As a two-time district champion in high school, sophomore Stephanie Hill always put basketball ahead of softball.
“Basketball has been my favorite sport for my entire life,” Hill said. “I played basketball nine out of the 12 months of the year.”
Hill, who earned four letters in basketball at Dominican High School in New Orleans, currently holds the school record for career points.
Playing against the likes of LSU’s Doneeka Hodges and Temeka Johnson, Hill was not highly recruited out of high school.
“I played basketball my whole life and softball was just something I did after basketball was over,” Hill said.
Hill came to LSU on an academic scholarship.
After failing to make the softball team her freshman year, Hill managed to impress coach Yvette Girouard in her second tryout.
“She tried out one year and we didn’t keep her, but I was impressed,” Girouard said. “We asked her back last year and I could see all her potential.”
In her first season, Hill played in just 22 games, primarily being used as a pinch runner. This year, Hill has made her presence felt.
“She’s worked very hard,” Girouard said. “She has a lot of confidence in herself.”
Through nine games, Hill has gone 12-for-21 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
Hill is currently leading the team in batting average (.571) and slugging percentage (.952) and she said she credits her offseason work-ethic to the quick start.
“I think I had a really great fall,” Hill said. “I worked really hard on my fundamentals and changed my stance a little bit.”
Hill is primarily used as a designated player this season and she said that serving as the designated player is an important role to fill.
“Being on the bench helps me stay focused,” Hill said. “You have to be ready when it’s your turn to contribute.”
Last weekend, Girouard gave Hill a shot at first base.
“She did a great job [in Las Vegas],” Girouard said. “I was very pleased.
Hill’s start at first base was the first of her career.
“That’s a new position for me, but I’m trying to learn everything in practice,” Hill said. “I’m trying to find a spot every day there.”
Aside from contributing on the field, Hill works just as hard off the field. Hill graduated as a National Merit Finalist and salutatorian of her class. With a major in business, she plans on going to law school.
“I worked really hard,” Hill said. “God blessed me with a good mind.”
Hill added that a good mind can prove beneficial on the field.
“If you’re smart, you can be five times better [on the field],” Hill said. “You can anticipate and be ready for any pitch.”
At 6-3 this season, Hill said she has been pleased with the way the year has gone.
“I think we’ve seen some good competition early and that will help us later on in the year,” Hill said. “If we’re put in the position where we have to play our best, that will just send us out on playing our best all year.”
Although basketball normally has been her favorite sport, Hill said that could be changing.
“The way things have gone so far, I’d have to say softball is my favorite now,” Hill said. “I just want the opportunity to play, to do whatever I can to help these guys any way I can. They’re the best teammates in the world.”