There are not too many things — either jokes, comments, or even the occasional 60 m.p.h. rising softball — that get past Leigh Ann Danos.
In three seasons as a catcher for the LSU softball team, Danos has committed only two errors, earning a .997 fielding percentage.
Danos, a 6-foot junior from Lafayette, is the prototypical collegiate athlete, according to coach Yvette Girouard.
“She is the ultimate team player,” Girouard said. “She cares about her teammates and she is a great student.”
Being a great student has helped Danos become a better catcher, she said.
“[Catching] is more of a mental game,” Danos said. “Not just being able to block balls, throw people out, or make the plays, but to also be able to call a game.”
Calling the pitches for a game is something that Girouard likes to see in a catcher. Danos said she invites the challenge.
“I love it,” Danos said. “It gives me something to do back there besides just catching the ball and throwing it back to the pitcher. I just love the mental aspect of it.”
Danos said she started calling games in high school, but the experience in college is more difficult.
As a high school junior, Danos helped the St. Thomas More Cougars to the 2001 state championship, batting a cool .398 with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs during the season.
Danos graduated in December 2001, missing her entire senior season in order to join the Tigers’ softball team prior to the 2002 season.
In her freshman season, Danos played in 55 games, starting 21 and batting .293 in 82 plate appearances.
“I always wanted to go LSU,” Danos said. “So when Coach Girouard presented me with the opportunity of coming early, I was like ‘how awesome to be different and do something no one else has done.'”
Senior pitcher Kristin Schmidt said having Danos behind the plate brings a lot of confidence to a pitcher.
“Having her back there makes me feel like I can throw anything to her,” Schmidt said. “I have all the confidence in the world that she will stop the ball no matter what.”
Danos does not limit herself to the defensive side of the game. In the Tigers’ April 26 meeting in Auburn last season, the sophomore catcher had an LSU record tying, two-home run performance.
“It was one of those games that you go out on the field and you know you are going to get a hit,” Danos said. “There is nothing that can stop you.”
The two-home run performance did not come as a shock to Girouard.
“She has the potential to hit them all the time,” Girouard said. “It’s the nature of the game; it could be funny sometimes. You hit four all season and then you hit two in one game.”
This season Danos has batted .250 while battling through a severe case of mononucleosis.
Girouard said Danos’ illness forced her to miss preseason practice, but she was able to make it into the lineup in time for the Tigers’ first game.
“I thought this would really be her breakout year,” Girouard said. “I think she still will have a great year, but she has been a little slowed by mono.”
Danos said she is finally starting to get back into playing condition.
“I am getting back pretty quick,” Danos said. “Now that I am cleared and everything my strength is coming back.”