The LSU softball team is two days away from its first pitch, and first-year LSU coach Beth Torina still hasn’t decided on a starting lineup.
But the decision isn’t tough due to indecisiveness or a lack of talent. Torina said there are plenty of players on the roster of 22 that deserve to play.
“There is a ton of competition on the scene,” she said. “There are a ton of talented players on this team.”
Torina said she plans to use the Tigers’ out-of-conference games to figure out her favorite lineup before Southeastern Conference play.
“A few people deserve opportunities here early,” Torina said. “You might see some in and out the first couple of weeks with different people trying out different spots, different lineups and things until we have that set lineup when we get to SEC play.” 
Torina has no early favoritism for certain players over others.
“I don’t want to make judgment on people solely based on practice, because I don’t think that’s fair,” Torina said. “They all deserve to play, no question.”
One way the competition has picked up is the team’s improved offensive performance. Last year, the Tigers ranked ninth out of 11 SEC teams in batting average.
Howard Dobson, who joins Torina in his first year at LSU, will serve as the Tigers’ hitting coach. Dobson was formerly the coach for Southern Miss, and prior to that he was the hitting coach at Oklahoma.
While Dobson was at Oklahoma, the Sooners led the Big 12 in scoring and ranked either first or second in the league in batting average in each of his five seasons.
Sophomore infielder Tammy Wray said Dobson has made a positive impact with the Tigers during the off-season.
“He doesn’t so much try to change our swings as just adjust to the things we need to work on,” she said.
 
 
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Contact Albert Burford at [email protected]