As one of two new transfers on the LSU softball team, junior second baseman Becca Schulte is already stepping into her own shoes.
The term “stepping into your own shoes” has been frequently used by LSU coach Howard Dobson throughout his coaching career and is something he has passed on to his players.
Even though former All-Americans like catcher Sahvanna Jaquish and outfielder Bailey Landry have made their marks on the softball program, it has strongly been encouraged by the coaching staff for younger players to start finding their own voices and filling their own shoes.
Players like Schulte have taken that message to heart so far this season, and it has worked out.
Schulte, a former player from Butler Community
College in El Dorado, Kansas, has started every game for the Tigers this season at second base. Through the first 16 games, Schulte recorded a .286 batting average and six RBIs. She hit the first home run of her LSU career against Pacific on Feb. 22.
It was at Butler CC that Schulte built a strong resume for her collegiate softball career. As a sophomore last season, Schulte recorded a .433 batting average, 26 home runs and 108 RBIs.
Because of her efforts and the Grizzlies winning their second-straight National Championship, Schulte was named the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Most Valuable Player.
The Grizzlies only lost five games in Schulte’s tenure, and Schulte finished her NJCAA career as her school’s all-time leader in home runs with 42, 181 RBIs and 157 runs scored.
While Schulte’s journey from Kansas to Baton Rouge was a long process, she still recalls being welcomed with open arms by LSU coach Beth Torina and the rest of the team during her visit.
“Just meeting with Coach Beth all day felt like I had known her for a long time,” Schulte said. “[Senior pitcher] Allie Walljasper was my host, and she was so awesome and so welcoming. With all of the girls that I met, I just felt like I had known them for a long time and I could see myself being friends with them.”
Coming in this season, Schulte had to fill the role of former second baseman Constance Quinn. Quinn started all 64 games of her senior season at second base and was a leader on and off the field for the Tigers.
However, Schulte has proven early in the season that she has stepped into her own despite having big shoes to fill.
“I think that she’s a great player,” Torina said. “She’s somebody that the fans have said, ‘Wow, this new kid is great. She’s special.’”
As she continues to adjust from Kansas to Baton Rouge and play in her first season as a Tiger, Schulte is already in love with the Tiger Park atmosphere.
“A big part of our success is our atmosphere,” Schulte said. “The fans here help make that atmosphere incredible. But we’re also a very competitive group. We’re gritty and like to find ways to win.”
