Shari Sigur signs with Lady Cajuns

<blockquote><p align=justify>LOUISIANA La. — When observers first see Lafayette High Lady Lion softball pitcher Shari Sigur, the first thing that stands out to them is her slender, sleek, lanky frame.

Despite her small stature, Sigur is one of the top pitchers in the state, and one of the top softball programs in the country has noticed.

And that program was the University of Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns, with whom Sigur signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday.

“I never really expected to be recruited by a team like UL or any other big school,” Sigur said. “UL has always been the kind of team I’ve wanted to play for, but I didn’t expect it to happen. It’s one of the top programs in the country, so I’m really honored that they wanted me to play for them.”

Sigur, who didn’t draw the attention that most may have expected her to during the recruiting process, chose the Ragin’ Cajuns over Louisiana College, Millsaps College and UL Monroe.

“I really liked Louisiana College,” Sigur said. “But they are Division III and I wanted to play Division I. I wasn’t disappointed with my offers, I just looked into whatever ones I received.”

Staying home was a priority for Sigur.

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“Staying home was really important to me,” Sigur said. “My parents have always followed me and I wanted to make sure that they would be able to see me play college ball.”

As a junior, Sigur went 27-7 with a 1.10 ERA. She allowed 43 runs (29 earned) on 83 hits and 92 walks while striking out 318 batters and holding opposing hitters to a .127 batting average in 185 innings.

Sigur was the Daily Advertiser/Coca-Cola All-Acadiana Most Valuable Player and selected to the Class 5A All-State first team in 2004.

During her sophomore year, Sigur went 16-7 with a 0.66 ERA. She allowed 50 hits and 73 walks while striking out 242 batters in 146 innings en route to earning her first All-Acadiana first-team selection.

So can Sigur being a Division I pitcher?

“Yes,” said Lady Lions head coach Janet Guerrini. “But she’ll have to get stronger and develop the mentality that she is a stopper. Shari has to know that she is a top notch pitcher, one of the best pitchers in Louisiana. It’s not a cockiness, as much as having that dominant mentality. As a pitcher, she has to know that no matter who the batter is that she can get them out.”

But what about all of the doubters?

“They just make me want to work harder and prove to them that I can be a dominating pitcher on the Division I level,” Sigur said. “It may take a year or two for me to develop, but I know with hard work that I can be a Division I pitcher.”

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