The Book: Lady Cajuns softball 2007 Season

[DaddyCajun]

No, dey be full PRO. Eder dey be prego' or no prego'!


knuckle head, Turb.

DaddyCajun

[NewsCopy]

MONROE - UL's softball team saw the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship - their private possession since the league inaugurated the sport - sail over the left-field fence at the ULM Softball Complex Saturday afternoon. ULM catcher Heather Williams took the first pitch in the bottom of the seventh inning to that spot, providing the host Warhawks with a 1-0 nightcap upset over the 24th-ranked Ragin' Cajuns. The second-game loss, after the Cajuns had won the opener 5-3, deprived UL (45-14, 14-8 Sun Belt) of a golden opportunity in the league race. The Cajuns entered the final weekend of league play one-half game behind Troy in the conference standings, and the host Trojans did their part by falling to South Alabama 5-1 in the second game of their Saturday twinbill. UL could have put itself within one win in today's series wrapup of a seventh straight regular-season crown. Now, because of the loss and Florida Atlantic's 7-1 home win over Florida International Saturday, the best the Cajuns can do in the league race is second place. "That's just not good enough," said a disappointed UL coach Stefni Lotief after the abrupt nightcap loss, one that turned into an unlikely pitchers' duel between first-time Cajun starter Amanda Hill and ULM backup Kandace Causey. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[El Sidonio]

If I had to blame it on something, it would be inconsistency/lack of rhythm. I'm not really sure exactly what that means, it just seems like the right word to describe a team that has enough talent to beat the #2 team in the nation while losing to one of the worst. Maybe these girls needed a good dose of humility that they've received this season. Maybe they needed to realize that if they don't keep their heads in the game, they're not invincible.

One thing that keeps me going, during this season, is the fact that there are hundreds of teams out there in DI softball that would love to be having a "down" season as we're having, with a 45-14 record (14-8) in conference. I guess that we just have such high expectations for our program, that anything less that absolutely dominating the SBC is frustrating.

Only thing I'm not too sure about is how well we'll do in regionals. We have the talent to go far into the postseason, but our inconsistency could possibly hurt us.

anyhoo.......

Y'all have a good one and God Bless,
Sid

p.s.- Don't forget that if this issue is one of our biggest problems, then we lead truly blessed lives

p.s.s.- I wouldn't mind it though if the good Lord blessed us with the SBC Conference Championship

[NewsCopy]

MONROE - UL's softball team came up one-half game short in its quest for a seventh straight Sun Belt Conference regular-season title. But the Ragin' Cajuns will be looking to continue an even longer success streak this week. The Cajuns have won all seven of the previous Sun Belt Tournaments since the league began the sport in 2000, and they'll enter this week's tournament in Murfreesboro, Tenn., as the second seed. UL (15-8) will meet seventh-seeded North Texas (10-14) in the opening round of the double-elimination tournament at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, after third-seeded Troy (15-9) and sixth-seeded Western Kentucky (11-13) open the tourney at 10 a.m. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

MONROE - Less than 24 hours after its most disappointing moment of the 2007 season, UL's softball team bounced back Sunday afternoon to regain momentum heading into the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. The Ragin' Cajuns, who lost their final chance at a seventh straight Sun Belt regular-season title thanks to a walk-off home run in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, jumped out to a 9-1 lead over host UL Monroe and went on to a 9-3 victory in the regular-season finale. The Cajuns (46-14, 15-8), with the win and Troy's 6-2 Sunday loss to South Alabama, finish second behind Florida Atlantic (16-8) by one-half game in the race for the regular-season title. UL will be the second seed in the Sun Belt Tournament beginning Wednesday in Murfreesboro, Tenn., and will face seventh-seeded North Texas at 12:30 p.m. in the opener of the double-elimination tournament. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

No use crying over spilled milk - or lost opportunities. UL's softball team was ready to move on Monday and begin preparations for postseason play. The Ragin' Cajuns will be in the same position next Monday, getting ready for a different level of the postseason, but they're hoping the mood will be a lot better. The UL squad had a chance to claim the program's seventh straight Sun Belt Conference regular-season title over the weekend with a sweep at UL Monroe. That didn't happen, with the hosts taking a 1-0 upset in the middle game of the three-game series. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

2007 Sun Belt Conference Softball Tournament See all the exciting action live from Murfreesboro, TN on the campus of Middle Tennessee. Don't miss a pitch and check out one of the most competitive conferences in the country for softball. Sign up now and see all the action for only $9.95. Package does not include championship game. Championship game will be live CST and CSS. Price: $9.95 Sign up Today

[Zeebart21]

9.95? Thats cheap. Im in, and thanks!

Z.

[NewsCopy]

UL's softball team didn't post the numbers it's used to getting on the All-Sun Belt Conference Team announced Tuesday on the eve of the league tournament. The Ragin' Cajuns had four first-team selections and none on the second team, after getting five, six and five first-team picks in the past three seasons and never having fewer than six overall selections since the league began softball in 2000. And, for the first time, UL was shut out on the two top awards, with regular-season league champion Florida Atlantic claiming both Player of the Year (second baseman Mandie Fishback) and Pitcher of the Year (Jen Musillo) honors. The Cajuns did claim one individual award, with pitcher Brittany Cuevas being named Freshman of the Year. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

Everyone wears a mask, in one form or another. Most are figurative in nature, meant to hide something from the outside world. Some are physical entities, intended to preserve the anonymity of the wearer. Others are worn to intimidate others. That wasn't Brittany Cuevas' plan, but if it has that effect on opposing batters, so be it. A select few are worn to protect. That was Raymond Cuevas' idea nine years ago, when he told his 10-year-old daughter that she wasn't going to be a softball pitcher without it. After all, the softball pitching circle is virtually on top of the plate, and a pitcher is only a few steps by the time a pitch reaches a batter. Hitters use metal bats, refined into weapons of destruction, and the only thing soft about those bright-yellow softballs is the name. "He sort of encouraged me to wear it," the younger Cuevas said. "The first few games, I didn't wear it because all the other kids made fun of me." The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com