ROUX Lady Cajuns Softball Adds Five for 05
Acadiana natives Karli Hubbard and Codi Runyan are among the latest additions
LOUISIANA La. - University of Louisiana head softball coach Stefni Lotief announced on Wednesday the signing of five players to National Letters of Intent for the 2005 season.
The signees, who will be a part of the incoming freshman class for the Fall 2004 semester, include Acadiana natives Karli Hubbard of Comeaux High School and Codi Runyan of Port Barre High School.
Deserea Griffin (Benton, La.), Kelsey Cammarata (Katy, Texas) and Jessica Lemoine (Bridge City, Texas) round out the Ragin' Cajuns list of signees for the early signing period which ends next Wednesday.
"All of these kids come from great families and have solid softball backgrounds," Lotief said. "They understand that signing day is the beginning of a new journey. They have dreams and aspirations to get a great college education and play ball on the biggest stage.
"Today is a proud day for these five kids and our program," Lotief added. "The future is in good hands."
Hubbard, a First Team All-Acadiana member in 2003, hit .471 at the plate and had 142 strikeouts in the pitching circle as a junior for Comeaux last year helping lead the Spartans to their third straight district title and third straight state championship appearance.
A middle infielder when not pitching, she's been a member of the All-District team the past three years and was named to the All-State squad in 2003.
"Being able to play in front of my family and friends is more than words could express," Hubbard said. "Also, being part of a team with a coaching staff that is going to take me to the next level is just unbelievable."
Runyan, a softball and basketball standout at Port Barre, is the second PBHS product to commit to the Cajuns in the last two years joining former teammate and current Cajun Michelle Bergeaux.
A shortstop for the Red Devils of District 6-2A, she is a three-time All-State performer and was a member of the 2000 state championship squad. Her highest batting average came during her sophomore year in which she sported a .500 average.
Griffin, the third Louisiana native to commit to UL Lafayette, has played shortstop and pitched for Benton High School. In her first three years with the Tigers she has hit above .400 each season including a personal-best .566 average last year as a junior.
A two-time All-State performer and three-time All-District honoree, Griffin hit three home runs in three consecutive at bats in a game this past April and turned in a 17-strikeout performance in another game. She was named the District 1-3A MVP the past two years and has been a member of the Academic All-District squad three years running.
"Deserea plays with a great enthusiasm and passion," Lotief said. "She could have gone to any school in the country, but cancelled all her visits after she met the Ragin Cajun softball team. This is where she wants to be."
Cammarata, recipient of the Katy High School Outstanding Citizenship Award and a member of the National Honor Society, is a career .394 hitter and her average for her junior year ranked in the Top 20 in the Greater Houston Area.
In her three years at Katy she led her team to an 88-11 record and was named to both the All-District and Academic All- District teams.
"I am honored and excited to be joining the Ragin' Cajuns softball program," Cammarata said. "The university, the coaches and my future teammates are a perfect fit for me. I am looking forward to a very successful four years both in the classroom and on the field."
Lemoine is coming off a junior season in which she registered a .511 batting average, clubbed four home runs and accounted for 14 doubles and four triples. A catcher for the Cardinals of Bridge City High School, she threw out 20 of 22 steal attempts while swiping 12 bases of her own.
A career .410 hitter, Lemoine was named the 2003 District 21-3A MVP and garnered All-State honors. She is a three-time member of the All-District Team and was named the 2003 Orange County Offensive Player of the Year.
Louisiana Softball Early Signees for 2005
Kelsey Cammarata (Katy, Texas - Katy HS)
Karli Hubbard (Lafayette, La. - Comeaux HS)
Deserea Griffin (Benton, La. - Benton HS)
Jessica Lemoine (Bridge City, Texas - Bridge City HS)
Codi Runyan (Port Barre, La. - Port Barre HS)
LOUISIANA SI
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