re: LSU SOFTBALL Adds #3, #4 and #5 2026 Recruits

TigerAssoc @ Casual:

Unlike my man TigerAlum I was with you on what we would see but just disagreed fully on your assessments. I wasn't shocked at all the freshmen didn't play--Beth just does not play freshmen regardless of how good they might be. All the other top coaches do. But FAR MORE shocked that Daniel wasn't at 2B. I agree that both Daniel and Jones are better players than McKee but with Beth's philosophy I didn't expect Jones would get much playing time--and I KNOW she is really good. But Daniel is a sophomore and definitely should be ahead of McKee. That article even had Peterson mentioned as competition with McKee. Found out, unlike what TigerAlum said of her starting to throw in Fall, she actually JUST started throwing fully the last week or two. Was lobbing the ball softly in warm ups. Then she injured her a lower extremity (look like hammy or quad) in a pinch hit situation.

Heavener looked great Friday! Phillips gave Bergeron and a break one game but she won't play much behind the plate either. Honestly Jones is the only freshman that has a shot at playing any. Franklin if given a chance might shock some people too, but she won't (and shouldn't) get chances at 3B with Coffey there. And the way Edwards hit this past weekend she has no shot at 1B either (although we have to see if it translates to better pitching). Great to see Lassiter playing, so maybe the leg injury worries were unfounded, and she seemed more comfortable each at bat.

I will say I'm glad to see a little offensive life but even that is tempered because the pitching they faced was not good. Two starters under .200 for the weekend. Only Coffey, Walker, Laneaux and Daniel (limited abs) looked comfortable every at bat regardless of pitcher/pitches. As wonderful as Edwards I'm still holding judgment until she sees higher level pitching.

McKee had 4 hits (all singles) in 11 at bats and 3 of those 4 hits were on change ups. She struggled mightily with the hard stuff. Saw several really really bad swings and misses and was down in count most at bats because of them. Pitch-calling helped her. She got nothing soft on Sunday and was 0--3--well the last pitcher on Sunday everything was soft as she was sub-60.

CasualObserver: Now we depart ways by oceans. Your definition of "elite" no longer holds water if you consider McKee a better defender than Daniel. She had an elite play or two but overall not "elite". But you may be a part of the machine I heard about from the folks I met that know the team well. Word is McKee's family are very good friends with the Torinas--Dad and Beth's husband are drinking buddies and have been good friends for years and years. And hear that the LSU Daily News person is very close to the McKees as well. As described to me Saturday: LSU Daily will be to the McKees what MSNBC news is to Biden or Fox news is to President Trump. Don't shoot the messenger but the evidence is pretty glaring. LSU softball apparently has a buddy system thing going on that I was not aware of but it fits with the loyal-to-a-fault storyline I've heard about Beth (and defended her on too). Even seen an article by Daily already naming McKee was one of the top 3 standouts lauding her for hyperbolic "blazing speed", her "vital role to the team's success", "aiming for the fences" or just getting on base as she goes 4-6 Friday. As TigerAss noted she still only has those 4 singles with 3 of them on changeups struggling with elite pitching and ended 4-11 on the weekend (0-5 since the write up) and bobbled several balls although they didn't cost the team. She did make one great play in the air on a low liner. Buddy ball is for low level travel ball--not SEC ball. Also note that Daily named Peterson as the next best thing for 2B as well and she JUST started throwing the ball again. That was an extremely odd thing to write given she hasn't been participating in practices fully until a few weeks ago.

But you either don't know the game well or don't know McKee and Daniel well. As TigerAss pointed out she is also super outmatched by elite pitching and if she stays there she will be exposed. McKee is decent but she is much less the player Daniel is (or the freshmen for that matter). Friendship ball will burn this program and then you can go back to saying how all of them are not elite (including McKee) because they don't reach their potential due to mismanagement. More athletic than Daniel is a poorly thought out comment or just an individual opinion that I'll just agree to disagree with sort of like me saying 95 degrees is hot but a cold natured person disagreeing and telling me what they feel is a perfectly nice day (differing opinions).

As for relegating Berzon below Heavener after one game I would caution. As noted, Charlotte is literally a shadow of the team SEL is and they ALWAYS give LSU trouble. Berzon is still the stud arm of that team and I'm just happy it looks like she has a Robin added to her Batman. Let's wait until Heavener proves up against the stiff competition Berzon ALREADY HAS before we hand her the bat suit. I watched the game on my phone some while watching live and Berzon lived in the 67-68 range most of the time and when she threw off-speed it was a CALLED pitch by Beth not Berzon. I love Heavener and am super excited to have her but not taking the keys from the kid that is 85% responsible for any of our success the last couple of years and handing them to Heavener because she no-hit a team that Clopton 1-hit in her first game back from a 2 year injury hiatus. I think Berzon and Heavener are going to be great together but Heavener will get her bumps for sure so I'd rather not hold the kid to the Berzon level immediately. Let her overachieve and grow into stardom as she succeeds Berzon over the next year or two. This team will only go as far as Berzon takes it, but adding Heavener may take us a little farther, Clopton and Vallejo being supporting role arms.

The team will reveal itself over the next month and we'll revisit and say how wrong you or I was, but I'll always be objective about it. My hope isn't to be correct, but that Beth not let anything outside impact her judgment in trying to get this team back to OKC in June and I think if managed correctly and they get some breaks and a little luck they could maybe get there if Heavener pans out the way it appears. The one thing I like is that she threw Heavener against Charlotte to start to build confidence. Nothing like confidence in this game and I hope that performance gave her a ton of it.

To bring our debate onto the forum TigerbyAssociation: Yes, we disagreed a bit that Beth would give Jones a chance but sounds like you know the staff better than me so I reluctantly concede (with a right to retract my concession :-)) that Beth just doesn't play freshmen in positions but we do both agree she is hurting the team with that approach.

I know you love Walker in the outfield over anyone else. I personally feel good with either Laneaux or Walker in LF--I remind you of the catch Laneaux catch that mightve saved that game against SEL?? Both of them need to be in the line up too which is why I thought it was just asinine to put McKee out there in their place when Daniel came in at 2B. Both Laneux and Walker are better hitters than McKee and I think all three are good outfielders.

Jury still out on Hodge. I think she's still best defensive option at SS but also hold to my original opinion that she will be a .250/.260 hitter at best and Beth will likely be fine with that if she can hold down SS.

I deal in facts: Note the same game McKee was 3-3 in Daniel was 2-2. And to your point about "pure slapper potential" note who hit the only double (hint--it was Daniel). McKee struggled BAD on hard stuff and it will show the longer the team goes.

Yeah we will agree to disagree, I will admit I am biased vs any slapper, slappers are dying unless you’re Falby from Florida. I doubt Coaches Simmons and Neal have any say in the lineup and as far as the throw from McKee, Edwards got the error so I guess I’m right on that 1

I think we are talking about two different plays. Think Hodge threw the one I'm referencing. I recall the Tori error--But that defensive play was routine but McKee did make a good throw to her. Hodge threw one that was low and slightly away.

I am told (by pretty good intel--college coach who works their camps) that Neal indeed gets strong input on the batting lineup. Simmons does not.

LOL!!! When I can Brother. I stay busy and unfortunately I don’t sleep much. Work, family and hobbies.

Catching up on the forum chatter. And gonna catch up on softball games I missed this weekend.

Sad to find out about the whole buddy system approach but it explains a lot. At some point Coach Torina will have to focus on winning over friendships for sure. I would hope she wouldn’t watch lesser players play to keep hubby & friends happy. I have to believe she understands the assignment. They will get a good test next weekend with NW and Va Tech. If they throw certain arms it will be a tell tell sign. Bad thing is those who disnt get reps this past weekend would be thrown to the wolves without getting their feet wet. ALL the other schools are finding good reps for their freshmen to see what they can do. Patty does it. TX doing it. Florida’s doing it. ARK and UGA both doing it. TAMU doing it. Even if new stars don’t reveal themselves you give them valuable game experience and they aren’t shell shocked when thrown into a game. Seems LSU has a different approach than all the top successful programs. Found themselves in tough spot last year when injuries occurred because of that approach too.

Then again if there is truth to the friendship ball rumors, may be keeping some of those other players off field for fear of having to answer to question of why they aren’t playing. Can’t be questioned if no one sees it

Nope she didn’t. And she won’t get there with it now either NOW that friends are on the squad. There is clearly something amiss in that department now. Politics are abound in the program for sure. Wayyy too much smoke and tons of evidence—circumstantial or not.

I’m not one to get caught up in rankings. I’ve coached against and seen all the kids being discussed here. As stated before I know firsthand all these players. And think your position is ridiculous on some of the players here for sure. I think you even stated previously that McKee isn’t elite so it is hard to follow. Usu g your logic McKee is even farther from and SEC player and Beth (& Howard) are dummies when it comes to recruiting. For that matter so is OU, UW, Stanford, TN and a host of other top schools who went after at least a couple of the freshmen. McKee isn’t as good as those other two. I jump in the agree to disagree category to.

Hopefully the squad survives leaving better talent on the bench when the real guns start throwing against the lineup and hitting missile grounders.

Yeah you’re talking nonsense. There is clearly no need to try and reason with you given your stated opinions based on ?????. Others have tried on this point and others have pointed out facts. Others have also been to and have intel on practices/scrimmages/fall games/last season/innate talent and pointed them out to you. I don’t have biases like you apparently do other than what I’ve seen and I’ve coached against teams McKee, Jones, Daniel and Franklin have been on as well as all of the other freshmen. I’ve seen the first three a little more than Franklin because they were on teams that typically played on championship day in the events we have competed in together. Franklin is solid but I’d rank all 3 of the others above her as all around players (Franklin getting age on strength power). Again just keep watching and let time reveal what the objective already know. Again agree to disagree and moving on.

SHEESH!! Step away a few hours and I miss all the fireworks ??????. Let’s keep it civil with opinions and just wait and see. Biased opinions or not I think we can agree that time will reveal to the clear eyed. Regardless of any program or coaching issues or mismanagement I’m just hoping for a great season.

Won’t lie I would like to see some of the freshmen play like all the other programs do too. Honestly have seen several freshmen IN the SEC that aren’t nearly as good as the freshmen group we are debating about with highlights throughout the weekend. Some of which earned starting positions because they got the chances. That is probably the biggest issue here. Our freshmen don’t get the chance to show whereas all others at top programs do. Programs that develop and effectively assess in competition thrive and that is the major deficiency I see. That is the recipe for no progress with the program.