Stewart named SBC Pitcher of the Year; Lotief named SBC Coach of the Year for eighth time

NEW ORLEANS – Paced by three-time Student-Athlete of the Year Lexie Elkins, the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team placed a league-high seven players on the 2016 All-Sun Belt Conference Team that was released on Tuesday.

Alex Stewart, who was named the SBC Pitcher of the Year, joined Elkins, the first player in league history to win Student-Athlete of the Year honors three straight seasons, on the first team. Also named to the first-team were outfielders Shellie Landry and Aleah Craighton, shortstop DJ Sanders and designated player Sara Corbello. Second baseman Haley Hayden, a second-team selection, earned All-SBC honors for the third time in her career after being named a first-team pick in 2014 and 2015.

Head coach Michael Lotief was named the SBC’s Coach of the Year for the third straight season – and eighth time in his career – after guiding the No. 9-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns to a 40-7 overall record and 21-2 mark in league play.

Elkins, the No. 1 overall draft pick in the National Pro Fastpitch Draft and a top-25 finalist for USA Softball Player of the Year, led the nation in batting average (.538), slugging percentage (1.263) and home runs per game (0.59). The Victoria, Texas native, hit .561 with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in the season’s first month and piled up 13 multiple-hit and 12 multiple RBI games through end of March (29 games). She belted 17 home runs during the regular-season and moved into second-place on the school’s career home run chart (73).

Stewart, a second-team selection in 2015, became the seventh Ragin’ Cajuns pitcher to earn the league’s top honor after posting a 25-4 record with a 1.42 earned run average. She earned a pair of wins over No. 5 Oregon to open the 2016 season and added a win against No. 19 Baylor. She posted a 13-0 start in Sun Belt play to lead the Cajuns to the conference championship. Stewart, from Zionsville, Ind., finished the regular-season ranked in the top-10 nationally in victories (8th) and was 12th nationally in ERA, shutouts and fewest walks per seven innings. She opened the season with a career-best 11-0 start and began the season with 35.2 consecutive walk-free innings. Stewart recorded a complete game shutout in five consecutive Sun Belt starts (Mar. 19-Apr. 3) and reached at least eight strikeouts nine times during the season, with two games with a career-high 11 batters fanned.

Landry, a four-time All-SBC selection and three-time first-team choice, hit .324 on the season with 14 home runs and 51 RBI. The Broussard, La., native reached 40 hits, 50 RBI and double digit home runs for second straight season and third time in career. She led the Cajuns in RBI (51) and multiple-RBI games (17) during the regular-season and had 10 games on the season with three or more RBI. Landry ranked in the top-30 nationally in RBIs per game (26th) and was 34th in the nation in home runs per game. She led the Sun Belt Conference in RBI in league play with 35 (1.52/game) and picked up her 50th career home run, her 200th career hit and 200th career RBI during season. In a span of four Sun Belt Conference series beginning March 25 at Troy, Landry hit .457 with nine home runs and 25 RBI.

Craighton, who joined Corbello and Sanders as first-team All-SBC picks, set a career-best for home runs (16) and extra base hits (27). The Prairieville, La., native and former Dutchtown High product recorded over 50 percent of her hits (27 of 46) on the season for extra bases and posted a career-best .855 slugging percentage. She ranked in the top 20 in home runs/game (14th) and slugging percentage (11th). She hit a team-best 11 home runs against opponents ranked in the top-75 of the NCAA RPI. Craighton scored a career-high 49 runs on the season and reached 40 hits and 40 RBI a second straight season. She recorded 11 multiple-RBI games, reaching three RBI seven times.

Sanders, a sophomore from Columbus, Miss., posted career-bests in home runs (16) and RBI (51) for the Ragin’ Cajuns and finished the regular-season ranked in the top-15 nationally in home runs per game (14th). She was also ranked nationally in total home runs (20th), RBI per game (26th) and slugging percentage (46th). A solid defender, Sanders committed only seven errors through 116 chances. Among Sun Belt Conference players, Sanders ranked in the top-5 in slugging percentage, RBI and home runs. She finished the regular-season second on team with 16 multiple RBI games.

Corbello, a senior from Lake Charles, hit .308 on the season for Louisiana with a career-high 11 home runs and 27 RBI. The former Barbe High product homered in six consecutive Sun Belt games spanning the Troy and Texas State series. In Sun Belt play, Corbello was tied for third and led all designated players with nine home runs. Since late March, Corbello raised her batting average 47 points and is batting a team-best .344 with nine home runs and 19 RBI to close out the regular-season. Corbello posted a .339 batting average in Sun Belt play, a career-best mark, had a hit in all three games against No. 5 Oregon and in 2-of-3 games at No. 1 Florida.

Hayden, a junior from West Monroe, registered a hit in 37 of 47 games during the regular-season and posted a .366 average with seven home runs and 42 RBI. She reached 50 hits, 50 runs and 40 RBI for third straight season. Hayden ranked among the Top 100 NCAA Toughest to Strikeout, fanning only nine times in a team-high 180 plate appearances. She led the Ragin’ Cajuns with 17 multi-hit games during the season, registering eight since April 1. Hayden was consistent at the plate during the regular-season, hitting.362 in February, .360 in March and .388 in April. She ranked 22nd nationally in runs per game and had five three-hit games, with 15 games with multiple runs scored.

2016 Sun Belt Softball All-Conference Teams
First Team
Dixie Raley (Georgia Southern, Freshman, P, Exercise Science)
Alex Stewart (Louisiana, Junior, P, Mathematics and Economics)
Devin Brown (South Alabama, Sophomore, P, Graphic Design)
Randi Rupp (Texas State, Sophomore, P, Management)
Lexie Elkins (Louisiana, Senior, C, General Studies)
Amye Barre (ULM, Senior, 1B, History)
Kaleigh Todd (South Alabama, Sophomore, 2B, Education)
Sandra Mendoza (UT Arlington, Sophomore, 2B, Exercise Science)
DJ Sanders (Louisiana, Sophomore, SS, Biology)
Emily Messer (South Alabama, Senior, 3B, Exercise Science)
Aleah Craighton (Louisiana, Sophomore, OF, Biology)
Shellie Landry (Louisiana, Senior, OF, Exercise Science)
Rochelle Roberts (ULM, Junior, OF, Psychology)
Hannah Day (Troy, Senior, OF, Exercise Science)
Sara Corbello (Louisiana, Senior, DP, Public Relations)

Second Team
Katie Worley (Georgia State, Senior, P, Health and Physical Education)
Samantha Clakley (UT Arlington, Freshman, P, Exercise Science)
Ivie Drake (Georgia State, Sophomore, C, Early Childhood Education)
Stephanie Pilkington (South Alabama, Senior, C, Criminal Justice)
Mandy Blackwell (Georgia State, Junior, 1B, Interdisciplinary Studies)
Haley Hayden (Louisiana, Junior, 2B, Exercise Science)
Kate Benton (Troy, Senior, 2B, Physical Education)
Taylor Anderson (Georgia State, Senior, SS, Biological Science)
Corrina Liscano (Texas State, Junior, Third Base, Criminal Justice)
Emily Snider (Georgia Southern, Junior, OF, Accounting)
Haleigh Lane (South Alabama, Freshman, OF, Pre-Physical Therapy)
Haleigh Lowe (South Alabama, Sophomore, OF, Education)
Krista Rude (UT Arlington, Freshman, OF, Education)
Taylor Webb (Texas State, Sophomore, Outfield, Exercise and Sports Science)
Taylor Rogers (Georgia Southern, Junior, DP, General Studies)

Student-Athlete of the Year: Lexie Elkins, Louisiana
Pitcher of the Year: Alex Stewart, Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Dixie Raley, Georgia Southern
Coach of the Year: Michael Loteif, Louisiana