While losing two top-notch infielders might prove to be a problem for any other team, the 2005 LSU softball squad may improve this upcoming season with an arrival of new talent.
Following a 2004 season that saw LSU advance to the Women’s College World Series for the second time in four years, the infield has two new faces after the losses of seniors Julie Wiese and Sara Fitzgerald.
Newcomers Vanessa Soto and Andrea Smith will now step in to try and fill the void left by last year’s seniors.
Assistant coach Lori Osterberg said both Wiese and Fitzgerald proved to be strong leaders last season.
“Julie and Sara were really vocal leaders,” Osterberg said after practice Tuesday. “They knew the game really well, and they had a couple of years under their belts.”
Juniors Stephanie Hill and Lauren Delahoussaye are expected to step in as vocal leaders on the infield, yet that job may be easier thanks to the freshmen.
“The two freshmen we have are playing like veterans,” Osterberg said. “Their game awareness and knowledge of the game is beyond being the freshmen that they are.”
Hill will return with her duties at first base for the second straight season.
After walking on as a freshman and earning a starting position last season, Hill broke on to the scene early after earning Louisiana Hitter of the Week honors. She began the season with a .450 batting average including three doubles and 11 RBIs.
Anchoring the other side of the infield will be Delahoussaye, moving over from shortstop to third base.
Starting in all 69 games last season, Delahoussaye recorded 17 multiple-hit games while setting a career best seven-game hitting streak.
Osterberg said Delahoussaye and Hill took on their leadership roles well.
“We have Del and Stephanie as our cornerstones, and they haven’t skipped a beat in stepping in as leaders,” Osterberg said. “They’ve taken it on and then some.”
The middle infield will be made up of freshman Soto and Smith, who despite just getting to know each other last fall, have established a strong friendship.
“We have a lot in common,” Soto said. “So coming out on the field, we’d already established a strong foundation for a friendship.”
Soto maintains half the field up the middle at the second base position just one year removed from high school.
Imported from San Diego, Soto earned four letters in softball during her time at Mount Carmel High School.
Batting .398 her senior season with a .636 slugging percentage, Soto earned the “Most Inspirational” award while leading her team to the Avocado League Championship this past season.
Smith, from Moreno Valley, Ca., earned two first-team All-California Interscholastic Federation honors at Valley View High School while also serving as a member of the Dean’s Honor Roll and as a Scholar-Athlete.
Hill said the two play together like they have done it for years.
“They’re just like hand and glove,” Hill said. “You’d never know that they haven’t played together before.”
With a No. 5 preseason ranking, expectations are set high for the young tandem. Thanks to experience on the field, Soto said she could not be more excited.
“[Hill and Delahoussaye] have been huge for us,” Soto said. “They’ve really made us feel at home.”