Softball: 7 Cajuns Make All-Time Sun Belt Team

Softball: 7 Cajuns Make All-Time Sun Belt Team

Brooke Mitchell, Lotief take player, coach honors

Dan McDonald
dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com

NEW ORLEANS – It should come as no surprise that the University of Louisiana softball team swept the top honors on the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time softball team announced Wednesday.
What is surprising is that UL – holder of all five of the league’s regular-season and tournament titles since softball became a Sun Belt sport, and boasting 15 NCAA appearances in the last 16 seasons – didn’t have the most players on the squad.

Western Kentucky – holder of zero conference titles and zero NCAA appearances – had seven players on the league’s 30-year anniversary team, while the Cajuns had six.

The two top honors went to pitcher Brooke Mitchell, named the league’s All-Time Player, and Stefni Lotief, named the All-Time Coach. The selections were made by a 26-member media panel and are being conducted in each of the league’s sports this year as part of the Sun Belt’s 30-year anniversary celebration.
Cajun selections to the team included Mitchell, shortstop Alana Addison (1999-2002), third baseman Lynn Britton (1993-96), outfielder Danyele Gomez (2003-present), pitcher Kyla Hall (1991-94) and Lotief, who as Stefni Whitton (1987-90) also earned player honors on the team.

Jennifer Owens, FIU, 2001-04; Amanda Nealer, FIU, 2002-05; Kelly Nicosia, FIU, 2000-02; Stefni Whitton, Louisiana, 1987-90; Brooke Mitchell, Louisiana, 2002-05; Kyla Hall, Louisiana, 1991-94; Lynn Britton, Louisiana, 1993-96; Alana Addison, Louisiana, 1999-2002; Danyele Gomez, Louisiana, 2003-present; Cortney Mitchell, MTSU, 2003-04; Jennifer Martinez, MTSU, 1999-2002; Mel Briggs, New Mexico State, 1999-2002; Christine Stevens, New Mexico State, 1999-2003; Veronica Owens, New Mexico State, 2003-04; Stephanie Cranmer, North Texas, 2004-05; Sara Alanis, WKU, 2000-02; Shelly Floyd, WKU, 2002-05; Riley Garcia, WKU, 2001-04; Adrienne Lathrop, WKU, 2003-present; Renita Pennington, WKU, 2002-05; Jessie Richardson, WKU, 2000-04; Allison Soliver, WKU, 2001-04.

All-Time Player: Brooke Mitchell, Louisiana.

All-Time Coach: Stefni Lotief, Louisiana.

UL Representatives

ALL-TIME PLAYER

Brooke Mitchell (2002-05) – 2004 All-American, led UL to upset of No. 1 Arizona in 2004 NCAA Regional … Pitched Cajuns to 2003 Women’s College World Series … Cajun career leader in wins (119) and strikeouts (1,309) and second all-time in no-hitters (10).

ALL-TIME COACH

Stefni Lotief (2001-05) – Five straight Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles, every year that softball has been a Sun Belt sport, as well as five NCAA post-season appearances … Has a 259-52 (.833) career record including an 84-6 (.933) record in Sun Belt regular-season play … Has a 16-0 Sun Belt post-season record.

PLAYERS

Alana Addison (1999-2002), Shortstop – 2001 All-American and NCAA RBI champion … Member of USA 2003 Elite Team … Leads UL with 57 career home runs, 221 RBI, 108 walks and 508 total bases … Ranks second with 216 runs and fifth with 268 hits.

Lynn Britton (1993-96), Third Base – Four-time All-American, the first in UL history … Holds career .359 batting average with 26 home runs, 152 RBI and a .962 fielding percentage.

Danyele Gomez (2003-present), Outfield – One of only two still-active players selected … Already second in career home runs and fourth in RBI … 2005 All-American and 2003 All-American as a true freshman … Only player in history to hit 20 homers in a season twice.

Kyla Hall (1991-94), Pitcher – Three-time All-American … Holds school records with 0.50 career ERA, 17 no-hitters and 56 shutouts … Second in school history with 104 victories and 820 strikeouts.

Stefni Lotief (1987-90), Pitcher – First UL All-American, earning that honor twice … Posted 78 wins, 576 strikeouts, six no-hitters and 55 shutouts during career … Only walked 60 batters in 747 career innings.