Softball: Cajuns not focusing on WCWS spotlight

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, May 28, 2014

UL’s Gabby Felps (12) celebrates a home run during the Cajuns’ Super Regional win over Arizona this past weekend at Lamson Park. (Photo: Paul Kieu/The Advertiser )

Some of them are honestly tired at the end of a long season filled with excitement and anxiety.

Others don’t look at these precious few days of preparation in between winning the Super Regional series over Arizona and taking on Kentucky in the Women’s College World Series as any different than than the break between the NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals.

And a few are still kind of pinching themselves to make sure that it’s all real.

All of them, however, are convinced that the No. 6 overall national seed Ragin’ Cajuns (49-8-1) are going to be mentally prepared for the challenge that is the Women’s College World Series when they take on No. 14 Kentucky at 6 p.m. Thursday on ESPN2 in Oklahoma City.

"Sometimes, it’s still like ‘Wow, I can’t believe it,’ but then again, this isn’t what our goal was at the beginning of the season," senior Natalie Fernandez said. "It’s very exciting. It’s what every little girl dreams about, but we can’t afford to get star-struck by just going there. Our goal is to win the national championship."

Click here for video of Coach Lotief and players.

Sophomore first baseman Kelsey Vincent, for instance, went all the way as to look at Monday as just another day at practice.

"I guess I don’t really know what it’s supposed to feel like, because I’ve never been there," Vincent said. "I don’t know if there’s supposed to be this big difference, but they’ve kind of seemed like normal days to me."

In fact, Vincent pointed to some advice coach Michael Lotief gave his young team to help battle any potential nerves during NCAA Regional and Super Regional play.

"He talked to us about playing free," Vincent said. "He said the team that plays free and easy are the teams that are going to get the big hits and the teams that are going to make the big pitches. If you get too cautious and too uptight, it’s going to go the other way."

While this is the first trip to Oklahoma City for this program since 2008, it won’t be the first time visiting ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Senior leftfielder Shelbi Redfearn actually played in the WCWS for the Baylor Bears during her freshman season, while freshman centerfielder Haley Hayden made multiple trips as a fan growing up.

"It’s very exciting going back," Redfearn said. "This is definitely the group of girls I want to go with. I wouldn’t want to go with any other team. We really haven’t had much time to talk about it (previous trip to WCWS in Oklahoma City). I’m sure they will ask me a few questions about it on the way there.

"But we can’t just bask in the glory of it. We’re going there to win the national championship."

For Hayden, it literally is a dream come true to play on the same field that she’s witnessed so many great WCWS showdown in the past on with her own eyes.

"It really is a dream come true for me," Hayden said. "I remember seeing Arizona with Taryne Mowatt and UCLA with Megan Langenfeld in 2010. I’ve seen so many great players on that field and now to actually be a player on that field is incredible. When we won (Super Regional), I had tears. It’s just been awesome."

While there are plenty of reasons for this team with just two seniors and six underclassmen in the starting lineup, Lotief maintains each one’s individual struggles have made them tougher.

"You’re not just born tough," Lotief said. "You don’t just automatically become tough. To become tough, you have to go through tough situations. When you go through tough times and you feel like you’re letting your teammates down, it makes you tougher. It makes you better."

Whether it’s injuries, long hitting slumps or subpar seasons, nearly every player has had mental and/or physical obstacles to overcome in order to get the Cajuns to this point.

"I’ve said it all year long, we may have a young team, but these girls don’t play like freshmen and sophomores," Fernandez said.

Women’s College World Series

Thursday, May 29

G1: #5 Florida vs. #13 Baylor, 11 a.m., ESPN

G2: #1 Oregon vs. #8 Florida State, 1:30 p.m., ESPN

G3: #6 UL vs. #14 Kentucky, 6 p.m., ESPN2

G4: #2 Alabama vs. Oklahoma, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Friday, May 30

G5: Game 1 vs. Game 2 winners, 6 p.m., ESPN2

G6: Game 3 vs. Game 4 winners, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2

Saturday, May 31

G7: Game 1 vs. Game 2 losers, 11 a.m., ESPN2

G8: Game 3 vs. Game 4 losers, 1:30 p.m., ESPN2

G9: Game 7 winner vs. Game 5 loser, 6 p.m., ESPN

G10: Game 8 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 8:30 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, June 1

G11: Game 5 vs. Game 9 winners, Noon, ESPN

G12: Game 6 vs. Game 10 winners, 2:30 p.m., ESPN

G13: Necessary if Game 5 Winner loses Game 11, 6 p.m., ESPNU

G14: Necessary if Game 6 Winner loses Game 12, 8:30 p.m., ESPNU

Note: If only one "if necessary" game is needed, then it will start at 6 p.m. on Sunday

Championship Finals

(all games scheduled for 7 p.m. starts)

Monday, June 2: Game One (ESPN2)

Tuesday, June 3: Game Two (ESPN)

Wednesday, June 4: Game Three — if necessary (ESPN)