When the lights shine bright in Tiger Park to open the LSU softball team’s season Friday night, all eyes will be focused on the competition in the circle between battle-tested sophomore pitchers Baylee Corbello and Kelsee Selman and talented freshman pitchers Carley Hoover and Allie Walljasper. 
Corbello, who was named to the 2014 Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team, and Selman stepped up by playing like cool-head veterans at key points last season, especially during the NCAA Tucson Regional. Despite their success last season, Corbello and Selman are not guaranteed any spot in the rotation.
“The nice thing about our pitching staff is that they are all very different,” said LSU coach Beth Torina at the team’s media day Monday. “They are going to make our team that much tougher because it’s going to be very hard to prepare for that staff when you really don’t know who you might face.”
Corbello stepped into the spotlight early last season, beginning her LSU career with two straight double-digit strikeout performances. She continued to spark the Tigers throughout with 188 strikeouts, which is the second most by a pitcher in her first year in program history. 
Corbello was the workhorse for the Tigers’ last season, starting a rotation-leading 29 games, throwing an LSU freshman record 24 complete games. She also led LSU’s pitchers with 19 wins, six shutouts and 199 1/3 innings pitched. 
Through the offseason, Corbello worked to master other pitches besides her change-up that plagued batters last season. 
“I want to establish different pitches this year, as far as strikeout pitches,” Corbello said. “Everyone knows me as a change-up [pitcher], so I want to definitely establish some new pitches and just keep people off balance more.” 
Although she pitched only 49 innings last season, Selman shined in the NCAA Tucson Regional, particularly against Boston University on May 17, 2014. 
After being hit by a line drive in the first inning, Selman pitched her fourth complete game of the season and posted eight strikeouts with only one walk for an 8-3 victory to push LSU into the regional final. 
Despite her ups and downs during her first year, Corbello said Selman’s work ethic will produce results on the field this season. 
“I’ve never seen anyone with [Selman’s] work ethic,” Corbello said. “It’s incredible. It’s very humbling and exciting to see. I’m excited she’s starting to get the results she’s been wanting and deserves.” 
Hoover joins the Tigers’ roster after transferring from Stanford in the summer of 2014. At Stanford, Hoover sported a 2-0 record in five starts with the Cardinals and posted a 1.65 ERA, but was limited due to an injury. 
Although she was limited with the Cardinals in 2014, Hoover shined during her prep career, posting a 0.15 ERA during her senior year and recording 1,345 strikeouts. Hoover was named the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year. 
Hoover is a true power pitcher that LSU’s roster was missing last season, and she brings the Tigers closer to the rotations of top programs in the SEC like Tennessee and the defending national champion Florida.   
“Carley Hoover is obviously the hardest thrower,” Torina said.  “She’s a power pitcher. She’s a great competitor. She challenges the entire bullpen on a daily basis.” 
Walljasper, a Manteca, California, native, is a standout both in the circle and at the plate. 
In her high school career, Walljasper posted a 0.63 ERA and tallied 895 strikeouts compared with only 89 walks. In her senior year, Walljasper earned a 1.04 ERA and posted 229 strikeouts and only 29 walks in 134
innings. 
“She puts the ball on the spot all the time,” Torina said. “She puts it there at different speeds. She doesn’t miss many locations. She’s very different than Carley or than what some of the others do.”
Walljasper was a force to be reckoned with at the plate in high school, hitting .488 in her career and 18 home runs. In her senior year alone, she hit .556 and six home runs along with 21 RBIs. 
The addition of Walljasper will add another power hitter to a lineup that includes two of the best in the SEC with sophomore infielder Sahvanna Jaquish and junior infielder Bianka Bell, who hit a combined 31 homers last season. 
Although Corbello was the only pitcher last year to contribute offensively, Torina said all four pitchers will be options to add into the batting lineup to start the season. 
“Allie Walljasper is someone that will be in the lineup, whether she is pitching or not, because she is an unbelievable hitter with a ton of power,” Torina said. “Every girl on my team will tell you how far the ball travels when she hits it. It is a jaw-dropping thing.”
You can reach Morgan Prewitt on Twitter @kmprewitt_TDR.