Ragin' Cajun Blog: Cajuns to sign five softball recruits

[Parrott]

My blog with a recruiting update on softball:

http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pb...Id=personaDest

[J-Town Cajun]

Thanks. I believe most UL fans here enjoy reading which other unviersities were interested or had offered. Gives us an idea what caliber of player we signed. Although the Lotief's has an excellent track record of finding a diamond in the rough or developing players.

[CajunRed]

We're reloading...AGAIN!

igeaux.mobi

[HoustonCajun]

_ Thanks. I believe most UL fans here enjoy reading which other unviersities were interested or had offered. Gives us an idea what caliber of player we signed. Although the Lotief's has an excellent track record of finding a diamond in the rough or developing players. _

That's a big difference from our football committments who seem to all be offered by SWAC and Southland schools only, with some exceptions and improving. Maybe that's another reason we are so bad, in addition to coaching and injuries.

[CajunT]

_ That's a big difference from our football committments who seem to all be offered by SWAC and Southland schools only, with some exceptions and improving. Maybe that's another reason we are so bad, in addition to coaching and injuries. _

Houston, I've had two coaches rcently tell me that with the talent UL football has if healthy and the schedule in place, will should get to a bowl next season with a new staff.
We do have a number of kids that were recruited by SLC programs, but any program can offer a kid. Most recruiting sites, Rivals and Scout will only list the top programs that offered an athlete. Many of the top athletes have 20 or more offers, you think UL is listed on those athletes bio on signing day? I can't tell you how many kids currently on LSU's roster were offered by the Cajuns. You think that was mentioned on signing day?

[CrazyCajun]

everytime, josh ,stevie or jay interview an opponents coach all they talk about is how talented we are. I bet more than a few of the coaches in the sunbelt would love to have a lot of our players. Talent doesnt always translate into wins. COACHING and talent does.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Houston, I've had two coaches rcently tell me that with the talent UL football has if healthy and the schedule in place, will should get to a bowl next season with a new staff.
We do have a number of kids that were recruited by SLC programs, but any program can offer a kid. Most recruiting sites, Rivals and Scout will only list the top programs that offered an athlete. Many of the top athletes have 20 or more offers, you think UL is listed on those athletes bio on signing day? I can't tell you how many kids currently on LSU's roster were offered by the Cajuns. You think that was mentioned on signing day? _

I'm told that we have the best talent maybe we have ever had here and agree with what you said. All I'm saying is that UL's recruiting class year in and year out is in the bottom 10% of 1A football by all recruiting services and our records seem to reflect that. These recruiting services may not have any merit outside of the BCS conferences. And, not winning and not going to bowl games on top of seeing recruits as only being recruited by Jackson State, Prairie View, and UL (for example) presents a negative perception of our program by the uninformed general public and our fans. Having the talent and not translating that into a winning program causes people to make that connection. Perception DOES mean a lot and this is just another in the long list of things that negatively impact our perception.

[Parrott]

_ Thanks. I believe most UL fans here enjoy reading which other unviersities were interested or had offered. Gives us an idea what caliber of player we signed. Although the Lotief's has an excellent track record of finding a diamond in the rough or developing players. _

I wanted to get this story out before signing day because softball can get lost in the shuffle with men's basketball, baseball, etc.

It took some time to get in touch with all five of those young ladies, but they definitely fit the profile of what the Lotiefs want to have here. Tremendous players and young people.

[Parrott]

Paperwork has been received for all five softball recruits.


igeaux.mobi

[CAJUN_LXA685]

Hopefully our winning tradition will continue in Softball and we will make it back to the World Series this year!! So close last year, this could be our year.

[HoustonCajun]

_ Hopefully our winning tradition will continue in Softball and we will make it back to the World Series this year!! So close last year, this could be our year. _

Man, I love the red Gator. That should be our mascot. Let's call him Louie (for Louisiana).

[NewsCopy]

With Wednesday marking the beginning of the NCAA's early signing period, the Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball program has announced the signing of five players for its 2011 class.

Maggie Ham, Meagan Thomas, Jordan Wallace, Samantha Walsh and Peyton Webb have all signed National Letters of Intents to join the Cajuns for the 2012 season.

This year's class consists of two pitchers and three infielders. The group contains four players from the state of Texas and one from nearby New Iberia.

"In this class we have signed five competitors that have all played at very high levels," co-head coach Michael Lotief said. "They all know how to win because they have all won at various levels. They also know the importance of academics and will be great fits into the Ragin' Cajuns family."

Maggie Ham comes to the Cajuns from George West High School in George West, Texas. Ham has been a three year letterwinner for the Lady Horns, spending the majority of her time in the pitcher's circle.

In her three seasons thus far, Ham has led George West to a combined 86-17 record. The Lady Horns won the Texas 2A State Championship last season, as well as the District Championship in all three of her seasons.

Last season, Ham was named the Texas 2A State Tournament MVP and the 2A Player of the Year after posting a 0.26 ERA with 498 strikeouts and 12 no-hitters. She has played summer travel ball for the Corpus Christi Panthers.

"Maggie Ham has great instincts and knows how to get batters out," Lotief said. "She is a very loyal kid that is all about her team and what is best for it."

The Cajuns next signee, Jordan Wallace comes from Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Texas. She helped lead the Lady Roos to District Championships in 2008 and 2009 and to the Texas State Playoffs in all three of her seasons thus far.

Wallace was named the 2010 District Pitcher of the Year and was also placed on the All-District Academic Team.

Last season, Wallace posted a 0.72 ERA with 331 strikeouts and seven no-hitters. In Weatherford's final district game of the season, she threw 14 innings and recorded 24 K's. She has played summer travel ball for the Texas Fusion.

"Her mechanics are very fundamentally sound," Lotief explained. "Her progress has been steady in the time we have been watching her and she is definitely going in the right direction."

"I am honored to be a part of the UL family, to have coaches that care about the development of their players on and off of the field," Wallace said of her signing with the Cajuns. "I'm excited to have the chance to contribute to such a competitive program."

"We have signed two pitchers that are not afraid to get into the circle and set the tone," Lotief said of the Cajuns signees. "To have two premier pitchers in the same class is outstanding."

The Cajuns next signee, Meagan Thomas, comes to UL from nearby New Iberia Senior High School. She has played both second base and shortstop for the Yellow Jackets for the past three seasons. She helped her team to Co-District Championships in 2008 and 2010.

Thomas was named First Team All-District in 2009 and 2010 as well as Best of the Teche Shortstop in both seasons. She was a 2009 and 2010 Most Valuable Player as well as 2008 Most Outstanding Defensive Player.

Thomas hit .467 and swiped 17 bases while committing zero errors a season ago. The speedster has played summer travel ball for the Louisiana United.

"Meagan is very athletic and a great addition to the Ragin' Cajuns family," assistant coach Chris Malveaux said. "It's nice to add a bit of local talent to the roster and especially in a player that plays the game with so much passion."

"Signing with UL makes me feel that all of my hard work and sacrifice has paid off," Thomas said of her signing. "I'm excited for the chance to compete against the best players and to continue to grow as an athlete and as a person."

Samantha Walsh comes to UL from Ingleside High School in Ingleside, Texas where she has played shortstop for three seasons now. She has helped the Mustangs to three Texas State Playoff appearances.

Walsh has twice been named a First Team All-District shortstop, and last season was named Second Team All-South Texas shortstop.

Walsh hit .389 a season ago and is a perfect 82-for-82 in the stolen base category on her career. She is a summer travel ball teammate of Ham's with the Corpus Christ Panthers.

"Samantha is a very versatile player. I can see her playing any position on the diamond," Lotief said. "She is a very good middle infielder that has the range to play that position. You can just tell that she loves to play the game."

The final signee, Peyton Webb, comes to the Cajuns by way of Montgomery High School in Montgomery, Texas. She has been a three year letterwinner at third base and led Montgomery to a District Championship in each of the past two seasons.

Webb was named the Conroe Courier All-County MVP a year ago after posting 12 home runs. She was Co-Defensive Player of Year for her team during her freshman season, and Offensive Player of the Year in both her sophomore and junior seasons.

"It takes a very special person to play third base, and Webb has all the tools that it takes," Lotief said. "She has the smarts and the enthusiasm to play a very tough position. She's also a kid with local ties that really understands the Ragin' Cajuns culture."

"Both Peyton and Samantha have the potential to be great offensive weapons for us," Lotief explained. "They both have a very good combination of speed and power."

These five players will complete the Cajuns early signing class, but UL is still looking to add a couple of more signees later in the year for their 2012 roster.

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns 2011 Signing Class

Maggie Ham P George West, Texas (George West HS)
Meagan Thomas SS New Iberia, La. (New Iberia Senior HS)
Jordan Wallace P Weatherford, Texas (Weatherford HS)
Samantha Walsh SS Ingleside, Texas (Ingleside HS)
Peyton Webb 3B Montgomery, Texas (Montgomery HS)

The rest of the story

UL-SI