LSU’s softball season will begin this weekend at the Texas Invitational in Austin, Texas. But pitcher Cody Trahan may have to wait a little longer to start her senior campaign.Trahan has suffered back problems throughout her career and hasn’t been able to throw for about two weeks because of her back. Trahan was out for six weeks during the fall following a run-in with a LSU transit bus while she was on her scooter.The Tigers’ opening-weekend competition will be tough — No. 19 North Carolina, No. 21 DePaul and Texas. Coach Yvette Girouard said she scheduled difficult teams early to prepare for a tough Southeastern Conference road schedule later in the season. “We could have opened up at home with six wins easily, but we’re challenging ourselves immediately off the bat,” Girouard said. “Our road schedule encompasses — during our spring break — Florida and Alabama back-to-back within three days.” Florida was picked by the SEC coaches to win the SEC East and ranked No. 3 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll and No. 5 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate poll. Alabama is ranked No. 2 in both polls and has been picked by the SEC coaches to win the SEC title. But the highly anticipated arrival of freshman pitcher Rachele Fico will come Friday. Girouard named Fico the starting pitcher for the Tigers’ first game of the season against North Carolina.”We’re starting to see her really kick it into another gear,” Girouard said. “She has a knowledge in the circle that is beyond her maturation level. We’re really looking forward to her career here at LSU.” Two senior leaders will lead the Tigers’ outfield. Center fielder Kirsten Shortridge and right fielder Rachel Mitchell were named to the 2010 USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List. Shortridge was named to the 2009 Easton All-America Second Team and has been a catalyst for the Tigers batting in the lead-off spot. Mitchell bats third for the team and led the team with 38 RBI last season.Sophomore outfielder Ashley Langoni will start the season in left field after a strong finish to the 2009 season, in which she was named to the NCAA Tempe Regional All-Tournament Team. “She had a monster regional tournament for us at the end of the year in Tempe, [Ariz.],” said associate head coach James DeFeo. Assistant coach Kristen Hobbs talked about the infield and the importance of fundamentals and defense. “One of our main goals this year is to have the best fielding percentage in the SEC,” Hobbs said.The Tiger defense will be held together at the corners by junior third baseman Jessica Mouse and sophomore first baseman Anissa Young. Mouse, team captain, has been one of the most solid defenders for the Tigers and posted a .991 fielding percentage in 2009. The middle infield will see many faces. Sophomore infielder Juliana Santos was named to the SEC All-Freshman team while she played shortstop for the Tigers. Hobbs said freshman infielder Allison Falcon “lit up the fall tournament” and is expect to see time at either shortstop or second base. Sophomore catcher Morgan Russell and freshman catcher Lauren Houston will share time behind the plate this season. Girouard proudly gave the media a tour of the softball facility Wednesday. Today marks the one-year anniversary of Tiger Park, when the softball team played its first game against McNeese State on Feb. 11, 2009. Girouard explained the luxury of having the park available for use prior to opening day, unlike last season when Tiger Park wasn’t ready for the team until the McNeese State game.”We had preseason two-a-days here, and we stayed here the whole day,” Girouard said. “We’re far more at home now.”For the first time ever, the team worked together to personally deliver season tickets to the Baton Rouge season-ticket holders.”We want the community, our season-ticket people and our fans to take ownership of the Tiger softball team,” Girouard said. “It’s our goal to one day rival that monster across the street. It’s our goal to sell this place out too one day.”