Softball Honored by House, Senate

BATON ROUGE, La.-Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team took a road trip to
the state capitol in Baton Rouge and was honored by both the state Senate and
House of Representatives for its performance during the 2008 season.

UL pulled up to the capitol building and were welcomed by Rep. Rickey Hardy.
The Cajuns were whisked into the House of Representatives where they were
presented with a resolution to "commend the University of Louisiana at
Lafayette softball team for an outstanding performance in the 2008 Women’s
College World Series and to congratulate its coaches and players on a
sensational 2007-2008 season."

The resolution was presented in front of the House of Representatives by
Hardy and the other members of the House representing the Acadiana area – Mr.
Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, Rep. Bobby Badon, Rep. Taylor Barras, Rep.
Simone Champagne, Rep. Page Cortez, Rep. Elbert Guillory, Rep. Mickey
Guillory, Rep. Sam Jones, Rep. Bernard LeBas, Rep. Fred Mills, Rep. Jack
Montoucet, Rep. Jonathan Perry, Rep. Joel Robideaux and Rep. Don Trahan.

>From there, the Cajuns posed for pictures with Rep. Hardy in the lobby of the
capitol. The coaches presented Rep. Hardy with a Ragin’ Cajuns softball
jersey.

The Cajuns then proceeded to the Senate where they were honored once again
with a resolution brought forward by Senators Nick Gautreaux, Mike Michot,
Don Cravins and Troy Hebert.

Following the accolades, the Ragin’ Cajuns were treated to a brief tour of
the capitol building, which included a stop in Governor Bobby Jindal’s
office.

Joining the Ragin’ Cajuns at the capitol building were Dr. Joseph Savoie –
the incoming President of the University of Louisiana; Ken Ardoin – Vice
President of University Advancement; Scott Farmer – Senior Associate Athletic
Director; and Sherry LeBas – Senior Woman Administrator.

The Cajuns ended the year with a 52-15 overall record, finishing the year
ranked sixth in the nation. The 52 wins marked the ninth time in program
history UL has amassed 50-plus wins on the year and the sixth time under the
Lotiefs.

UL finished the season with their seventh regular season Sun Belt Conference
title; their eighth SBC Tournament championship; their 18th NCAA Regional
berth; and their fifth WCWS appearance.

Holly Tankersley (Kirbyville, Texas), who hit the game-winning home run in
the eighth inning against No. 1 Florida in the first game of the WCWS, became
the program’s 13th first-team All-American and the 36th All-American overall
in school history.

Tankersley, Vanessa Soto (San Diego, Calif.) and Ashley Brignac (River Ridge,
La.) were all named to the NFCA All-South Region. Tankersley and Soto both
were first team, while the true freshman Brignac was named to the second
team.

The Ragin’ Cajuns had seven players named All-Sun Belt Conference on the
year, with Tankersley, Soto and Brignac taking Player of the Year, Newcomer
of the Year and Pitcher of the Year accolades, respectively.

The Cajuns also swept through the All-Louisiana awards, claiming the Player
of the Year (Tankersley), Pitcher of the Year (Brignac), Freshman of the Year
(Donna Bourgeois – Lafayette, La.) and Coach of the Year (Stefni Lotief)
honors, as well as placing a total of nine players on the team.

-www.RaginCajuns.com-

Chris Whitehead
UL-Lafayette Sports Information
201 Reinhardt Drive
Lafayette, LA 70506
(337) 851-2255
www.ragincajuns.com
whitehead@louisiana.edu