MOBILE, Ala. – Stefni Lotief was name the Sun Belt’s Co-Coach of the Year and four Cajuns earned First Team All-Sun Belt honors as the 2010 Sun Belt Softball Championship kicked off Tuesday evening in Mobile, Ala.

Donna Bourgeois, Lana Bowers, Vallie Gaspard and Melissa Verde picked up First Team All-Sun Belt honors. Gabriele Bridges and Christi Orgeron were named Second Team All-Sun Belt.

Lotief earns the distinction of the Sun Belt’s top coach for the sixth time. It is the first time since 2006 she was awarded the honor. She shares this year’s award with FIU’s Beth McClendon.

Bourgeois earns her third straight All-Sun Belt award and her second consecutive First Team honor. The junior pitcher led the league with a 20-9 record and conference-best 12 wins in Sun Belt play. Last season, Bourgeois was named the SBC’s Pitcher of the Year.

For Bowers, it is her third All-SBC honor in as many seasons. The senior catcher is currently batting a career-high .305 and finishes her career as one of the top-five defensive players all-time in Louisiana’s history.

It is the second career award for Gaspard, who leads the league with a .428 batting average. As an outfielder, she was named First Team All-Sun Belt in 2008 and was an honorable mention last season.

Verde picks up her second career distinction after being named First Team All-Sun Belt last season. She is batting .346 in the league and has started every game this season at third base.

Bridges is second on the team and the Sun Belt with 13 home runs this season. This is her second career award.

Orgeron leads the Sun Belt in home runs (15), doubles (16) and RBI (XX). Last season, she picked up Second Team All-Sun Belt and was named the league’s Freshman of the Year.

The Cajuns will start tournament play tomorrow. UL will take on the No.8-seed Middle Tennessee at 3:00 p.m. CT in Mobile, Ala.

First Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Kasey Barrett (FIU, Senior, Pitcher)
Donna Bourgeois (Louisiana, Junior, Pitcher)
Lana Bowers (Louisiana, Senior, Catcher)
Mallory Cantler (North Texas, Junior, First Base)
Brie Rojas (FIU, Freshman, Second Base)
Jessy Alfonso (FIU, Freshman, Third Base)
Melissa Verde (Louisiana, Senior, Third Base)
Blair Bodenmiller (Florida Atlantic, Senior, Shortstop)
Ashley McClain (FIU, Sophomore, Outfield)
Vallie Gaspard (Louisiana, Senior, Outfield)
Brianna Love (ULM, Junior, Outfield)
Nikki Hollett (Troy, Sophomore, Designated Player)

Second Team All-Sun Belt Conference
Ashley Lail (North Texas, Senior, Pitcher)
Taylor Fawbush (Florida Atlantic, Freshman, Pitcher)
Roxane Cassel (ULM, Sophomore, Catcher)
Gabriele Bridges (Louisiana, Junior, First Base)
Brittany Fowler (South Alabama, Freshman, Second Base)
Lindsay Antone (WKU, Senior, Third Base)
Kayla Burri (FIU, Freshman, Shortstop)
Christi Orgeron (Louisiana, Sophomore, Outfield)
Mariza Martinez (North Texas, Junior, Outfield)
Jessica Myers (Florida Atlantic, Senior, Outfield)
Mallorie Sulaski (WKU, Freshman, Designated Player)

Player of the Year
Ashley McClain (FIU, Sophomore, Outfield)

Pitcher of the Year
Kasey Barrett (FIU, Senior, Pitcher)

Freshman of the Year
Brie Rojas (FIU, Freshman, Second Base)

Co-Coaches of the Year
Beth McClendon, FIU
Stefni Lotief, UL