Softball – Sight unseen: UL’s Lotief knew he liked what he saw in slugger Orgeron

Softball – Sight unseen: UL’s Lotief knew he liked what he saw in slugger Orgeron

Softball – Sight unseen: UL’s Lotief knew he liked what he saw in slugger Orgeron

April 6, 2011 Daily Advertiser Joshua Parrott

UL’s Christi Orgeron, a star outfielder for the softball team, leads the nation in RBIs. / Advertiser file photo

Five years ago, UL co-head coach Michael Lotief wanted to evaluate a recruit from the New Orleans Déjà vu travel team so he went to one of her games that summer in Colorado.

When Lotief arrived at the field, he noticed that the prospect — a catcher named Christi Orgeron — was warming up a pitcher in the bullpen during the game. Lotief liked everything that he saw from Orgeron, from her stance to her arm strength, but she didn’t play that day.

Lotief showed up for batting practice the next day and was even more impressed with Orgeron’s raw hitting ability. But the rising senior from Mt. Carmel Academy in New Orleans didn’t play in that game either.No problem there. Orgeron had already done enough for Lotief, who texted his wife, UL co-head coach Stefni Lotief. He had uncovered a hidden gem and wanted her to play for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

"I saw a kid who had a passion for the game, that hustled on and off the field, that respected the game and did whatever she was asked to do," Michael Lotief said. "She had a good stance and good arm strength. In batting practice the ball exploded off her bat. You could tell that she had the skills."Playing time is no longer an issue for Orgeron. The largely overlooked recruit — Louisiana Tech was the only other NCAA Division I school to express serious interest — is now a star outfielder for the 19th-ranked Cajuns (27-5, 5-1 Sun Belt).

Orgeron has blossomed into one of the nation’s top hitters this season as a redshirt junior for the current Sun Belt Conference leaders.Going into today’s series against Florida International (21-16, 7-2) at Lamson Park, Orgeron leads the league in batting average (.467) and RBI (55) and is tied for first in hits (50). She’s also second in total bases (108), slugging percentage (1.009) and on-base percentage (.540) and third in homers (14) and run scored (40).

Nationally, Orgeron is in the top 20 this year in numerous categories. That includes RBI per game (first, 1.72), slugging percentage (sixth), homers (sixth), runs per game (seventh, 1.25), homers per game (ninth, 0.44) and batting average (16th).

"What a great kid," Michael Lotief said. "I’ve enjoyed watching her maturation process. She’s become a leader. She fights on every pitch. She’s a tremendous competitor, and I love going to war with her." Orgeron showed that drive at Mt. Carmel, where she earned all-state honors in softball and soccer and was a member of the swim team.

As a sophomore she led Mt. Carmel to a state championship in soccer. The following year she was all-state and the All-Metro Player of the Year in softball and was all-state in soccer.Orgeron admitted that she thought about playing soccer in college like her older brother, Allen, who played at Rhodes College in Memphis.

"I grew up hanging around with my brother and his friends, and he was definitely an inspiration in my life," Orgeron said. "He wasn’t the biggest guy, but he had a huge heart and was always so supportive."Millsaps College recruited her to play soccer, but she gave up the sport to focus on softball after signing with the Cajuns in November 2006. She earned all-state and all-metro honors again on the diamond.

"I wanted to attend a school that offered the best in academics and athletics," she said. "That was key for me, and I found that here (at UL)."After signing with the Cajuns, she sat out her freshman season as a redshirt. While her new teammates helped the program advance to the Women’s College World Series she refined her skills to contribute in the future.

As a redshirt freshman in 2009, Orgeron earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors and was the Sun Belt tournament Most Outstanding Player. She hit .310 with 10 homers and 37 RBI that season and led the squad with a .611 slugging percentage.Orgeron improved again last season as a redshirt sophomore, leading the Sun Belt in RBI (56) and ranking second in homers (15), doubles (16) and total bases (122).

Last summer, Michael Lotief challenged her to step up her game even more as a redshirt junior. She has responded to that challenge."People wonder how it all happened," Michael Lotief said. "The real secret to her success is that she kept working. We asked her to redshirt, and she just kept working. She’s put in the work and is now being rewarded for it."

Being a college softball player is a dream come true for Orgeron.

"I always believed that I could get where I am today," she said. "I grew up with extremely supportive parents that always told me that if I believed in myself that I could do it."