LSU softball coach Beth Torina took the podium at Media Day on Monday and made two things clear — this year’s team is loaded with talent, and it has high hopes about what it can achieve.
The No. 19-ranked Tigers lost several key seniors last season, but Torina said her roster is still full of capable players who have been hard at work during the offseason.
“This group has some intangibles that I think you’ll see throughout the season,” Torina said. “They’ve really put the time in. They have an amazing work ethic.”
The team returns a trio of talented sophomores in Baylee Corbello, Sahvanna Jaquish and Bailey Landry. Corbello was the team’s rock in the circle last season, finishing with a 19-9 record to go alongside a 3.16 ERA. Jaquish finished with a .341 batting average and school record 17 home runs. Landry notched a .368 batting average, the highest on the team for players with at least 100 at-bats.
Juniors Bianka Bell, Kellsi Kloss and Sandra Simmons all are returning. Senior outfielder A.J. Andrews is back for her final season after hitting .329 and stealing 38 bases last year.
The returning players, coupled with the new additions, have Torina convinced the roster she assembled is special.
“There’s no question this is the most talented team we’ve had,” Torina said.

The Tigers finished 38-24 (13-11 Southeastern Conference) last season, losing in the NCAA Regional to Arizona. The team is looking to take the next step this season by playing together in pursuit of a shared dream.
“They understand our theme this year, which is ‘The Power of One,’” Torina said. “It’s trying to unite these 21 girls into one team, all focused on one goal, and that’s to play in the College World Series and win a national championship.”
The road will not be easy — the Tigers face a daunting schedule. Torina said the team will play the toughest nonconference schedule in the nation for the second straight season.
When they start SEC play, the schedule doesn’t get any easier. Nine of the conference’s 12 teams are ranked in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association preseason top 25 poll. Torina pointed out that Florida failed to finish first in the conference last year but still managed to win the national championship to emphasize how difficult conference play is.
Andrews said LSU has enough desire to achieve its goals.
“I don’t think that anybody is even remotely as hungry or driven as we are,” Andrews said. “We have a countdown to how many days we have to go to the [national championship].”
One of the keys to LSU’s pursuit of a College World Series title will be the increase of depth on the pitching staff. Torina said she thinks opponents will see all four of her pitchers in the circle at some point.
Corbello said having competition for playing time is driving the pitchers to train harder.
“It’s a humbling experience,” Corbello said. “I’m not just handed a position. [Freshman] Carley [Hoover], [freshman] Allie [Walljasper] and [sophomore] Kelsee [Selman], they’re great people to be around. They’re always pushing me in the bullpen. I just can’t afford to have an off day when I’m around them.”

You can reach Jack Woods on Twitter @Jack_TDR.