The Book: Lady Cajuns softball 2007 Season

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UL's softball team desperately needed a win, and the Ragin' Cajuns could have used a sweep of Sun Belt Conference rival South Alabama Sunday to re-establish themselves in the league. They had to settle for a split, and the 19th-ranked Cajuns were fortunate to get that. UL squandered a 2-0 lead in the opener before finally prevailing in a 5-4 10-inning decision, but South Alabama rolled out its bats and got a two-hit pitching effort from Beth Pilgrim in taking a five-inning 8-0 victory in the nightcap. The Cajuns (35-12, 8-6) had entered the weekend on a four-game losing streak and were tied with USA (28-16, 8-6) for third in the Sun Belt race. The split kept the two tied for third with three league weekends remaining, including the Cajuns' key home series against league-leading Troy this weekend at Lamson Park. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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3rd-place UL to face Troy in weekend series UL's softball team is in a very different situation this weekend, one it hasn't gone through in all its years of existence. The Ragin' Cajuns, winners of all seven Sun Belt Conference titles ever awarded, face a do-or-die situation Saturday and Sunday in their league series against Troy at Lamson Park. The Cajuns are tied for third place in the league's regular-season standings at 8-6, chasing both the Trojans (13-5) and Middle Tennessee (11-6) in an effort to continue their string of never having finished lower than first in the final standings. In essence, UL needs to sweep this weekend in order to pass up Troy and draw even with Middle Tennessee (open this weekend) heading into the final two weekends of conference play. "I like the pressure," said Cajun coach Stefni Lotief. "I've always felt that even if you get punched in the stomach, you have to keep fighting. We've taken some punches, but we're still standing." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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For long-time Cajun softball fans, a familiar face will be in the first-base dugout today when the University of Houston invades UL's Lamson Park for a 4 p.m. softball doubleheader. She'll be wearing red and white. But it's Cougar red and white. In fact, Kyla Hall Holas is Cougar through and through by now, as the only coach in the history of Houston's softball program. She's focused on keeping her squad near the top of Conference USA and chasing the program's second NCAA Tournament, goals that are on track with a 32-12 record and a 13-2 C-USA mark. "Our whole philosophy is to build a program that wins our conference, goes to the Regionals every year, gets to the College World Series and just sets a standard of excellence," she said. "We've improved every year." The fact that she was a three-time All-America pitcher for the Cajuns from 1991-94 - twice a first-team pick - and one of UL's all-time greats doesn't come into play today. For the Cougars, wins over a historically-strong UL program would help reach those postseason goals. But the former Kyla Hall won't have any problem finding the park and recognizing some familiar surroundings, most notably the wall in right field where the Cajuns' College World Series appearances are listed. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

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Louisiana junior and Kirbyville's Holly Tankersley was named a finalist for the 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award the Amateur Softball Association, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced last week. This award, which is considered one of the most prestigious honors in women's collegiate softball, is designed to recognize outstanding athletic achievement by female collegiate softball players across the country and the Kirbyville native has done just that. Tankersley, who has won the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Award four times this season, leads the Cajuns in all major hitting categories leading the team with a .377 batting average and 11 home runs. She has 42 RBIs on 49 hits and has scored 35 runs on the year. The rest of the story

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LOUISIANA La. - Louisiana’s 21st ranked Ragin’ Cajuns softball team answered a lot of questions on Wednesday at Lamson Park, as they swept the Houston Cougars in a doubleheader by the scores of 5-0 in game one and 14-0 in the nightcap, which ended in 4 ½ inning via the mercy rule. The Cajuns were able to put together pitching, hitting, and defense in the sweep as the improved to 37-12 overall, while Houston dropped to 32-14. Cajun pitching gave up only three hits total in both games, the only hit in game two coming on an infield hit by Cougar shortstop Jessica Valis. Offensively UL exploded for 18 hits in the doubleheader, with six homeruns. Desi Chatman and Lacey Bertucci went deep in game one. In game two Codi Runyan and Melissa Verde each had two bombs to pace the Cajun offensive attack. Ragin’ Cajun freshman pitcher, Brittany Cuevas was dominant in the circle in game one for Louisiana as she tossed a complete game two hit shutout. Cuevas retired 21 of the 23 hitters she faced as she struck out nine and did not issue a base on balls during the game, as she improved to 23-7 on the season. Houston pitcher Angel Shamblin also pitched a complete game for the Cougars, as she dropped to 21-6 overall. After Cuevas retired the Cougars in order in the top half of the first inning, the Cajuns offense wasted little time as Runyan led off with a base on balls and with two outs, Chatman took the first offering from Houston starter Shamblin over the left field wall for a 2-0 UL lead. Chatman’s round tripper was her seventh of the season. The rest of the story RaginCajuns.com

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Nobody in the UL softball dugout would call it that, but the Ragin' Cajuns made a statement Wednesday. The Cajuns, losers of five of their last six games and in danger of falling into the ranks of also-rans, turned in a shocking 5-0, 14-0 blitzing of Houston's Cougars Wednesday at Lam-son Park to bounce back from their recent struggles. "We're back," said UL third baseman Melissa Verde, who had two home runs, six RBI and went 4-for-4 in the five-inning nightcap. "We didn't lose confidence ... we'd just had a bad spurt." UL (37-12) dropped three games to Sun Belt Conference rival Florida International in its last home appearance, and split a twinbill at South Alabama last weekend. The Cajuns had fallen from their customary position at the top of the Sun Belt standings to a tie for third. "This says something for our kids," said head coach Stefni Lotief. "Everyone on this team kept fighting." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[BirdofParadise]

We made a commitment this year to broadcast 28 women's games this year, including the series this weekend vs. league leading Troy.

Unfortunately, we've suffered a tragedy in the Regent family.

I regret to inform you that Steve Peloquin's stepson Chris was killed in an automobile accident while serving in the US Army in Tennessee. Chris was 18 years old.

Naturally, Steve needs to be with his wife Melissa, who has lost her only son.

However, we have a commitment and we will honor it. Mr. Bitter has graciously volunteered to do game one of tomorrow's doubleheader. Scott Prather will do game two. Neither of them felt comfortable enough, given their limited knowledge of softball, to do both ends of the doubleheader.

Not the most ideal situation, but I know that, under the circumstances, all of you will understand.

In the meantime, please keep Steve and Melissa in your prayers as they suffer through a parent's worst nightmare.

Thanks.

[Bert]

Keep it up Holly we love you.

[Zeebart21]

We made a commitment this year to broadcast 28 women's games this year, including the series this weekend vs. league leading Troy.

Unfortunately, we've suffered a tragedy in the Regent family.

I regret to inform you that Steve Peloquin's stepson Chris was killed in an automobile accident while serving in the US Army in Tennessee. Chris was 18 years old.

Naturally, Steve needs to be with his wife Melissa, who has lost her only son.

However, we have a commitment and we will honor it. Mr. Bitter has graciously volunteered to do game one of tomorrow's doubleheader. Scott Prather will do game two. Neither of them felt comfortable enough, given their limited knowledge of softball, to do both ends of the doubleheader.

Not the most ideal situation, but I know that, under the circumstances, all of you will understand.

In the meantime, please keep Steve and Melissa in your prayers as they suffer through a parent's worst nightmare.

Thanks.

Thanks, Jay. Very unfortunate tragedy for Steve and his wife. My heart goes out to them.

Kudos to Bitter and Prather for nuttin up and doing UL softball!! Might be interesting.

Z

[Bert]

Condolences to the Steve family.