As a shortstop at Beech High School in Hendersonville, Tenn., sophomore Camille Harris was used to manning the infield. Now, as a right fielder at LSU, Harris has had to make the adjustment from leader on the infield to a contributer in the outfield.
“There’s not as much action [compared to the infield], Harris said. “As far as the outfield, I’ve learned to become much faster, knowing that our field is one of the largest in the SEC.”
Harris’ teammate and center fielder LaDonia Hughes, said the two of them work well together in the outfield.
“We always communicate real well,” Hughes said. “We pretty much have to, or we’ll end up having a freak collision, so you have to communicate.”
Born in Bakersfield, Calif., Harris said she always knew she wanted to stick with softball.
Harris credits her athletic background to her father, Gary Harris.
Gary served as a defensive back at the Universiy of Arizona, as well as playing in the Canadian Football League.
“He kind of gives me the athletic side of how sports are supposed to go when I get upset,” Harris said. “My mom, who didn’t play a sport, talks to me about how to handle school and trying to put everything together.”
Harris made her mark in 1996, winning the Wheaties “Sweetest Swing” in America contest.
After Harris’ father found out about the competition, Harris entered the contest in hopes of meeting her favorite baseball player, Ken Griffey Jr.
“You were supposed to go to the batting cage and show your swing, and the best swing got to meet Ken Griffey Jr.,” Harris said. “They called me up and liked my swing, so they flew my mom and I up to Philadelphia to watch the All-Star game with Ken Griffey Jr.”
Harris has since proved that her “Sweetest Swing” has led her to where she is now.
Leading BHS to the 2001 Class 3A state championship in Tennessee, Harris served as a representative for the All-Summer County team all four years of high school.
Outside of high school, Harris earned four Tennessee state titles, as well as two national titles with her summer league teams.
Harris said numerous things attracted her in coming to LSU.
“I liked the weather down here,” Harris said. “I knew LSU was a very prestigious program, as far as softball. I heard coach Girouard was a very good coach, and I could learn a lot from her on and off the field,” Harris said. “I thought that coming to LSU would benefit me a lot after softball was over with.”
In her first year at LSU, Harris made her presence felt, earning Second-Team All-SEC honors, as well as making the All-Louisiana first team.
Finishing her freshman year 15 games early due to a broken arm, Harris led the team in batting average at .337.
In addition to changing positions, Harris has had to adapt to batting at the bottom of the order, as opposed to leading off as she did in high school.
“I’m batting ninth because I believe coach likes to have speed back-to-back,” Harris said. “So, if LaDonia [Hughes] is leading off and I’m at the end, if both of us get on the bases, one of us is going to score.”
Although Hughes and Harris may be next to each other in the outfield, as well as in the batting order, there never seems to be any competition. Unless, of course, it comes down to who’s faster.
“I don’t think [she could beat me in a foot race],” Hughes said. “Never.”