UL junior first baseman Matte Haack has no desire to criticize anyone or take shots at any team or conference.

There’s just no arguing with the reality of the situation.

Haack went from one softball powerhouse in Arizona to a program in UL that’s been in 22 of the last 23 NCAA tournaments.

The results are clear. Haack fits in much better with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

"It’s hard to explain," Haack said. "It’s just different here. There’s definitely a different style here and coming from Texas, I’m just more comfortable here. I couldn’t be more happy to be here.

"It’s just more my style here. The culture (in Arizona) is just completely different. It wasn’t that I didn’t fit in there. I loved my team and I loved my teammates. It just wasn’t the right place for me."

So far this season, Haack continues to enjoy quite a honeymoon season with the Cajuns. She takes a .341 batting average in to this weekend’s NCAA Regional at Lamson Park along with 12 doubles, a triple, seven home runs, a .551 slugging percentage and four stolen bases.

"We’ve had a great season so far, but the best part is yet to come," Haack said.

UL co-head coach Michael Lotief feels the same about Haack. The Katy, Texas native has provided steady bat in the middle of the lineup, but Lotief is convinced that Cajun fans haven’t seen her best just yet.

"I really think Matte is going to break out this weekend," Lotief said. "There’s never been any doubt about her talent level, or she wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity to play at Arizona. She’s one of the best — top five percent of all hitters I’ve been around — as far as pitch recognition skills.

"She’s there. It’s just a question of her believing it and executing it."

Being the daughter of a successful high school coach, Lotief said the mental side of the game is a plus for Haack.

"She just has a feel for the game," he said. "She understands the game. She sees the game and feels the game at a level that very few do."

Coming to a new program, Haack had the natural questions, feeling that she had made the right decision to transfer, but still looking for that verification.

That came almost immediately.

"Just in the fall and working out in the weightroom, I could tell how good this team was going to be," Haack said. "I knew then that there wasn’t anybody we couldn’t beat."

Those initial impressions helped both ways.

"It’s worked out great," Lotief said. "I think she kind of challenged our kids and I think our kids kind of challenged her. When you have a player who has played at Arizona in the Pac-12 and comes here and says that our players and our program are just as good as those, it makes you feel like you’re doing the right things.

"And then our girls helped her by telling her how talented she was and challenging her to get better. It’s definitely been a win-win."

As smooth as the transition has been, there was some adjusting. The most obvious change was Haack becoming a first baseman after being a lifetime shortstop.

"We all work together on the infield," Haack said. "The other infielders helped me a lot as far as what to do. Going to a different side of the field was a big adjustment.

"After playing it, I learned that first base has a bigger responsibility than some people think. It’s not just catching the ball when people throw it to you."

As a hitter, Haack has developed more consistency than her first two college seasons at Arizona.

"When I struggled early here, I knew I was going to get another chance," Haack said. "It was different there. There was a shorter leash. If you struggle, it’s ‘Who’s next?’ I’m definitely more comfortable here. I think there’s a complete correlation between that comfort level and the results on the field."

Now that Haack has made the adjustment to Lotief’s hitting style, she has begun to refine her skills.

"I’m definitely no where close to being where I need to be, but I think I’ve made a lot of progress this season," she said. "I definitely think I’ve improved on my two-strike approach to minimize strikeouts."

Now comes the most important time of the season for Haack and her teammates to put what they’ve learned all season into action.

Once the regional field was unveiled. Haack moved to front and center in team talks. First, there’s Stanford, which Haack played against during her two years at Arizona. And then Baylor, from her home state of Texas.

"They’ve asked me about the pitchers and about styles of play," Haack said. "All the teams are formidable. We’ll be prepared for all of them.

"We just need to compete one through nine and play every game pitch by pitch. I think we’re ready. I know we can do it."

NCAA SOFTBALL REGIONAL

Friday’s Games
3:30 "” Baylor vs. Stanford
6 p.m. "” Mississippi Valley State vs. Louisiana
Saturday’s Games
1 p.m. "” Game 1 vs. Game 2 winners
3:30 "” Game 1 vs. Game 2 losers
6 p.m. "” Game 4 winners vs. Game 3 loser
Sunday’s Games
1 p.m. "” Game 3 vs. Game 5 winners
3:30 "” Finals (if necessary)
Ticket information
» Tournament booklets for all games are $24 for general admission in outfield bleachers.
» General admission tickets are still available and will go on sale at 10 a.m. today at the Cajundome box office.
» Fans who have ordered tickets for the softball regional may pick them up at 10 a.m. today.
more inside
Stanford prepares to face Baylor Bears, Page 3D