Despite losing all-American outfielder LaDonia Hughes, the 2005 LSU softball team will look to remain strong with two returning starters from last season’s Southeastern Conference championship team.
Junior Camille Harris, a member of last year’s Women’s College World Series All-Tournament team, will anchor the outfield in center.
Harris ranked fourth in the SEC last season in triples and sixth in stolen bases.
Harris said the outfield players will be able to provide a strong offense.
“We’re going to use a short game,” Harris said. “Everybody in the nation knows we can hit. But if you lay down bunts and slaps people will be guessing. We just want to keep the defense on their toes.”
The left field position also will prove strong with the return of sophomore Leslie Klein.
Klein, who played and started in all 69 games last season, recorded the second-most multiple-RBI games in school history last season with 15.
Klein has been sidelined through spring practice after re-injuring the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee. Klein served her first season at LSU with a redshirt after tearing her ACL in 2003.
In addition, both Klein and Harris were named to the 2005 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List.
In right field, sophomore Lauren Uhle, junior Lauren Castle and freshman Quinlan Duhon all will be battling for the starting spot.
With the possibility of a freshman starting in right, Harris said the newcomers all have come in strong.
“All of them come in so advanced,” Harris said. “They learn so fast. When you combine knowledge and speed together you’ve got a great outfield.”
Duhon, from Youngsville, earned a .740 career slugging percentage at St. Thomas More High School as well as hitting .456 with 12 home runs as a senior.
“We have a lot of speed,” Harris said. “And we have a lot of new people. But they’re such good learners, so we’re not even worried about it.”
Other players who could see significant time in the outfield are freshman Heidi Robin, Erika Sluss and speedster Dee Dee Henderson.
Henderson, who earned four letters for track at Atlanta High School in Marietta, Texas, brings quickness and speed.
Batting .411 for her career, she knocked in 36 runs and added 32 stolen bases her senior season.
According to Castle, speed will prove to be one of the primary weapons — offensively and defensively — in the outfield.
“There’s a lot of speed,” Castle said. “We’ve done well with all our footwork, and we’ve worked well with the infield.”
Castle added that a combination of speed and power will make the outfield dangerous.
“It’s a variation,” Castle said. “We’re all very versatile.”