Softball: Eight Cajuns Named All-Louisiana

Softball: Eight Cajuns Named All-Louisiana

Softball: Eight Cajuns Named All-Louisiana

2011 LSWA All-Louisiana Softball Team

Courtesy: RaginCajuns.com http://www.ragincajuns.com

 

The awards continue to pour in for the 2011 Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team as the LSWA All-Louisiana team was announced on Saturday night. Eight different Cajuns were honored by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) for their outstanding accomplishments in 2011.

Headlining the group were Christi Orgeron and Ashley Brignac who were named the Louisiana Hitter and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. The two juniors were earlier named the Sun Belt Player and Pitcher of the Year and have also both been invited to the 2011 USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp.

Orgeron, a New Orleans native, posted a career-best .414 batting average while leading the nation with 101 RBI in 2011. That triple-digit RBI total marks the third highest single-season total in NCAA history and the highest since 1996. The junior outfielder also finished the season second in the NCAA in home runs (23) and runs scored (75) and was one of 10 finalist for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award.

Brignac, a River Ridge native, posted the second 30-win season of her career in 2011, going 32-7. She recorded a 1.50 ERA and threw three no-hitters, moving her career total to seven. The right-handed fireballer struck out 244 batters in 233.2 innings for the Cajuns. The LSWA Pitcher of the Year honor is the second of Brignac’s career, who also won the award in 2008.

Joining Orgeron and Brignac on the All-Louisiana first team was Cajuns’ first baseman Gabriele Bridges, second baseman Paige Cormier and shortstop Nerissa Myers.

Bridges, a Lafitte native, capped off a stellar career with an All-American senior season. The power hitter posted a career-high .369 batting average to go along with 22 home runs and 79 RBI. The 22 home runs rank as the third most in the nation while the 79 RBI sit in second behind Orgeron. Bridges also lifted four grand slams in 2011, setting an NCAA single-season record.

Cormier, a Carencro native, in her first full year as a starter, posted a .286 batting average with five home runs and 36 RBI. The junior made her presence felt in Sun Belt play, posting a .329 batting average, the third highest on the team, and three home runs with 22 RBI.

Myers, a Petal, Miss. native, set the tone at the top of the Cajuns lineup all season. The speedy shortstop posted a .372 batting average and a .498 on base percentage while scoring 77 runs. Myers 77 runs scored places her at the top of the nation. Just as valuable was Myers’ glove as she committed just five errors at shortstop all season in 194 chances.

Two other Cajuns grabbed second team honors in catcher Sarah Draheim and designated player Natalie Fernandez.

Draheim, a sophomore from Flower Mound, Texas, posted a .296 batting average while starting all 62 games behind the plate for the Cajuns. She posted 17 extra base hits, including six home runs to go along with 52 RBI. In addition, Draheim allowed a Sun Belt-low 30 stolen bases on the year.

Fernandez, a true freshman out of Denham Springs, came on at the end of the season and finished with a .365 batting average and 34 runs scored. The freshman really made her presence felt at the NCAA Austin Regional as she sent 7-for-11 (.636) with four runs scored and a .692 on base percentage.

In addition to those seven honorees, Katie Smith received honorable mention. The junior Ruston native, returning from an ACL injury, recorded a .352 batting average on the season as she scored 55 runs, mostly from the nine-spot in the Cajuns’ lineup.

The Cajuns five, first team selections along with their eight total selections were tops among all teams in the state. To see the complete 2011 LSWA All-Louisiana Softball Team, please click the link above.

— Ragin’ Cajuns —