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RCAF Stakeholders’ Report October 2009 Enthusiastic Anticipation Sets the Pace for Your Cajuns 2010 Softball Season The Ragin’ Cajuns softball team returned to campus in August to begin the groundwork for what has become an annual ritual for the program – a trip to the postseason. For the last 11 years running and 19 of the past 20 years, the softball team has participated in the NCAA Regionals. The current string of consecutive regional appearances ranks 10th all-time in NCAA history. With what is believed to be the deepest and most experienced pitching staffs in the country, confidence is very high and all signs point to the postseason run continuing. 2010 Cajuns Sofball Schedule 2/12-2/14 Louisiana Classics 2/12 vs. Bryant 2/12 vs. Syracuse 2/13 vs. Bradley 2/13 vs. Syracuse 2/14 vs. Bradley 2/19-2/21 Houston Marriott Classic 2/19 vs. Iowa State 2/19 at Houston 2/20 vs. Texas 2/20 vs. Texas-San Antonio 2/21 vs. Purdue 2/26-2/28 NFCA Leadoff Classic 2/26 vs. Radford 2/26 vs. Michigan 2/27 vs. Missouri 2/27 vs. Georgia Tech 2/28 vs. UMass As Ashley Brignac’s shoulder rehabilitation is progressing well, the pitching rotation is scheduled to feature three pitchers who have a 30-win season on their resume (Donna Bourgeois and Brittany Cuevas included). The pitchers won’t be alone in the battle. The softball team will also return six of the eight position starters from last season. Back are key offensive cogs Melissa Verde, Gabrielle Bridges, Lana Bowers and Christi Orgeron. Practice started in late September and the team played a fall season schedule which featured games against outside competition. At the Spring-Klein College Classic, Brittany Cuevas threw a two-hit shutout against Baylor in a 7-0 rematch of last year’s NCAA Regionals competition. Donna Bourgeois struck out nine against UTSA as the Cajuns prevailed 5-1. Offensive success was powered by Bowers with two home runs and four RBI, while Orgeron was 4-for-8 at the plate. The remaining fall schedule includes a doubleheader at Lamson Park against Galveston Junior College on Friday, October 23 at 2 p.m. The intrasquad Fall World Series is scheduled for October 26, 28, and 29 at Lamson Park. The series involves the players drafting their own teams and the public is invited. Mark your calendars and be there the weekend of Feb. 12-14, 2010, as the Ragin’ Cajuns begin the 2010 season hosting the Louisiana Classics Tournament at Lamson Park. 3/5-3/7 Razorback Invitational 3/9 vs. McNeese State (DH) 3/18-3/21 Judi Garman Classic 3/18 vs. Virginia 3/18 vs. Fresno State 3/19 vs. Washington 3/20 vs. Purdue 3/21 at Cal State Fullerton 3/27 at Western Kentucky* (DH) 3/28 at Western Kentucky* 3/30 vs. Houston (DH) 4/6 at Middle Tennessee* (DH) 4/7 at Middle Tennessee* 4/10 at FIU* (DH) 4/11 at FIU* 4/14 at McNeese State 4/17 vs. South Alabama* (DH) 4/18 vs. South Alabama* 4/20 vs. Florida Atlantic* (DH) 4/21 vs. Florida Atlantic* 4/24 at Troy* (DH) 4/25 at Troy* 4/27 vs. Grambling State (DH) 5/1 vs. North Texas* (DH) 5/2 vs. North Texas* 5/8 vs. ULM* (DH) 5/9 vs. ULM* 5/12-5/15 Sun Belt Conference Tournament 5/21-5/23 NCAA Regionals 5/28-5/29 NCAA Super Regionals 6/3-6/9 Women’s College World Series * - Indicates Sun Belt Conference Game www.RCAF4UL.com 1-877-RCAF-4-UL
RCAF Stakeholders’ Report October 2009 Lamson Softball Park Renovations Moving Forward The Ragin’ Cajuns softball squad has been a Top-20 team virtually every year over the past two decades, and has brought national exposure to both the program and the university. Now, plans are underway to provide the softball team with a facility that cements UL among the nation’s most respected programs. Bids will soon be opened on an estimated $2.1 million overhaul of Alfred and Helen Lamson Ragin’ Cajuns Softball Park, one that will nearly double the permanent capacity and will represent a quantum leap in fan amenities. “Our fans are the best anywhere,” said Cajuns softball coach Stefni Lotief. “That was the major thing we wanted when we started talking about the facility . . . we wanted to make it very fan-friendly.” The plans . . . there are 1,500 mostly-chairback seats between the dugouts and all but a few are covered from the elements. There are three private luxury boxes and a 50-seat Stadium Club area. Concourses are large in comparison to capacity and restroom and concession areas are larger and more easily accessible. There will also be a full press box capable of accommodating the needs of NCAA Regional and Super Regional play. The current grandstands behind the plate will be moved to the outfield to provide quality seating in that area. In addition, a new state of the art scoreboard will be built. “This will be a Top-20 facility,” said UL Senior Associate Athletic Director Scott Farmer.” It’s a big-time facility and something this program deserves.” “The field itself won’t be changed,” said Lotief “and other recent improvements like brick walls and dugout areas will be incorporated into the renovation.” “Our field’s in great shape and the lighting is already state of the art,” she said. “This (construction) will sort of tie together the whole package.” A key element in the construction is a reworking of team areas, providing a more functional locker room and a technology-driven meeting room. Modern technology will also come into play in a batting-cage enclosure set to be developed on the first-base line behind the visitor dugout. The batting cages will be protected from the weather, including a special indoor area that will house the latest in video and virtual-reality programming. “We’ll be able to look at a player’s swing instantly, and compare it to what they were doing yesterday, a month ago, a year ago,” Lotief said. “We’ll also have the capability to show video of other teams’ pitchers and set it up to where it looks like they’re actually pitching to our hitters.” It may sound like the latest in video games, but Lotief said that the setup is the most modern technology available and is being used by many other top programs. “We’re fortunate in that we’ve been able to travel over the last few years,” she said, “and go to some of the best facilities in the country.” “We’ve had a chance to see what they have, and we’ve been able to develop a lot of ideas for what we want in a stadium.” “We’re fortunate in that the Athletics Department and the University are very supportive of our program, and have made it possible for us to do something like this.” www.RCAF4UL.com 1-877-RCAF-4-UL
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