A Saturday softball game in Tiger Park is crowded with fans in purple and gold from the outfield-grass terrace to the stands.
Among the loud Louisianians cheering this LSU team to victory are softball players.
But, not the collegiate ones.
Hundreds of young girls playing local softball come to these games. Repping their own fastpitch league jerseys, the young athletes watch and idolize the older ones.
Out in left field, Ali Newland engages with these fans. She tosses them balls, firing up the crowd between each inning. In return, Newland feels their energy and passion behind her during every play.
“My greatest memories come from playing in left field here,” she said. “Playing on the berm at Tiger Park is such a unique-to-Tiger Park college softball experience that I’ve been fortunate to have.”
It’s easy for all eyes to draw toward Newland during the seven innings. She puts on a show in the field and at the plate. Now a senior with four years of experience as a utility player, Newland’s created highlight reels full of diving catches and clutch hits.
A fly ball to left field results in an out for Newland. However, her speed and glove become secondary talents when she’s up to bat.
LSU was tied 3-3 in the sixth inning against Texas A&M, and Newland stepped into the box with the bases loaded. She blasted a grand slam to center field, ultimately securing the win.
This isn’t new for Newland.
From her first freshman at-bat in Tiger Park when she hit a grand slam, this crowd has been putting trust in “Newland’s nukes” to fly over the fence. So when she runs back out into left field ready to play defense, every fan already has her back.
“The second I stepped on the field here, they (the fans) were like ‘Ok it’s you, let’s ride.’ I think that’s so cool and makes it so easy to do that back for them,” Newland said.
Head coach Beth Torina also trusts Newland to start the Tigers off on offense.
After leadoff hitter Danieca Coffey was ruled out for the season from a knee injury, it took the Tigers some time to see who could fill that role.
Torina was hesitant to move Newland into the leadoff position because she’s one of LSU’s strongest RBI creators. But, when Newland creates home runs, it doesn’t matter.
“If she hits it over the fence, she produces her own RBIs that way, so we’ll take that,” Torina said.
Right now, Newland leads LSU in home runs with seven. She’s grateful to be one of LSU’s top offensive performers, especially on a team so veteran and experienced, Newland said.
However, at the end of each day and when the season ultimately comes to an end, none of this matters to Newland or her team.
Rounding third and crossing home plate into a circle of her best friends is what Newland will take with her.
“Nobody remembers what the score was or who got the hits before, or whatever it was, but we all remember celebrating together and those moments are huge and unbelievable,” she said.
Newland consistently attacks on offense, “there’s nothing like making a great play on defense,” she said.
Newland ranks top ten in the Southeastern Conference for catches and put-outs. When she dives to make a play and goes chin down in the grass, it’s unlikely the ball isn’t safely secured in her glove.
It’s important for the starting pitchers to retire batters and prevent runs, but it’s also a trade-off. When they give up hits, the defense must strive to turn it into an out.
And Newland will throw her body in the air if that’s what it takes to help her pitchers.
“When you get to stand up and look at the pitchers and be like ‘I got your back’ after something like that it is so cool,” Newland said.
In the field, Newland has played multiple positions throughout her career. When anything is asked of her, she steps up to the challenge.
“Ali is our jack-of-all-trades,” Torina said. “We can put her in left field, second base, catcher, wherever she needs to be, so I think if anybody is going to be comfortable being uncomfortable it’s Ali Newland.”
She didn’t become this defensive standout on her own. Newland said she learned from the outfielders before her and now is stepping into that guiding role for the younger class.
“What I want them to know the most is that this game is so fun,” Newland said. “It’s supposed to be played … I remind them that it’s not life or death or that it’s not a terrible job you have to do. You get to play with your best friends.”
Newland didn’t have this approach in her first seasons with LSU. Now she knows it’s important to teach the freshman how to shake things off.
“I used to take this game really hard, and I was so serious … I took it personally, and it’s really not,” Newland said.
Outside of Tiger Park, Newland volunteers in the Baton Rouge community. She believes that if the fans in the crowd can help support LSU to a win, she can help support them, too.
Newland has been on the SEC Community Service Team twice and won Female Volunteer of the Year at LSU’s Mikey Awards two years in a row.
“The second that you buy into Baton Rouge, it buys into you,” Newland said.
She’s become a crowd favorite throughout the years because of her grit on and off the field, and the fans see it.
At the end of a packed Saturday game, a young girl, wearing her Louisiana Karma 12u jersey, waited for an autograph from her favorite player.
“Forty-Four, over here,” she screamed. “Ali, over here.”
Newland runs over to her, and who knows, maybe she signed the ball of a 2032 LSU golden glover.
