportunity will provide added experience. Those include Lexie Comeaux, Jaime Landry and Beth Ashley, who each redshirted their freshman season, as well as Corin Voinché and Taylor Terrio.
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"This team has a good mix of experienced players and 'newbies'," Lotief mentioned. "There will be new starters who were redshirt players and players who have come up through the system who may have been role players but are now being called on to contribute as starters."
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In the pitching circle, the Ragin' Cajuns bring back the entire group from last season. 2016 All-American and Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (29-6, 1.94 ERA) returns as the team's lead pitcher for a staff that ranked Top 10 nationally with a 2.06 ERA.
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"I think this team will be more suited toward pitching and defense," Lotief said. "I do not anticipate us scoring all the runs or hitting all the home runs like we've done the past couple of seasons.
Â
"We have a deep pitching staff with a lot of experience," Lotief noted. "We have moved a lot of people around on defense to give us more speed and coverage. It will take us time to gel, but I think this team can be good defensively – and it all starts in the circle."
Â
Preseason predictions, including a No. 11 national rankings and unanimous choice to claim the Sun Belt Conference crown, might appear to put added pressure in the transition time. Lotief, though, believes his team's preparation will allow them to rise to the challenge.
Â
"This team has worked as hard as any team I've ever been around," Lotief said. "There's nothing more this group of kids could have done to get ready. And it's not just their skill set, they've worked hard on team bonding and the mental game.
Â
"We're going to inspire each other to fight every day," Lotief stressed. "We're going to find a way to win, find a way to compete every day. The greater the adversity, or struggle, the more we fight – that's our pledge to each other and to our fan base."
Â
PROJECTED STARTERS
INFIELD
Catcher: Lexie Comeaux (So., Tomball, Texas)
Coming into preseason camp in early January, the position was held by Miranda Grotenhuis. A knee injury suffered by Grotenhuis opened the position and depth took another hit with an injury to Allie Medlin. Jaime Landry (outfield) and Lexie Comeaux (infield) were shifted to the position and competed with Brittany Nollkamper, who caught during Lexie Elkins' injury last season, for the spot. Comeaux – who was slotted for first or second base – filling the spot is a similar situation to former Ragin' Cajuns catchers Joy Webre who was a shortstop and Lana Bowers who was an outfielder before being converted to the position.
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First Base: Haley Hayden (Sr., West Monroe, La.)
This will be the third position that Haley Hayden plays as a Ragin' Cajun. The senior from West Monroe patrolled center field as a freshman in 2014 and covered second base the past two seasons. Throughout her career, she's proved to be the Ragin' Cajuns' most consistent hitter. Last season was a prime example of the stability Hayden provides in the Ragin' Cajuns lineup – hit .362 in February, .360 in March, .388 in April and .390 in May. She's produced at least 60 runs and 60 hits each of the past three years. Last season, she had 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.
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Second Base: Kassidy Zeringue (Sr., Lutcher, La.)
Fans have been accustomed to seeing Kassidy Zeringue in the outfield, where through the first three years as a Ragin' Cajun she was a key late-game defensive sub in left field and last year held the starting right field slot until an ankle injury limited her playing time from mid-April to the end. The senior from Lutcher, La., does have experience in the middle infield, having played there during her high school career. Zeringue hit above .365 the entire season in 2016 and produced eight multiple-hit games hitting from the nine-spot in the lineup. The slap-hit specialist was among the toughest to strikeout at the NCAA Division I level, with only four strikeouts in 96 plate appearances.
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Shortstop: DJ Sanders (Jr., Columbus, Miss.)
A two-time USA Softball National Team Camp invitee and member of the 2015 U.S. Junior National squad, DJ Sanders enters her third season as the starting shortstop. She's coming off a breakthrough season offensively in 2016, experiencing 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). Sanders finished with a team-leading 58 RBI, posting at least five RBI in a weekend six times. Her exemplary range of motion allowed her to deliver 72 assists from shortstop, reaching 70-plus for the second straight season.
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Third Base: Kara Gremillion (So., Gonzales, La.)
As the lone freshman with a starting position in 2016, Kara Gremillion took advantage and laid claim to the third base bag. She started all 55 games and had only four errors in 152 chances (60 PO, 88 A, 4 E). She displayed poise at the plate, with 30 walks against 11 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances (.480 on base percentage) and finished the season strong, raising her batting average 45 points over the final month (from .286 to .331). Gremillion ranked second on the 2016 team, trailing only Lexie Elkins, with 14 hits vs. Top 25 teams, hitting .424 (14-for-33) in those contests.
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OUTFIELD
Left Field: Kelli Martinez (Jr., Katy, Texas)
A veteran outfielder with 104 career games played, Kelli Martinez has previously started in center field (2015) and right field (2016). This will be Martinez's first extensive time as a starter since getting the nod in all 54 games in center field as a freshman in 2015. After returning to a starting role May 7 vs. ULM last season, she posted a base hit in six of the 10 outings. Martinez scored 20-plus runs for the second straight season, finishing with 26. She did not commit an error in 16 chances, recording a fly ball out each time – the second straight season playing error-free in the outfield.
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Center Field: Aleah Craighton (Jr., Prairieville, La.)
A second team NFCA All-American pick in 2016 who set personal season-bests for doubles (12), home runs (18), RBI (56) and extra base hits (32), Aleah Craighton is the lead candidate for Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and a member of the Top 50 Watch List for the USA Softball Player of the Year. She's poised to take over as the leader of the Ragin' Cajuns offense following the graduation of Lexie Elkins. 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 in 2016. In Sun Belt Conference games, she led the league in slugging percentage (1.069), on base percentage (.593), runs (33) and home runs (11). Craighton enters her third season as a starter in the outfield, the second straight season in center field.
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Right Field: Beth Ashley (r-Fr., College Station, Texas)
The product of A&M Consolidated High School out of College Station, Texas, Beth Ashley redshirted during the 2016 season. She's expected to help offset some of the lost home run production. During her career at A&M Consolidated, she garnered first team all-district honors as a sophomore, earned second team accolades as a junior after hitting 11 home runs and as a senior was named District 18-5A Offensive MVP and awarded second team all-state honors.
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Designated Player: Daniella Chavez (Jr., Crowley, Texas)
The 2015 Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year, Daniella Chavez started 106 games and posted 26 home runs and 122 RBI during her two-year stint with the Jayhawks. Last season, she reached double digits in home runs a second straight season with 10. The Crowley, Texas, native also recorded 11 multiple-hit games, increasing her career total to 25, and produced a team-best 15 multiple-RBI outings, stretching her career figure to 33.
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KEY RESERVES
In the infield, Corin Voinché will serve as backup at first base and third base. Voinché has also received reps at second base recently, and could see time there as well. Taylor Terrio is expected to serve as a late-game defensive sub in right field and be one of the main pinch hitters. Pinch runners include Sarah Arceneaux, Chelsea Lotief and Kendall Smith.
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PITCHERS
Alex Stewart, an All-American and the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2016, is the lead pitcher heading into the 2017 campaign. Stewart appeared in 41 games, made 38 starts and compiled a 29-6 record with a 1.94 ERA last season. She finished No. 5 nationally in victories, her total including five wins over ranked teams. Stewart issued only 37 walks over 209 innings pitched and turned in 20 walk-free starts (out of 38 total). She was dominant in Sun Belt Conference games, composing a 16-1 record with a 0.66 ERA.
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Stewart is joined in the circle by veterans Victoria Brown, Macey Smith and Kylee Jo Trahan, as well as sophomore Alison Deville and redshirt freshman Summer Ellyson. Freshman Alyssa Denham is being added to the group as the coaching staff looks to ease the work load for Stewart. Denham is expected be the lone freshman on the 2017 roster to see playing time.
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A heralded group of sluggers – namely Sara Corbello, Lexie Elkins, Shellie Landry and Kelsey Vincent – was departing after the 2016 season's final out was recorded. That group powered the nation's leading home run club two years running.
Â
"This team has worked hard and prepared thoroughly," Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. "But now the season will challenge us to establish our own identity and chart a brand new course."
Â
The Ragin' Cajuns are figured to transition to a different style of producing results in 2017.
Â
"We may be able to replace the home run production of two of them, but not all four," Lotief mentioned. "Maybe have a speed kid and a few more slappers in the lineup this year."
Â
The mission gets underway this weekend as No. 11 Louisiana begins the season with the 31st Annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park. Opening Day is set for Friday, Feb. 10 with the Ragin' Cajuns facing DePaul at 3 p.m. and Iowa State at 5:30 p.m.
Â
On paper the transition may appear daunting. However, several pieces from the 2016 team, which advanced to the program's fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional, return – a total of 26 players to be exact.
Â
The core group of returnees in the lineup include career .360-hitter Haley Hayden, home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders, who both clubbed 18 home runs last season, and Kara Gremillion, who finished the 2016 season as one of the team's hottest hitters (hit .457 in May).
Â
There's also Kelli Martinez, who started the entire 2015 campaign as a freshman and finished last year as the starter in right field, plus Kassidy Zeringue who has proved to be a vital asset defensively and last year worked her way into a starter's role.
Â
"This core group has been together for three years now," Lotief remarked. "It's been fun to watch them grow and develop. Now it's their turn to lead and pass it on to the next group of youngsters."
Â
Others who have worked their way through the system and waited for their opportunity will provide added experience. Those include Lexie Comeaux, Jaime Landry and Beth Ashley, who each redshirted their freshman season, as well as Corin Voinché and Taylor Terrio.
Â
"This team has a good mix of experienced players and 'newbies'," Lotief mentioned. "There will be new starters who were redshirt players and players who have come up through the system who may have been role players but are now being called on to contribute as starters."
Â
In the pitching circle, the Ragin' Cajuns bring back the entire group from last season. 2016 All-American and Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (29-6, 1.94 ERA) returns as the team's lead pitcher for a staff that ranked Top 10 nationally with a 2.06 ERA.
Â
"I think this team will be more suited toward pitching and defense," Lotief said. "I do not anticipate us scoring all the runs or hitting all the home runs like we've done the past couple of seasons.
Â
"We have a deep pitching staff with a lot of experience," Lotief noted. "We have moved a lot of people around on defense to give us more speed and coverage. It will take us time to gel, but I think this team can be good defensively – and it all starts in the circle."
Â
Preseason predictions, including a No. 11 national rankings and unanimous choice to claim the Sun Belt Conference crown, might appear to put added pressure in the transition time. Lotief, though, believes his team's preparation will allow them to rise to the challenge.
Â
"This team has worked as hard as any team I've ever been around," Lotief said. "There's nothing more this group of kids could have done to get ready. And it's not just their skill set, they've worked hard on team bonding and the mental game.
Â
"We're going to inspire each other to fight every day," Lotief stressed. "We're going to find a way to win, find a way to compete every day. The greater the adversity, or struggle, the more we fight – that's our pledge to each other and to our fan base."
Â
PROJECTED STARTERS
INFIELD
Catcher: Lexie Comeaux (So., Tomball, Texas)
Coming into preseason camp in early January, the position was held by Miranda Grotenhuis. A knee injury suffered by Grotenhuis opened the position and depth took another hit with an injury to Allie Medlin. Jaime Landry (outfield) and Lexie Comeaux (infield) were shifted to the position and competed with Brittany Nollkamper, who caught during Lexie Elkins' injury last season, for the spot. Comeaux – who was slotted for first or second base – filling the spot is a similar situation to former Ragin' Cajuns catchers Joy Webre who was a shortstop and Lana Bowers who was an outfielder before being converted to the position.
Â
First Base: Haley Hayden (Sr., West Monroe, La.)
This will be the third position that Haley Hayden plays as a Ragin' Cajun. The senior from West Monroe patrolled center field as a freshman in 2014 and covered second base the past two seasons. Throughout her career, she's proved to be the Ragin' Cajuns' most consistent hitter. Last season was a prime example of the stability Hayden provides in the Ragin' Cajuns lineup – hit .362 in February, .360 in March, .388 in April and .390 in May. She's produced at least 60 runs and 60 hits each of the past three years. Last season, she had 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.
Â
Second Base: Kassidy Zeringue (Sr., Lutcher, La.)
Fans have been accustomed to seeing Kassidy Zeringue in the outfield, where through the first three years as a Ragin' Cajun she was a key late-game defensive sub in left field and last year held the starting right field slot until an ankle injury limited her playing time from mid-April to the end. The senior from Lutcher, La., does have experience in the middle infield, having played there during her high school career. Zeringue hit above .365 the entire season in 2016 and produced eight multiple-hit games hitting from the nine-spot in the lineup. The slap-hit specialist was among the toughest to strikeout at the NCAA Division I level, with only four strikeouts in 96 plate appearances.
Â
Shortstop: DJ Sanders (Jr., Columbus, Miss.)
A two-time USA Softball National Team Camp invitee and member of the 2015 U.S. Junior National squad, DJ Sanders enters her third season as the starting shortstop. She's coming off a breakthrough season offensively in 2016, experiencing 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). Sanders finished with a team-leading 58 RBI, posting at least five RBI in a weekend six times. Her exemplary range of motion allowed her to deliver 72 assists from shortstop, reaching 70-plus for the second straight season.
Â
Third Base: Kara Gremillion (So., Gonzales, La.)
As the lone freshman with a starting position in 2016, Kara Gremillion took advantage and laid claim to the third base bag. She started all 55 games and had only four errors in 152 chances (60 PO, 88 A, 4 E). She displayed poise at the plate, with 30 walks against 11 strikeouts in 173 plate appearances (.480 on base percentage) and finished the season strong, raising her batting average 45 points over the final month (from .286 to .331). Gremillion ranked second on the 2016 team, trailing only Lexie Elkins, with 14 hits vs. Top 25 teams, hitting .424 (14-for-33) in those contests.
Â
OUTFIELD
Left Field: Kelli Martinez (Jr., Katy, Texas)
A veteran outfielder with 104 career games played, Kelli Martinez has previously started in center field (2015) and right field (2016). This will be Martinez's first extensive time as a starter since getting the nod in all 54 games in center field as a freshman in 2015. After returning to a starting role May 7 vs. ULM last season, she posted a base hit in six of the 10 outings. Martinez scored 20-plus runs for the second straight season, finishing with 26. She did not commit an error in 16 chances, recording a fly ball out each time – the second straight season playing error-free in the outfield.
Â
Center Field: Aleah Craighton (Jr., Prairieville, La.)
A second team NFCA All-American pick in 2016 who set personal season-bests for doubles (12), home runs (18), RBI (56) and extra base hits (32), Aleah Craighton is the lead candidate for Sun Belt Player of the Year honors and a member of the Top 50 Watch List for the USA Softball Player of the Year. She's poised to take over as the leader of the Ragin' Cajuns offense following the graduation of Lexie Elkins. 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 in 2016. In Sun Belt Conference games, she led the league in slugging percentage (1.069), on base percentage (.593), runs (33) and home runs (11). Craighton enters her third season as a starter in the outfield, the second straight season in center field.
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Right Field: Beth Ashley (r-Fr., College Station, Texas)
The product of A&M Consolidated High School out of College Station, Texas, Beth Ashley redshirted during the 2016 season. She's expected to help offset some of the lost home run production. During her career at A&M Consolidated, she garnered first team all-district honors as a sophomore, earned second team accolades as a junior after hitting 11 home runs and as a senior was named District 18-5A Offensive MVP and awarded second team all-state honors.
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Designated Player: Daniella Chavez (Jr., Crowley, Texas)
The 2015 Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year, Daniella Chavez started 106 games and posted 26 home runs and 122 RBI during her two-year stint with the Jayhawks. Last season, she reached double digits in home runs a second straight season with 10. The Crowley, Texas, native also recorded 11 multiple-hit games, increasing her career total to 25, and produced a team-best 15 multiple-RBI outings, stretching her career figure to 33.
Â
KEY RESERVES
In the infield, Corin Voinché will serve as backup at first base and third base. Voinché has also received reps at second base recently, and could see time there as well. Taylor Terrio is expected to serve as a late-game defensive sub in right field and be one of the main pinch hitters. Pinch runners include Sarah Arceneaux, Chelsea Lotief and Kendall Smith.
Â
PITCHERS
Alex Stewart, an All-American and the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2016, is the lead pitcher heading into the 2017 campaign. Stewart appeared in 41 games, made 38 starts and compiled a 29-6 record with a 1.94 ERA last season. She finished No. 5 nationally in victories, her total including five wins over ranked teams. Stewart issued only 37 walks over 209 innings pitched and turned in 20 walk-free starts (out of 38 total). She was dominant in Sun Belt Conference games, composing a 16-1 record with a 0.66 ERA.
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Stewart is joined in the circle by veterans Victoria Brown, Macey Smith and Kylee Jo Trahan, as well as sophomore Alison Deville and redshirt freshman Summer Ellyson. Freshman Alyssa Denham is being added to the group as the coaching staff looks to ease the work load for Stewart. Denham is expected be the lone freshman on the 2017 roster to see playing time.
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#GeauxCajuns
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
DP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
3B
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
1B/OF
/ Softball
OF/C
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
SS
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
P
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
2B
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