Officially, it was just for the majority of the 2010 season that UL senior outfielder Katie Smith was out.

The truth, however, is that Smith felt out of it for much of the 2011 UL softball season as well, still attempting to get back to normal after suffering a season-ending knee injury eight games into the previous season.

So if Smith’s smile seems a bit bigger these days, there’s no need to wonder why. There are some pretty good reasons for it.

For starters, she’s feeling like herself again, now two years removed from her knee surgery. She also happens to be the lead-off hitter for a nationally-ranked softball team off to one of the best starts in the program’s history.

She also happens to have graduated in marketing in December and is already looking forward to the future.

"I’ve already told coach Mike (Lotief) that he needs to bring me back to promote the UL softball program," Smith joked.

Actually, it might not be a bad idea.

Few have put more or been more involved in the program over a five-year career.

"I’m totally addicted to Ragin’ Cajun softball," Smith said. "It’s like a way of life. It’s different than any other program in the country. It’s such a family atmosphere. It’s just so full of energy."

It’s indeed been a family investment. It’s no uncommon sight to see Smith’s father grilling in the rightfield seats or her mother or one of her sisters cheering her on at Lamson Park.

In fact, Kendall, the youngest sister of the former Ruston High standout is a star in her own right at Smith’s old high school, and the middle sister, Kelby, is currently a nursing student at UL.

"When I was being recruited by UL, I didn’t know how great it would be," Smith said. "Ragin’ Cajun softball isn’t just about softball. It’s about learning life lessons. It’s about how to become a role model. It’s about how to set examples for people."

Smith began that process immediately.

In the fall of 2007, she led Ruston to the state championship in Sulphur. Weeks later, Smith gave UL fans a taste of what was to come by joining a group of future Cajun teammates — including Ashley Brignac, Gabby Bridges and Donna Bourgeois — in the LHSCA All-Star Softball game in Baton Rouge where Smith earned Most Valuable Player honors.

A year later, she was helping the Cajuns knock off the No. 1-ranked Florida Gators in the College World Series.

Indeed, it didn’t take long for Smith to begin impacting the program.

"She was a big get for us (in recruiting wars)," Lotief said. "It wasn’t like we weren’t trying to get it, but one of the things we lacked in our program at that time was speed. For whatever reason, we were having a hard time getting that here.

"Katie came here with a good skills set, but it was her speed that made the difference."

Of course, a state champion like Smith arrived with high hopes expecting to perform.

"It was pretty cool," said Smith, who hit .370 with 20 stolen bases that freshman year. "One year I played in the state championship game and the next year I was in the College World Series."

As smooth-sailing as that sounds. It wasn’t like Smith hasn’t endured some adversity along the way.

First, it came in a small dose.

With Vanessa Soto leaving as the starting second baseman after the 2008 World Series season, the Cajuns initially looked to Smith to fill their void at second.

The experiment didn’t work.

"I remember a game against Ole Miss when I didn’t do so hot and they moved me back to the outfield," said Smith, who had played some second at Ruston High. "I’m not a second baseman."

Then a year later, trouble came in a huge gulp.

In the eighth game of the 2010 season, Smith suffered an ACL knee injury trying to scramble back to second base after a line drive out to third.

"I was heartbroken at first," Smith said. "But after talking to my coaches and my teammates, they never let me get down. They told me that I’d come back even stronger. I finally realized that it was just another thing I’d have to get over."

Season-ending injuries are tough for any athlete. For Smith, though, it put her in a position she had never encountered.

The speedy 5-6 outfielder had started for four years at Ruston High and was starting for the third straight year at UL at the time of her injury. To her, the bench was a place you stood in front of while waiting your turn to bat.

She literally didn’t know what to do with herself after the first pitch of games.

"I had to learn to adapt to change," Smith said. "I had to learn the game from a different perspective. I think it ended up doing me a lot of good. I saw the game from a different side.

"I learned how to do things like steal pitches from the dugout."

Then came the year after. Not really knowing what to expect, Smith simply survived the second attempt at her junior season last spring.

It wasn’t like she wasn’t still a good player. After all, she hit .352 with 20 stolen bases, but something just didn’t feel right.

"I tried to stay positive," Smith said. "I kept pushing myself, but I just never felt right. It’s hard to explain. It just didn’t feel the same. Honestly, I didn’t start to feel normal again until the very end of conference going into the start of the regional."

And so far during her 2012 senior campaign, Smith is playing like she’s never been injured.

Hitting mostly in the lead-off position, Smith is on an early roll. She had a four-hit game last weekend and enters the Judy Garman Classic at Cal State Fullerton batting .415 with 30 runs scored and a 10-of-11 mark in stolen bases.

"I’m feeling 100 percent right now," Smith said.

More than that, she’s sensing something special on the team as a whole. Perhaps she’ll be able to depart the program like she entered it — in the College World Series.

"Like coach Mike said after the game (doubleheader sweep at Houston)," Smith said. "We just have that mojo. It is a deadly weapon.

"This team reminds me a lot of the team in ’08. Both teams are very special."

And so is Smith’s career at Lamson Park.

"Katie’s just got the greatest attitude," Lotief said. "That kid’s just been a joy to coach. She’s not the fiery, rah-rah type, but she’s not the type to sit in the corner either. She’s just been so steady and so consistent for us.

"She has a great work ethic and a great mindset and she’s good with her teammates. And don’t let that pretty face fool you, she’s got a lot of desire in her belly."