High School Softball in Acadiana

[Grandpa Cajun]

My granddaughter attended an exposure camp for high school girls this past weekend in Gulfport and I went over and watched. There were over 200 girls from all over the gulf coast participating. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area was well represented with talent. I saw girls from Note Dame, Teurlings, Westminster and STM showcasing their skills. There were coaches from all over country in attendance including some from big time programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and Arizona. LSU was also there but I didn't see Mike Lotief or any of his assistants. Day 1 was girls showcasing their skills such as hitting and fielding. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area girls held their own. Day 2 was rained out so they weren't able to finish the camp.

I am excited in that there seems to be a lot of local area talent in UL's back yard that Lotief can recruit from. I just hope that Lotief is able to keep these girls here.

[MisterCajun]

You are right Grandpa Cajun in that there is a lot of good local area talent right here in Acadiana. The Lotief's have been successful in the past in being able to convince the good local talent to stay and play for them. I don't know how much Stefni had to do/help with recruiting, but I hope that UL will be able to keep getting the top level local talent to stay here and play.

[CajunT]

My granddaughter attended an exposure camp for high school girls this past weekend in Gulfport and I went over and watched. There were over 200 girls from all over the gulf coast participating. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area was well represented with talent. I saw girls from Note Dame, Teurlings, Westminster and STM showcasing their skills. There were coaches from all over country in attendance including some from big time programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and Arizona. LSU was also there but I didn't see Mike Lotief or any of his assistants. Day 1 was girls showcasing their skills such as hitting and fielding. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area girls held their own. Day 2 was rained out so they weren't able to finish the camp.

I am excited in that there seems to be a lot of local area talent in UL's back yard that Lotief can recruit from. I just hope that Lotief is able to keep these girls here.

UL has hosted several camps over the past few weekends, so Mike was running his own camps. UL hosted a number of camps this summer that were attended by many of the same athletes you watched in Gulfport. In addition to that, this years signing class had one athlete from STM and another from Teurlings.

[Bunch24]

My granddaughter attended an exposure camp for high school girls this past weekend in Gulfport and I went over and watched. There were over 200 girls from all over the gulf coast participating. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area was well represented with talent. I saw girls from Note Dame, Teurlings, Westminster and STM showcasing their skills. There were coaches from all over country in attendance including some from big time programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and Arizona. LSU was also there but I didn't see Mike Lotief or any of his assistants. Day 1 was girls showcasing their skills such as hitting and fielding. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area girls held their own. Day 2 was rained out so they weren't able to finish the camp.

I am excited in that there seems to be a lot of local area talent in UL's back yard that Lotief can recruit from. I just hope that Lotief is able to keep these girls here.

Go to LSU's website and look at their roster, then go to UL's and look at their roster. Mike Lotief prides himself on winning with Louisiana girls and specifically Cajun girls. Like CajunT said, he's probably already seen all of those girls play already several times over, and probably 80% of them have been going to Cajun softball camps since they were old enough to attend.

He's not going to keep all of them here, but he'll keep most of them. Better yet, the ones he does keep, he'll develop them into All-Americans.

[Grandpa Cajun]

Go to LSU's website and look at their roster, then go to UL's and look at their roster. Mike Lotief prides himself on winning with Louisiana girls and specifically Cajun girls. Like CajunT said, he's probably already seen all of those girls play already several times over, and probably 80% of them have been going to Cajun softball camps since they were old enough to attend.

He's not going to keep all of them here, but he'll keep most of them. Better yet, the ones he does keep, he'll develop them into All-Americans.

I agree. Like I said, the girls that I was able to identify as local area girls represented the Acadiana area well. My granddaughter would love to play at UL but unfortunately I don't think that that will happen. I did eavesdrop on a couple of guys sitting in front of me (I assume that they were travel team coaches because they had team gear on) talking about an STM girl participating at the camp who apparently is on the radar of Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi State and UL. I don't know anything about this girl but it would be great if Lotief were able to keep her in-state.

[Turbine]

My granddaughter attended an exposure camp for high school girls this past weekend in Gulfport and I went over and watched. There were over 200 girls from all over the gulf coast participating. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area was well represented with talent. I saw girls from Note Dame, Teurlings, Westminster and STM showcasing their skills. There were coaches from all over country in attendance including some from big time programs like Alabama, Oklahoma and Arizona. LSU was also there but I didn't see Mike Lotief or any of his assistants. Day 1 was girls showcasing their skills such as hitting and fielding. From what I could tell, the Acadiana area girls held their own. Day 2 was rained out so they weren't able to finish the camp.

I am excited in that there seems to be a lot of local area talent in UL's back yard that Lotief can recruit from. I just hope that Lotief is able to keep these girls here.

I hope she did well, although I know you will be proud of her no matter what.

I hope to see her play someday.

[Bunch24]

I agree. Like I said, the girls that I was able to identify as local area girls represented the Acadiana area well. My granddaughter would love to play at UL but unfortunately I don't think that that will happen. I did eavesdrop on a couple of guys sitting in front of me (I assume that they were travel team coaches because they had team gear on) talking about an STM girl participating at the camp who apparently is on the radar of Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi State and UL. I don't know anything about this girl but it would be great if Lotief were able to keep her in-state.

If your granddaughter has aspirations of playing at UL, tell her not to give up on that dream. Like I said earlier, the Lotiefs pride themselves on developing local talent.

[MisterCajun]

I agree. Like I said, the girls that I was able to identify as local area girls represented the Acadiana area well. My granddaughter would love to play at UL but unfortunately I don't think that that will happen. I did eavesdrop on a couple of guys sitting in front of me (I assume that they were travel team coaches because they had team gear on) talking about an STM girl participating at the camp who apparently is on the radar of Alabama, Arizona, Mississippi State and UL. I don't know anything about this girl but it would be great if Lotief were able to keep her in-state.

Grandpa, I believe that the STM girl that you are talking about is a freshman whose last name is Hemfield (?). I saw her play earlier this summer at a tournament. She cranked 2 out on my niece who is a pretty decent pitcher so I have first hand knowledge of her power. I believe that she is already on Lotief's watch/wish list if what I have been told is correct. I agree with everyone who has posted that it would be great if UL could get the exceptional local talent to stay here though this could sometimes be a hard sell if there is much national interest in a girl.

[CajunAmos]

Grandpa, I believe that the STM girl that you are talking about is a freshman whose last name is Hemfield (?). I saw her play earlier this summer at a tournament. She cranked 2 out on my niece who is a pretty decent pitcher so I have first hand knowledge of her power. I believe that she is already on Lotief's watch/wish list if what I have been told is correct. I agree with everyone who has posted that it would be great if UL could get the exceptional local talent to stay here though this could sometimes be a hard sell if there is much national interest in a girl.

To the best of my knowledge, not in softball. I think we have as much pull as the national teams for the local area, as I don't remember losing out to teams outside of our area.

[CRAWFISH61]

In softball we are a national team.

[MisterCajun]

To the best of my knowledge, not in softball. I think we have as much pull as the national teams for the local area, as I don't remember losing out to teams outside of our area.

Cajun Amos:

You can't get them all as the saying goes. I do know that UL recently lost a commitment when Bailey Corbello switched from UL to LSU. The story that I heard was that she felt that the SEC was a better conference with more quality players than the Sunbelt.

On the flip side, it is my understanding that UL has unofficially received verbal commitments from Sara Arceneaux (STM) and Randi Provost (Teurlings) who both play shortstop at their respective schools. I have seen both of them play and there is a lot of upside to these girls if Lotief can develop them like he has with other girls in the past.

[CajunAmos]

Cajun Amos:

You can't get them all as the saying goes. I do know that UL recently lost a commitment when Bailey Corbello switched from UL to LSU. The story that I heard was that she felt that the SEC was a better conference with more quality players than the Sunbelt.

On the flip side, it is my understanding that UL has unofficially received verbal commitments from Sara Arceneaux (STM) and Randi Provost (Teurlings) who both play shortstop at their respective schools. I have seen both of them play and there is a lot of upside to these girls if Lotief can develop them like he has with other girls in the past.

I don't think a verbal commitment was announced for Bailey Corbello. Can you post where it was announced? I know the Cajuns singed Sara Corbello who will be a freshman this year.