Wasn't it just the other day that Tiffany Hebert joined Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball team?

It seems that way to the Breaux Bridge product and former Teurlings Catholic star, but she's heading into the homestretch of her senior year.

"Time flew by," said Hebert, who turned 22 on Monday. "When I first got here, the seniors told me to enjoy it, that things would go by fast. They were right.

"It seems like it was just yesterday that I came here. Now we're the seniors, trying to teach the younger players the ropes."

Hebert, Joy Webre, Crystal George, Brooke Mitchell and Jill Robertson are this year's seniors, looking at just four more regular-season home playing dates in their UL careers. Their work ethic and open nature have helped the No. 14 Cajuns to a 34-7 record.

"The team is very close," Hebert said. "It's like having 20 sisters. If you need somebody to talk to, there's somebody there. Me, Joy and Crystal are best friends. When one of us struggles, we're best friends and help each other through it."

Hebert recalled being awed by All-American shortstop Alana Addison when she joined the Cajun program, and being reluctant to confide in her. It's different this season.

"The freshmen come to us a lot," Hebert said. "They have questions. They ask us 'Do you ever feel like this?' When I was a freshman, I lived at home, and that helped. Some of these girls are far from home."

If this year's freshmen are looking for a role model, they could do worse than Hebert, who arrived as a second baseman, moved to shortstop when Robertson was injured in 2004 and is now stationed at third base in part to open the door for freshman Codi Runyan.

"Out of any of the players we have out here, Tiffany has made the most dramatic incremental jumps," co-head coach Michael Lotief said. "She had played second base her whole career, then when Jill went down she moved to short.

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Bruce Brown
bbrown@theadvertiser.com