Softball: UL’s Voinche says it’s worth all the pain

Kevin Foote, The Advertiser, May 22, 2014

UL shortstop Corin Voinche throws the ball across the diamond during a Cajun win earlier this season. (Photo: Leslie Westbrook/The Advertiser )

She doesn’t even blink when she says it.

She doesn’t hesitate or give any sort of indication that it’s anything but genuine.

And yet it’s almost too much to believe.

Ask UL shortstop Corin Voinchè and she’ll tell you that it truly wouldn’t matter to her if her role on the team was to stay in the dugout and cheer on her teammates, or if it’s being the everyday shortstop for the No. 6 overall national seed Ragin’ Cajuns.

"My dream since I was 7 years old was just to be a part of this program," Voinchè said. "It takes all 27 players on the team to win a national championship. I was that kid last year in the dugout cheering on my teammates.

"To be able to put on that uniform would have been special enough for me. Playing for a group of girls like this just completes it. I couldn’t ask for a better group of girls." 

Just wait, it gets better.

Unlike most of her teammates, however, Voinchè’s had to overcome a lot of pain and agony just to achieve that dream of putting on a Ragin’ Cajun softball uniform on opening day.

Since February of 2012 going into her senior season at Teurlings Catholic, Voinchè has undergone three knee surgeries – one to repair, one to reconstruct and one to strengthen enough to actually play again.

She runs around the field with a big brace on her knee that’s been there so long now that it almost feels like it’s apart of her leg sometimes.

While Voinchè credits her family, friends, coaches and teammates from both high school and college for getting her through two years of rehabilitation, she knew there were doubts.

"I always knew that I’d play again," Voinchè said. "I can’t explain it. I just knew."

Of course, there were no guarantees. There was no way to assure Voinchè that the knee would hold up no matter how many long, painful hours of rehabilitating it she would endure.

And even if she got to achieve her dream of putting on a Ragin’ Cajun uniform, there was no way to promise Voinchè that she’d ever get any playing time.

"That wouldn’t have mattered to me," she said. "Just to be able to put on that uniform and be a part of this program would have been worth it to me. It all would have been worth it."

After two long years of waiting for her next opportunity, another scare came. Just prior to the regular season, her knee didn’t hold up during conditioning drills "that made this team what it is today."

It slowed her down, it scared everyone involved, but it didn’t deter her.

"Whether I played or not, I wanted to be part of this team," she said.

At that point, UL coach Michael Lotief really didn’t know what to expect.

"We just didn’t know if her knee would hold up," Lotief said. "I never doubted that she had the ability, but we were worried about her knee. She has a very high softball IQ, she has a phenomenal glove and a plus arm.

"And she can hit too. She’s done a nice job in the 9-hole. She’s not a home run hitter, but she’s done a good job of grinding, extending pitchers, moving runners and hitting the ball up the middle."

Voinchè didn’t start the season in the starting lineup, but it didn’t faze her.

"If Samantha (Walsh) was still starting at shortstop, I would be cheering her on during the games and doing everything I could in practice to push her to be the best she could be to help the team," Voinchè said. "My parents always taught me that it’s about the team, not about me.

"Now I’m playing next to her, so it worked out in both of our favors."

Things began to get settled once and for all thanks to a magical moment. It was Feb. 14 and the Cajuns were taking on longtime softball powerhouse Michigan in the first game of the Ragin’ Cajun Invitational at Lamson Park.

Voinchè actually started the game, but was pinch-hit for in the first three trips through the order. Then came the sixth inning when Voinchè shocked everyone in the park by hitting a home run to left.

"That was fun," Voinchè laughed.

But reality said that it wouldn’t come that easily. It had been two years away from competitive softball.

"It’s very frustrating at times," she said. "I’ve never had a problem with hitting before, but this is a different level. I’ve still got a long way to go. I’ve got a long way to go defensively as well, but I’m more comfortable defensively right now. There’s more muscle memory there."

In Lotief’s mind, however, Voinchè’s hitting is pure lagniappe.

Just her presence at shortstop helped Lotief sleep a little better at night. No, he didn’t expect her to replace an All-American like the outgoing Nerissa Myers at that position.

What he loved about Voinchè taking over that spot was what it did to everyone else in the infield.

"Everybody was out of position," Lotief explained. "Now everybody’s in their right spots. Samantha (Walsh) could go to third where she’s comfortable and Kelsey (Vincent) could move to first. Everything just kind of fell into place once she took over there."

And during UL’s stretch drive, Voinchè has been anything but a liability at the plate. Her season average is now up to .281 with four doubles, two homers and 15 RBIs.

In the three NCAA Regional games, Voinchè got five hits, joining Shellie Landry and Shelbi Redfearn as the team hit leaders last weekend.

"It’s been an incredible season so far," Voinchè said, "but we’re not done yet."

NCAA Super Regionals

Friday’s Game

Arizona (44-15) at UL (47-8-1), 8 p.m.

Saturday’s Game

Arizona at UL, 2 p.m.

Arizona at UL, 5 p.m. (if necessary)

(All games on ESPNU and KPEL 1420 AM.)