It would almost seem impossible for a player to be the leading hitter as an everyday starter on a team ranked in the top 10 nationally and be overlooked.

And yet in many ways, that’s exactly what’s happened to UL sophomore third baseman Natalie Fernandez … at least in the eyes of most.

While Fernandez has mastered her slapping approach to the tune of a .444 batting average to lead the Ragin’ Cajuns in that category, she’s got zero doubles, zero triples, zero homers and only driven in seven runs to go with eight stolen bases.

So on a slugging team that leads the nation in runs scored at 9.5 a game, it can be easy to focus on stars such as Christi Orgeron and Nerissa Myers and look past Fernandez.

UL co-head coach Michael Lotief, however, claims he’s never been in that number.

"She hasn’t gotten lost with us," Lotief said. "I promise you that."

In addition to her lofty batting average and table-setting at the bottom of the lineup, Fernandez’s true value on the 26-0 Ragin’ Cajuns is her defensive play at the hot corner.

"She’s playing one of the toughest position on the field," Lotief said. "You have to be able to defend the short game.

"She plays most of the game 45 or 50 feet from the plate and she’s taken some shots at her and just turns them into outs."

In high school, Fernandez played mostly shortstop, played some third as a freshman a year ago and has turned into the everyday third baseman this year. In fact, some feel one of the biggest unknown secrets to UL’s undefeated start is Fernandez’s defensive play at third.

"It’s probably been what she’s been able to do defensively," Lotief said. "At times, she just takes away the short game of the opposition

"She’s a phenomenal athlete and a fierce competitor. The kid is just good."

Cajuns No. 8

Many were wondering exactly how high the UL Ragin’ Cajun softball team would rise up the two major national Top 25 polls. They settled for a No. 8 landing spot in both the USA Today/NFCA and the ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.

In Monday’s weekly press luncheon, Lotief dismissed the thought that the Cajuns are disrespected on the national scene.

"Over the last 30 years, a foundation has been built that’s respected," he said. "I’ve never felt slighted and I don’t use that with our team. At the end of the day, it’s decided on the field. All you want is a chance to prove yourself on the field."

Defending national champion Arizona State, which lost to UL 9-2 in last week’s Judi Garman Classic, was ranked No. 5 in one poll and No. 6 in the other.

Georgia Tech, which is scheduled for a 5 p.m. doubleheader at Lamson Park on Thursday, is in the "also receiving votes" section of both polls.

Mechanical team

During Saturday’s rain-out day at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif, Lotief said he was able to check out some of the NCAA Tournament action on television and was struck by the contrast of emotions.

"At the end of the game, one team is totally elated and the other group is totally destroyed," he said. "It’s just a game, but the emotions are real."

While Lotief quickly suggested that his players regularly perform with that kind of emotion, he also admitted that this year’s team is "more mechanical" than some teams in the past.

He credited the total concentration and leadership of the team’s fifth-year seniors for keeping the Cajuns focused on a game-by-game basis.

"When you commit five years of your life to something, you get better and better," Lotief said. "I think they’re just better at competing. It’s not that they weren’t competing hard before. They’re just competing at a higher level now.

"And I think that’s a big reason why the younger kids are able to play free and easy."