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Beau Chene's Paige Cavallin doesn't know exactly how long she's been dreaming about being a UL Ragin' Cajun softball player. She just knows it's been "a long, long time.''
When the talk was that UL had too many pitchers already on board for her to get a serious look from the Cajuns, the two-year starter for the Lady Gators basically gave up on that dream.
Until one fateful day late in his senior season came, that is.
It actually had all the makings of an awful Monday. Cavallin was running late to school and was a bit frantic when softball coach Thad Dickey stopped her and asked her a question.
<center><p><a href="http://www.dailyworld.com/article/20090520/SPORTS/905200308" target="_blank">The rest of the story</a>
Kevin Foote • The (Lafayette) Advertiser • May 20, 2009
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"He asked me what my plans were for college,'' Cavallin said. "I told him I was going to play summer ball and hopefully be able to sign somewhere. The he asked me if I was interested in playing at this school.
"When I saw that it was UL, I just said 'Oh my God.' I was still in shock the rest of the week.''
That reality actually begins for Cavallin this weekend when she'll begin playing in a summer league on a UL team comprised of incoming freshmen and walk-ons, as well as returning Cajuns who weren't regulars a year ago.
As exciting as the opportunity is, Cavallin is also well aware that the tough part is just beginning.
"I met with them (UL coaches) and they were very blunt with me,'' she said. "They spelled out exactly what was expected of me and told me that the rest was up to me.
"I was expecting it to be that way. (Beau Chene) Coach (Thad) Dickey told them I could take a beating. After everything we went through this season, we never gave up.''
In many ways, Cavallin's junior season looked much better on the college credential list than her senior season. As a junior, she was 19-10 with a 0.76 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 165.2 innings. She also hit .321 with 10 doubles and 23 RBIs.
"She had a great junior year,'' Dickey said. "She broke all the records here her junior year and we've had some good pitchers here over the years. She had a lot of talent around her that year and she just relaxed and let her defense play behind her.
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