Softball: Lotief ‘at peace’ with season

UL’s Samantha Walsh may move to shortstop next season, but either way more will be expected from here at the plate. / Daniel Brenner/Ann Arbor.com

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, June 2, 2013

It’s not that UL softball coach Michael Lotief tried any less or fought any harder in either of the last two Super Regionals.

But the most recent trip home sure felt a lot better to Lotief than the one a year ago around this time.

In the 2012 Super Regionals, the Cajuns lost to defending national champion Arizona State 8-0 in the rubber game to end a spectacular 53-6 campaign.

Last weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., the 2013 version of the Cajuns lost 2-1 in the rubber game to end a roller coaster season at 47-15.

“I was very frustrated last year,” Lotief said. “Like I said after that game, I thought we were one of the top three teams in the country last year. I thought we were going to win the national championship last year. I thought we had all the pieces.”

The 2013 Cajuns certainly weren’t as polished this time around. At one point during this past season, UL lost nine of 13 games. The 2012 Cajuns obviously didn’t lose nine games all season.

“Our kids just kept fighting,” Lotief said. “We were undermanned a little bit. We understood that, but this team did all it could. They all kept fighting. They all kept believing. I’m at peace with how this team finished. I’m very proud of them.”

With all of that said, Lotief joined Cajun fans everywhere realizing exactly how close UL came to returning to Oklahoma City for the sixth time in the program’s history.

The difference is that Lotief refuses to dwell on the negative plays from last week’s series loss, unlike many others.

“Sure, there were some plays that we could have made and didn’t, but that’s not what I’m going to focus on,” he said. “This group never played perfect like last year’s team, but this group just kept fighting. They kept working. I choose to focus on all the plays that they did make (during Super Regionals).”

The scenario that still sticks in Lotief’s mind is the half-inning before Michigan delivered its game-winning two-run double. With a 1-0 lead, Brianna Cherry singled to left with a runner at second, but Lotief had to hold the runner. Then Sarah Draheim smashed a line drive, but it was right at the shortstop.

“If it (Cherry’s hit) was five feet more to the right or the left, she scores,” Lotief said. “And then Sarah just smoked that ball. We just didn’t get a break right now.

“Things didn’t bounce our way in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and then they did in Baton Rouge. But the girls kept fighting all the way. I’m very comfortable with our effort.”

Through it all, the one constant seemed to be the pitching of sophomore pitcher Jordan Wallace.

“I think we saw that we have an All-American pitcher the last five weeks of the season,” Lotief said. “She’s really good.”

With the Super Regional loss behind him, Lotief has both moved on and not moved on. In one way, the preparation for the 2013-14 season began on Monday morning with the start of exit interviews. On the other hand, Lotief still has his coaching eyes on the Women’s College World Series.

“There’s no relaxing,” he said. “I’m still locked in.”

Lotief said he’ll watch the tapes of the Women’s College World Series games and prepare gameplans for the next day … just as if the Cajuns were still playing.

“You have to train yourself to get to the finish line,” he said. “Our goal isn’t to just get there. Our goal is to win the whole thing. I’m going to go to the finish line.”

As Lotief and the Cajuns fans begin to look at next season, there are certainly many holes to fill.

Among the everyday starters, UL must definitely find answers at catcher where Draheim has starred for the past two seasons, at first base where Matte Haack took control for the last two years, at shortstop where former All-American Nerissa Myers no longer reigns and in centerfield where Brianna Cherry departs after an All-American senior campaign.

The top options behind the plate figure to be sophomore-to-be Linzey Cifreo and red-shirt freshman Shyanne McDowell. Cifreo hit .235 with 17 at-bats this past season.

At first base, a pair of sophomores-to-be in Sara Corbello and Kelsey Vincent are expected to battle. Corbello hit .291 with eight homers and 35 RBIs. Vincent only hit .135 but showed pop potential with four homers in 52 at-bats.

Shifting over the middle infield, the first thought is that second baseman Samantha Walsh will move over to shortstop. The sophomore-to-be played there with more than passing grades defensively when Myers was out with an ankle injury. Offensively, Walsh dipped to .244 with six homers and 22 RBIs after a late-season slump.

There are actually numerous possibilities for the two middle infield spots next season. Sophomore-to-be Meagan Thomas will battle for time at second base, but that’s only where the list starts. Options could also include local signees in Sarah Arceneaux from St. Thomas More and Randi Provost from Teurlings Catholic. West Monroe’s Haley Hayden, who will also get a look at pitcher, also has shortstop experience.

Corin Voinche could also get another look if her knee physically allows her to make a run.

There’s also the outside possibility that Natalie Fernandez could move to the middle infield if needed after two stellar defensive seasons at third base.

If that would happen, Vincent could play third, while Gabby Felps also has experience there, not to mention incoming freshman Sierra Cherry, sister of the outgoing centerfielder.

Speaking of Cherry, former standout leftfielder Katie Smith’s younger sister, Kendall, is an incoming freshman option, while returnees Leandra Maly and Cassidy White will also be given a chance to win that job.

Rightfield is expected to go back to more of a power position with Shelbi Redfearn, coming off a rough transfer season, Felps and incoming freshman Aleah Craighton from Dutchtown as possibilities there.

Returnees Taylor Meaux and Marie Hoag bring back experience in multiple outfield positions and will also be fighting for playing time in the fall.

Leftfield naturally is in good hands with Shellie Landry back for her sophomore season after hitting .284 with 15 homers and 61 RBIs as a true freshman.

“We’re definitely going to have to develop an offense next season,” Lotief said. “That’s one of the things that’s frustrating about the last two years (not getting to World Series), because we had the offense.

“One of the things we’re going to focus on next year is getting more speed back to the lineup. I think that hurt us at times, not just in the Super Regionals, but throughout the season.”

In the circle, Wallace will return after her fantastic finish to her sophomore season. The question then becomes who will emerge as the staff’s No. 2 pitcher, as well as a No. 3 option.

For starters, there’s the three returnees in Christina Hamilton, Victoria Brown and Kristin Martinez.

Then there’s the incoming signees in Lexi Rouse from Georgia, Macey Smith from Texas and Alex Stewart from Indiana.

In most seasons, there are players that transfer from and into your program, but Lotief said that no player has requested to transfer yet.

The other changes that are likely to take place in the coaching staff. Lana Bowers enter the picture earlier this season to help fill the gap, but there was a mutual understanding upon arrival that wouldn’t be a long-term scenario.

Josh Johnson’s status has not changed as of now.