Softball: Orgeron Grabs National Player of the Week Honor

Christi Orgeron has been selected the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week for Feb. 13-19, the  Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. It is the first Player of the Week selection for the New Orleans native, who hit two grand slams en route to 15 RBI at the Mardi Gras Invitational in Lafayette, La.
 
"This award is such an honor, and it’s a team award,” Orgeron said. “From my coaches who put in the game plans, my teammates who had great at bats so I was able to see so many good pitches, our pitchers who throw us batting practice, and the fans who are always there to encourage us. I am very blessed that God has allowed me the opportunity to do what I love with an incredibly talented bunch of girls. We were able to do a lot of things right this weekend, but we also got exposed in some areas. We are looking forward to building off our successes, and learning from the failures."
 
Orgeron was named Co-Most Valuable Player of the Mardi Gras Invitational after leading her team to an 11-1 win over UTEP, a 6-4 win over Northwestern, a 9-0 win over Louisiana Tech and a 10-0 win over Northwestern State. She finished the weekend leading the team with a .615 (8-for-13) batting average, including four home runs—two of which were grand slams, and a triple.
 
Orgeron’s 15 RBI were more than any other team combined in the tournament. Louisiana Tech and Northwestern each drove in 12 runs as a team. In addition to her 15 RBI, she also had nine runs scored, more than the eight total runs managed by Northwestern State at the Mardi Gras Invitational. She finished the weekend with 22 total bases, a 1.692 slugging percentage and an on base percentage of .625.
 
"We are very proud of Christi—she is a tireless worker, a fierce competitor, pursues excellence in all she does and is a great teammate,” UL Head Coach Michael Lotief said. “We all challenge her to be the best and she certainly has raised the standard for us and made us all believe and hope and see the best in ourselves. Her story is so inspiring – from a redshirt to the USA Softball Women’s National Team, to being recognized as the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week. The recipe is as simple as it is difficult: Believe in yourself and your dreams, surround yourself with good people and do your very best day by day. It’s a good day in Cajun country because a good kid is getting a pat for doing it the right way. And trust me, she will share it and celebrate it with lots of Cajun teammates and fans. Thank you to the Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball organization for bringing this kind of recognition to our program and our community.”
 
Orgeron is on the Top 50 Watch List for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Additionally, she has accepted an invitation to try out for the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team after a successful National Team appearance in 2011.

Orgeron and the rest of the Cajuns return to action this weekend, Feb. 24-26 at the NFCA Leadoff Classics in Clearwater, Fla. UL is set to play Mississippi State, Hofstra, Boston University, Michigan and Winthrop.

RaginCajuns.com