LSU coach Beth Torina, sophomore right fielder Bailey Landry and freshman pitcher Carley Hoover shuffled to the front of the press conference room at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Michigan had just defeated LSU, 6-3, at the Women’s College World Series, ending the Tigers’ season.
Although the sting of the loss was fresh, Torina displayed optimism at the podium.
“I hope none of my players are hanging their heads today,” Torina said. “The sadness is not necessarily the way it ended or how it ended but the fact it had to end because it was so incredibly enjoyable. … I enjoyed being with them off the field, as well as on the field. They made me proud to be their coach.”
The Tigers didn’t just have reasons to be proud of their accomplishments during a record-breaking 2015 season, they now have reasons to be hopeful for 2016.
Michigan sent a senior, two juniors and a sophomore to its post-game press conference, but Torina was joined by freshman Hoover and sophomore Landry.
LSU is losing the leadership of its seniors, Kailey McCasland, Dylan Supak and center fielder A.J. Andrews, something Hoover described as “clearly irreplaceable.” But only Andrews was a regular starter in LSU’s lineup.
“We had a ton of underclassmen in the game today and a ton of underclassmen that were contributors all season long,” Torina said following the loss. “Having the core of your team playing in a game like this, being in this setting and being in this scenario I think is huge going down the road.”
LSU is returning five All-Americans and 8 of 9 players from the starting lineup, and each of them now have experience playing on college softball’s biggest stage with this season’s third place finish.
The Tigers’ lineup has continued to improve each season during Torina’s tenure. In 2012, LSU hit .220. In 2013 that number rose .65 points to .285. Last season, LSU hit .314, and this year the Tigers finished at a mark of .335.
With all but one starter returning, the Tigers could be poised to improve at the plate again in 2016.
In the circle, LSU is returning four pitchers with a combined ERA of 1.84. Hoover (18-7) and Allie Walljasper (16-5), the two freshmen, shouldered most of the load during the postseason.
The pair now has a full season of experience pitching in a loaded Southeastern Conference. Undefeated sophomore Kelsee Selman (9-0) and sophomore Baylee Corbello (9-2) will also be available in 2016.
Not only is LSU returning players — it’s adding new ones. The Tigers signed six touted incoming freshmen on National Signing Day to bolster an already loaded roster.
“There’s no guarantees for the next season,” Torina said. “But they definitely have all of the tools, talent, ability in order to put them back in this spot and continue to achieve even more than this.”
After the loss to Michigan, Hoover had already begun to shift her focus to the future.
“I’ve really just been focused on this season right here, and right now, all I can see is next year’s national championship,” Hoover said.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.
LSU celebrates a run by Bianka Bell (27) during an NCAA Women's College World Series game against Alabama in Oklahoma City, Saturday, May 30, 2015. (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman via AP) LOCAL STATIONS OUT (KFOR, KOCO, KWTV, KOKH, KAUT OUT); LOCAL WEBSITES OUT; LOCAL PRINT OUT (EDMOND SUN OUT, OKLAHOMA GAZETTE OUT) TABLOIDS OUT
