In the Marvel Universe, Mister Fantastic, the Invisible Woman, the Human Torch and the Thing form a superhero team infinitely stronger together than the individuals are apart. Each possesses unique abilities that, when combined, form a bond enemies struggle to break.
There are no superheroes at Tiger Park, but there are four individuals who have come together to create a pitching rotation no opponent has been able to defeat — sophomore Baylee Corbello, freshman Carley Hoover, sophomore Kelsee Selman and freshman Allie Walljasper.
“The nice part about our pitching staff is that all pitchers are very different,” said LSU coach Beth Torina at Media Day before the season. “All four of them bring something different to the table … It will be really hard to prepare for that staff when you really don’t know who you might face.”
Baylee Corbello, sophomore
Corbello has been pitching since she was a toddler.
“I have video of me pitching when I was in diapers,” Corbello said. “I was 2 years old.”
It’s not hard to believe how long Corbello’s been perfecting her motion considering how much she’s accomplished in such a short span of time at LSU.
Corbello became the pitcher the Tigers could trust in the circle as a freshman. She threw more innings (199.1), more complete games (24) and made more appearances (35), than anyone else on LSU’s roster in 2014.
By the end of her first campaign, all those outings translated to a 19-9 record, a 3.16 ERA, 188 strikeouts and a selection on the 2014 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team.
Corbello’s talents had Torina heaping praise on her sophomore just days before theseason started.
“I think Baylee Corbello changes speeds as well as anyone I’ve seen,” Torina said.
Corbello has lived up to her billing so far this season. She is 5-0 with a 1.04 ERA, striking out 27 batters and holding opponents to a batting average of .184.
She has been working hard to cut down on the number of walks she allowed last year by focusing on throwing quality pitches and trusting her teammates behind her.
“With as many walks as I had last year, obviously it was a confidence thing,” Corbello said. “Coach just told me to throw quality pitches. We have a great defense behind us.”
Corbello has walked 14 batters in 2015, which is a considerable improvement from last spring. Through five starts in 2014, Corbello had already handed out 27 free passes, nearly twice as many as she has allowed this year.
Corbello has been working hard, and she’s been doing it for a while. After all, she’s been working on her pitching motion since she was 2 years old.
Carley Hoover, freshman
Hoover throws the ball hard.
Her fastball clocks in at more than 70 miles per hour and produces a noticeable “crack’” when it hits the catcher’s mitt. It’s a pitch that can completely overpower hitters as they try to catch up to the ball zooming past them.
“She’s the hardest thrower I’ve ever been around,” Torina said.
Originally committed to Stanford, Hoover started her Cardinal career brightly with a 2-0 record and 1.65 ERA. However, Hoover suffered a season-ending injury that sidelined her for the remainder of her freshman campaign.
Hoover said when the Cardinal coach resigned and things started to go wrong, she decided to transfer to a school where she could win immediately, rather than be caught in a rebuilding era. LSU fit the bill perfectly.
Hoover has started her LSU career with a 5-0 record. In eight appearances, she has posted a 1.30 ERA and a team-leading 49 strikeouts in 37innings pitched.
Hoover also has recorded two saves, and she is embracing a relief role when called upon from the bullpen.
“I really like relieving,” Hoover said. “It’s not fun to be down with your back against the wall, but it’s fun to come in, and not be the hero but be someone for your team, be that hope.”
Torina said Hoover has been “dominant in a relief role.”
Hoover’s ability to step into the circle and throw fastballs, as a reliever or a starter, gives LSU the ability to throw a change-of-pace at other teams. Opponents are forced to adjust to Hoover’s speed as they bat through the lineup.
Hoover is dreaming big about what LSU can achieve while she’s in school.
“I could potentially win four national championships here,” Hoover said. “That’s what I want.”
Kelsee Selman, sophomore
After her rollercoaster freshman campaign, Selman entered this season with one focus — improvement.
Though she struggled at times last season, Selman shined when the Tigers needed her most in the 2014 NCAA Tucson Regional against Boston University.
Selman tallied eight strikeouts and only one walk in her fourth complete game performance after being hit by a line drive in the first inning. Despite her struggles throughout SEC play, Selman’s success against Boston stemmed from a change in her mentality that has fueled her drive to be better this season.
“The really big thing about [the Boston game] was that [my teammates] all let me know that they had faith in me and they knew I could do it,” Selman said. “I knew I wasn’t by myself. That’s what changed my mentality when I was pitching because I knew I don’t have to strike everybody out. I don’t have to do everything on my own [because] they’re there.”
In her six appearances this season, Selman has already tied her career mark with four complete game wins. Selman has posted a 1.46 ERA and earned 32 strikeouts while tying for a team-best four walks. She leads the Tigers with only 17 hits allowed in 24 innings pitched.
Selman credits pitching against the talented LSU lineup in the offseason, which combines top-tier power hitters and slappers, for her improvement this season.
“That’s what has helped me be a better pitcher this year because our offense is so good,” Selman said. “During the offseason when I was having to pitch to all of our hitters, it makes me ten times better because all of our hitters are really good and have strengths in so many different ways.”
Allie Walljasper, freshman
Since she stepped into the circle for the first time at Tiger Park, Walljasper has shined by bringing quiet confidence to the mound and a spark to the lineup with her power hitting.
Walljasper leads the Tigers’ rotation with seven wins, six complete games and 41 1/3 innings pitched. She is second in the SEC in ERA with 0.51.
Although LSU’s other pitchers have a go-to pitch, Walljasper relies on her ability to throw a variety of pitches.
“[My pitches] are all working very equally,” Walljasper said. “Whatever [Torina] feels like throwing she always throws, and I’m just comfortable with her [pitch] calling.”
At the plate, Walljasper has added another deep threat to the Tigers’ lineup already stacked with power hitters.
In her prep career at Sierra High School, Walljasper hit a .488 average, including 18 home runs and 70 RBIs. She tallied six home runs and 21 RBIs in her senior year alone while hitting .556.
Against Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 19, Walljasper hit LSU’s second grand slam of the season and led the Tigers to a 8-0 victory.
“Allie Walljasper is someone you will see in the lineup whether she is pitching or not,” Torina said. “She is an unbelievable hitter with a ton of power. Any girl on my team will tell you how far the ball travels with she hits it. It’s just a jaw-dropping thing.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.
You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.

Gallery • 3 Photos

Ronni Bourgeois

Freshman pitcher, Carley Hoover (21) pitches on Friday during the tigers' softball game against Ball State on Friday Feb. 27, 2015 at Tiger Park.