GeauxTigersSoftball

And yes. I mean that Briggs. She’s a solid CF and her bat is very good. I was just surprised that her arm wasn’t stronger.

You are nuts BTW. When she was given a chance she thrived in RF. And hit >300 through the post season. But I can let it geaux though. She left and found a way to get every accolade known plus some unknowns. Good for her. Hopefully lsu learned a lesson about not letting potential all Americans get away.

Maybe not harder at the plate but DEFINITELY harder in CF

I dont know if I'd say she was hitting the portal hard but she did pick up 2 that will hopefully be able to contribute right away. I just hope they bring big and consistent bats!!
I did see that Brandon joined the Longhorns. Hope she finds a spot there. Her bat is certainly good enough. I also saw that Smith moved over to the Big 10 at Rutgers. Was a little surprised by that because by all accounts she went to that gulf coast summer league and lit it up. #1 in RBIs and top ten ERA. But, when I read her reasons for joining it made more sense. Hope she's found her new softball home.
"I wanted to be in a positive environment surrounded by people who believe in me and work hard to see their athletes succeed."

I actually hope that several of the girls that are not starters hit the portal. There are entirely too many players on that roster and a lot of good players on that bench. The coaches clearly have their favorites and most of them need more time and development. No need for them to waste any more of their eligibility on the LSU bench when they could likely play elsewhere. Win-win for everybody.

Yep. Have heard there might be a mass exodus this year but there are always rumors. Maybe they will get down to a reasonable amount of players that they can spend time specifically developing. And, maybe they can work on jiving better as a team with smaller numbers because there just seems to be something missing there. We will see. Summer should be interesting.

You are right about the AD and his own probs! The money making sports are in disarray (football team <500 on season, whole basketball team in the portal) so you are probably right that softball isn't even on his radar for problem solving this year!!

one of the main reasons they have no one to go to is because they NEVER given anyone else experience. The starters dont have to improve because they know that no matter what they will not be taken out. They can make error after error and have a sub-200 batting average and it wont matter. There seems to be no spirit of having to earn a spot around there. And, it is very difficult to come in and not make an error if you get a random opportunity once in a blue moon. They will never win anything with this mentality.

During a bullpen drill last week, the LSU pitchers were asked to throw a sequence based on the best hitter they’ve ever seen.

Six of the seven pitchers on staff picked teammate Taylor Pleasants. The other vote was for former Alabama slugger Bailey Hemphill.

Having seen Pleasants every day in practice, the LSU pitchers know the damage she can inflict. They’ve watched the redshirt sophomore make life miserable for an opposing staff in real games, and are grateful she’s on their team.
“She can cover both sides of the plate and she does a good job with all quadrants of the zone. It’s tough to find a hole where you can attack her,” LSU head coach Beth Torina said. “She is really smart and really intelligent and has really good vision. She is just really good about having a plan and staying true to it.”

Pleasants has returned to LSU this fall with even more power and confidence. She’s become more of a leader alongside redshirt sophomore outfielder Ciara Briggs.

“Even though they have three years left to play, they have both been in the system long enough and are just really special players,” Torina said. “The things they do on the field make it easy to follow, but they are doing a good job using their voices and growing as leaders.”

The Tigers, who finished 35-22 last season and reached an NCAA Super Regional, will feature a more veteran team in 2022. The level of experience has already been noticeable during fall workouts and games.

“I feel like practices are run a little bit more efficiently because we have older kids leading the younger kids confidently,” Torina said. “It is good for a coach because you always want your team to be player-led.”

Newcomers

Although they have veterans returning, the Tigers should get contributions from several true freshmen in the spring.

Pitcher Raelin Chaffin is a member of the USA Softball Junior Olympic team. The right-hander from Bossier City, La., was 17-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched as a senior at Airline High.

“She has led the team in ERA and led the team in swings and misses during the fall,” Torina said. “She has just gone out there and competed and our team loves how she competes on the mound and really enjoys playing behind her.”

Utility Baylea Brandon, hit .485 with 32 home runs, 105 RBIs and 38 stolen bases as a senior at Leander High in Texas.

“She has swung really well,” Torina said. “She is leading the team in a lot of offensive categories and has done a really good job for us athe plate.”

Infielder Sydney Peterson, was the two-time Defensive Player of the Year at Franklin High in Stockton, Calif. She’s been taking reps at shortstop behind Pleasants.

“She has challenged Pleasants, which has been fun to see,” Torina said. “I think they are both getting better practicing against each other every day.”

Freshman utility Kaylen Madrey and freshman outfielder McKenzie Redoutey have been rehabbing injuries, but both are expected to be fully healthy by spring.

Redoutey, who tore her ACL during the 2021 high school season, has a chance to make the opening day lineup once she’s back on the field.

Pitching

The staff is anchored by veterans Ali Kilponen and Shelbi Sunseri.

Kilponen, a redshirt junior right-hander, was 15-9 with a 2.00 ERA, 124 strikeouts and 46 walks in 139.2 innings pitched last season.

“I think Ali has really shined,” Torina said. “I think we all kind of got a glimpse of what she was capable of last year and I think she just continues to get better and better.”

Sunseri, a fifth-year senior right-hander, was 11-7 with a 2.04 ERA, 84 strikeouts and 32 walks in 126.2 IP while batting .234 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.

Kilponen and Sunseri complement each other well in terms of temperament. Kilponen brings the high energy and Sunseri is the more even-keeled workhorse.

“It is kind of like when we had the (Carley) Hoover-(Allie) Walljasper combination,” Torina said. “We called them Fire and Ice, because one fired everyone up and the other was more calming and not as flashy.”

Redshirt junior right-hander Shelby Wickersham was 5-3 with a 3.67 ERA, 43 strikeouts and 37 walks in 53.1 IP last season.

Taylor Edwards, Morgan Smith and Emilee Casanova also return in the bullpen for the Tigers.

“If we compare it to 2020 fall, I think we have seen improved numbers across the board from everyone,” Torina said. “They have improved their velocity and spin rates. I don’t know if there is an exact reason for it, but we are seeing higher velocity from every single one and I am excited about that.”

Offense

Briggs, Pleasants and Clark will be the catalysts for LSU at the plate.

Briggs batted .339 with a team-leading 58 hits, three triples, seven doubles and 32 runs scored last season.

Pleasants hit .316 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 37 runs scored and a team-leading 49 RBIs. Clark batted .253 with 10 home runs and 32 RBIs.

“They still kind of lead the way for us offensively,” Torina said. “I think they will probably be the ones circled on every scouting report when you come see us.”

Brandon’s bat should make an immediate impact, and sophomore Danieca Coffey is expected to play a larger role after batting .226 with 11 runs scored in 93 at-bats in her college debut.

“She is just a really dynamic offensive player,” Torina said of Coffey. “She is going to do some good things.”

Although she expects her team to produce runs, good luck asking Torina about an order this soon.

“I feel confident I know three out of the nine that will make the lineup the first day. That is it,” she said. “I think there is a lot of competition still happening and a lot of talented players. I can see us platooning at some positions.”

Defense

Aliyah Andrews was good for at least one SportsCenter Top 10 highlight-reel catch per week. She’s graduated, but the web gems in center field may not be going away.

Torina expects Briggs to produce a few this season and carry on the tradition.

“Aliyah will be missed dearly defensively and because of how she was as a person and what she brought to our team, but I think LSU has always been known for speed and outfield play,” Torina said. “This program has a long history of speed players that have been known for doing those things.”

LSU’s infield will feature Pleasants at shortstop, Georgia Clark at first base and Coffey moving from second to third this season.

The Tigers have four catchers working behind the plate, and others trying to lock down roles by the time spring arrives.

“There is a lot of battling for spots,” Torina said. “We have some options at many positions.”