Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns
Overall Rank: #28
Conference Rank: #1 Sun Belt
Louisiana Team Page
In 2011, Louisiana Lafayette won over 50 games for the tenth time in school history, while reaching the NCAA Tournament for the 13th consecutive year. Under long time Co-Head Coaches Stefni and Mike Lotief, the Ragin’ Cajuns have won 11 of the last 12 Sun Belt Conference regular season titles and post season championship tournaments. UL fielded a lethal offense during the 2011 season, leading the nation in runs per game at 7.97 and was 9th in the nation in batting average, hitting .329. This squad returns one All-American, four All-Conference selections including Pitcher of the Year Ashley Brignac and Player of the Year Christi Orgeron. With all but one of the significant contributors returning both on offense and defense, the Ragin’ Cajuns are set to continue their domination of the Sun Belt and make a run at reaching their 6th WCWS.
2011: 51-11, 19-5
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Stefni Lotief and Mike Lotief, 12th Season
Field Players:
A team loaded with talent and veteran leadership should continue to get consistent complementary performances from seniors Katie Smith and Erikka Murphy, junior Sarah Draheim and sophomore Natalie Fernandez. Smith, Murphy and Fernandez hit .352, .336 and .365 respectively and collectively they stole 52 bases and scored 124 runs while committing just four errors. UL was solid on defense all the way around, committing only 43 errors in 62 games. With seven of those miscues graduating, the Ragin’ Cagjun defense could be even better in 2012.
Pitchers:
UL has a staff of six pitchers, four returners and two freshmen. The lion’s share of the duty will again be handled by Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Brignac. She comes back for her final season after winning 32 games, the 6th highest total nationally. Brignac earned conference Pitcher of the Week honors seven times in 2011 and finished the year with an ERA of 1.50. Sophomores Christina Hamilton and Shelbee Rodgers got significant innings in 2011. Hamilton was 11-2 with a 1.76 ERA. Rodgers picked up eight wins against two losses with a 2.08 ERA. Sophomore Allie Chenault and freshmen Jordan Wallace and Maggie Ham round out the bullpen.
Who to Watch:
Senior, USA National Team member and NFCA All-American, Christi Orgeron, should again be the anchor for UL’s prolific offense. In 2011, she hit .414, led the nation with 101 RBI, finished 2nd in the country with 23 HR’s, was 5th in slugging at .866 and was 2nd to her teammate, Nerissa Myers, nationally in runs scored with 75. Junior, leadoff hitter, Nerissa Myers hit .372, had a .498 on-base percentage and led the team with 21 stolen bases. Redshirt junior Taryn Broussard, a transfer from Texas A&M, sat out 2010 after an early injury, but had six HR’s and batted .317 in limited action in 2011. Together with Mattie Hack, a junior transfer from Arizona, they could make up for the 22 HR’s and 79 RBI lost to the graduation of All-American Gabriele Bridges.
Final Projection:
With the majority of the important pieces returning after a 51 win season, UL is poised to maintain its supremacy over the Sun Belt conference, regular and post season. An experienced and deep pitching staff, anchored by Brignac, will continue to limit the defense’s job to handling the routine while the Ragin’ Cajun’s offense should stay prolific. Orgeron’s experience with international competition will only make her better. Along with Myers speed and a veteran offensive lineup, this squad will most certainly reach the NCAA tournament for the 14th time and, if the pieces all come together, the Ragin’ Cajuns have a good chance to go deep.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Nerissa Myers, IF, 196
Hits: Christi Orgeron, UTL, 87
Home Runs: Christi Orgeron, UTL, 23
RBIs: Christi Orgeron, UTL, 101
Runs: Nerissa Myers, IF, 77
Stolen Bases: Nerissa Myers, IF, 21
Wins: Ashley Brignac, P, 32
Innings Pitched: Ashey Brignac, P, 223.2
Strikeouts: Ashley Brignac, P, 244
Saves: none
Madness 2012 NPF Draft Rankings:
#13 Christi Orgeron
