Three Women’s College World Series wins. One Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament championship. Two NCAA tournament appearances and 206 wins.
These are the numbers that the LSU softball team has compiled during four seniors’ reigns in the program.
Outfielder Lauren Castle, third baseman Lauren Delahoussaye, outfielder Camille Harris and first baseman Stephanie Hill stood on the diamond together to be recognized before their 5-0 Senior Day victory over Florida. The path each took to get there was very different.
Castle did not begin her career at LSU. The Lafayette native played her first season with the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns and got her first taste of the WCWS in 2003.
“It was a little bit scary getting here,” Castle said. “I was coming from a lot smaller school. I have been playing with Lauren Delahoussaye for about 10 years, so I got the scoop from her about the coaches here and the program.”
After transferring to LSU in 2004, Castle made a return visit to the WCWS. Behind an MVP performance from pitcher Kristin Schmidt, the Tigers won three of five games and finished in third place.
Despite playing only three years at LSU, the co-captain’s name will be in the top 10 in career runs and walks.
“Both world series experiences were great,” Castle said. “When I went my freshman year [with ULL], it was so much bigger than anything I have ever experienced. I was flabbergasted through the entire thing. We did better my second year, so I enjoyed that one a little bit more. I knew more of what to expect. I was calmer at the plate, and the added experience helped me out.”
Fellow Lafayette native Delahoussaye began her career at LSU, but it was not until the 2004 campaign that she had her breakout year.
The third baseman had career highs in her sophomore season, hitting nine home runs and 40 RBIs.
Although her numbers have lessened at the plate in her junior and senior seasons, base runners throughout the SEC know Delahoussaye for her arm when she throws from third base to first base.
“I want fans to remember how hard we worked and how much we helped the program,” Delahoussaye said. “I want fans to think that I was the best third baseman that ever came through LSU. That’s what every player wants.”
Hill also began her career at LSU but under different circumstances. The first baseman was not offered a scholarship as a freshman and walked on to the team in 2003.
After not recording a hit in her freshman season, Hill exploded with a .325 average, 13 home runs, 54 RBIs and 37 runs as a sophomore.
Hill has been consistent during the last two seasons. She is currently fourth in career home runs with 25 and tied for seventh in RBIs with 120.
Her eyes welling up with tears, the Harahan native could only find one word to describe her experience at LSU: unforgettable.
“The coaches gave me a great opportunity, and I will never be able to put into words how much the fans, coaches, former teammates and current teammates have helped me make memories that I am so grateful for,” Hill said. “This is the most worthwhile experience that I have ever done in my life. I can honestly say I have never worked harder for one common goal with a group of people before. I just lost [control of my emotions] on the field today.”
Harris is the only senior not from Louisiana, but the Tennessee native is one of 13 players on the team from outside the state.
Nicknamed “Hurricane,” Harris was selected to the Second-Team All-SEC in 2003 and 2005 as well as the WCWS All-Tournament team in 2004.
“They gave me the name ‘Hurricane’ for a reason,” Harris said. “She comes in quick; she does her business; she destroys everything, then she leaves peacefully.”
Harris is the only senior that is No. 1 in a career category, leading the way with 30 hit-by pitches.
She also finds herself in the top-10 on the career list in runs, home runs, RBIs and walks.
But while the seniors were more than happy to share their favorite stories and memories from their careers, they said they still have some unfinished business.
After missing the NCAA tournament with a 31-23 (12-18 SEC) record last season, LSU (48-9, 21-6 SEC) is ranked No. 10 in the country and is fighting for its seventh SEC Western Division crown.
“The thing I will remember the most is the character of this team,” Castle said. “We never gave up. We came off a hell of a year last year. We had a lot of adversity facing us, but we took it by the tail, and we are throwing it around this year. We came back stronger than we were two years before, and we will make it further than before.”
LSU coach Yvette Girouard said she was glad to see her seniors go out as winners and is proud of what these seniors have accomplished.
“They have been a part of two world series, some SEC championships, a legacy of winning and playing hard. They were passionate about putting an LSU Tiger uniform on. They made sure that they went out as this Tiger program has always been – among the elite in the country.”
As Harris finished her speech on the field at Senior Day, she held the microphone straight out, said, “Don’t forget us,” and dropped it as she faded into a sea of LSU uniforms.
 
Contact Matt Vines at [email protected]