Stefni Lotief among the best ever

[TheRaginCajun06]

GEAUX CAJUNS!

[NewsCopy]

If an athlete succeeds 30 percent of the time in softball, that can be a good day. Teams, on the other hand, can collectively do much better. Take the Louisiana Lady Cajuns. In five years under co-head coaches Stefni and Michael Lotief, UL has won 259 games and lost 52, an .833 winning percentage that ranks Lotief No. 3 in the nation among active coaches. They've won five straight Sun Belt Conference championships. They are the face of softball in the league and the gold standard for the sport. They've been regulars in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Women's College World Series in 2003 and following that with a 60-8 record in 2004. Last year's Cajuns finished 51-10, bowing out in NCAA Regional action behind a senior class that included pitcher Brooke Mitchell, outfielders Jill Robertson and Crystal George, catcher Joy Webre and infielder Tiffany Hebert. Despite losing that sterling quintet, UL enters the 2006 campaign ranked No. 18 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 21 by ESPN.com/USA Softball. The rest of the story Bruce Brown bbrown@theadvertiser.com

[NewsCopy]

It wasn't a surprise that the best power hitter in University of Louisiana softball history put her team in position to rally for an improbable win Saturday afternoon. The surprise was that Western Kentucky gave Danyele Gomez that chance. Gomez drilled a 1-2 fastball into the teeth of a howling wind and over the left-center field wall in the bottom of the seventh inning, tying their Sun Belt Conference series opener. Three extra innings later, Tara Hamilton's looping single plated Desi Chatman with the game-winner as the Cajuns survived in a 3-2 decision over the Hilltoppers. "What else is there to say?," said Cajun coach Stefni Lotief. "For her to hit one out on a day like this ... but I've learned with her that anything's possible." Gomez' homer, her nation-leading 26th of the season, capped a comeback from a 2-0 deficit, and Hamilton's single off WKU losing pitcher Adrienne Lathrop kept UL (41-9, 8-2 Sun Belt) in first place in the league race. The second game of Saturday's scheduled doubleheader was postponed due to the expected storms that hit the area. The teams will play a twinbill beginning at noon today at Lamson Park, with UL's six seniors honored in Senior Day activities at approximately 11:50 a.m. The 13th-ranked Cajuns outhit the Hilltoppers by a 12-3 margin, but WKU (25-25, 4-6 Sun Belt) put two of those together in the top of the fifth inning when Amanda Ford-Feitz singled and Cajun pitcher Ashley Kirchberg walked Sam Young with one out, Lathrop followed with a double to the wall in right-center field that scored both runners. The rest of the story Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

[Turbine]

2006 after six years as Lady Cajuns softball coach

She has coached 373 games and crossed the 300 win threshold duing the 2006 season. Stef went on to finish her 6th year with a 50-12 record.

Career wise she has 309 wins against only 64 losses for an .828 winning percentage AND an average of 51.5 wins per year.

I know Stefni give full credit to co-head coach and husband Michael Lotief and he deserves it. Together they are the best. Mike give full credit to Stefni and their players. and so the cycle of success continues.

You both do us fans proud.

[NewsCopy]

As Stefni Whitton, she was UL's first softball All-American as a pitcher and also was an Academic All-American. She helped UL's softball program gain recognition as a player and has continued that high level of excellence as a coach with her husband, co-head coach Michael Lotief, since taking over the program in 2001. As UL heads to this weekend's Judi Garman Classic in California, the Cajuns boast a 333-70 record under Lotief, including the school's fourth trip to the Women's College World Series in 2003. Her program is known for its family atmosphere and devoted fans. "I think it's the Cajun culture," Lotief said. "And I think what you see are the relationships you make along the way in life. The kids get the opportunity to be appreciated and also to build a relationship with the fans. It bridges the gap for them between high school and their adult lives. "That's what makes it so special here. People ask me about recruiting, and I just point to the environment here and let them get a chance to meet the young women on the team." The rest of the story

Photo's of Stephni's latest team provided by Marsha Weber and Lisa Hebert

[Turbine]

I predicted 40 wins this year for the Lady Cajuns Softball team but here we are at the half way point and the Lady Cajuns have 26 wins.

UL's softball squad is well on their way to reaching their average of 51.5 wins.

And this was supposed to be a down year, but it's not

Geaux Ladies, Rage on Cajuns.

[IHateLaState]

Anyone notice that 2 of the top 5 all-time winningest coaches have Ragin' Cajuns ties? WOW! Way to go, Stefni! A tip of the cap to Yvette, too.

One of the two loves this university... The other I have no use for

[Zeebart21]

One of the two loves this university... The other I have no use for

ditto.

[NewsCopy]

March 28, 1989

University of Louisiana pitchers Cathy McAllister and Stefni Whitton (Lotief) pitch back-to-back perfect games against Southeastern Louisiana, a first in NCAA Division I softball history.

McAllister has 10 strikeouts in a 5-0 victory.
Stefni Whitton (now coach Lotief) has 14 strikeouts in a 7-0 triumph.