The LSU softball team has had back-to-back Women’s College World Series appearances for the first time in program history, with a third place finish in the 2016 season.
Following two historic seasons, the Tigers are looking forward to using veteran leadership and mental strength to go even further.
“We put a lot of weight and time, even practice time, into really just having a tough mentality,” LSU coach Beth Torina said. “Having them understand that we have to be able to fail and bounce back and just go through adversity, and I think that’s a big reason why we were so successful at the end of the year.”
This year’s team is going to be slightly different from previous years, Torina said. Coupled with a powerful offensive lineup led by senior infielder Sahvanna Jaquish, the team is adding “super speed” to the lineup.
“I think you’ll see us trying to create some things offensively, a little bit different look,” Torina said.
The veteran leadership is the driving force for success this season. Both the juniors and seniors on the team provide the experience needed for the seven freshmen.
“I think it’s really important,” Torina said. “We’ve talked a lot about that with the upperclassmen and trying to teach our freshman and our younger players our identity and who we are, and I think it’s tough to understand the effort and the grind that it takes to get to the WCWS and what it actually encompasses.”
The Tigers added seven freshmen to this year’s’ roster, and all are expected to play in this weekend’s season opener.
“Three of last year’s seniors played in virtually every game of their entire career, but they will be replaced in 2017, or attempted to be replaced, by seven very dynamic freshmen.” Torina said. “It is one of the best recruiting classes in my time here at LSU, so we’re excited about them.”
The Tigers’ message for the fans this year is “All Gold” to represent the championships that have been won at LSU and where the team is trying to get this season.
“Our internal message is about ‘made,’” Torina said. “It’s really just about the concept that no one is just born into the WCWS, it’s something that we have to make ourselves into every year. What type of team are they going to make themselves into this year is our challenge to them.”
The Tigers open the season with a doubleheader on Feb. 10 against Oklahoma St. and Penn State.