This year’s LSU softball infield will have the perfect combination of youth and experience.
Senior co-captains Sara Fitzgerald at second base and third baseman Julie Wiese provide the experience while sophomore shortstop Lauren Delahoussaye and redshirt freshman Leslie Kline (first base) supply the youth.
“The cohesion is coming along,” Fitzgerald said. “We struggled early on and we felt that we had to get to the level that the outfield was playing with. At times we were just frustrated because we wanted to make every single play.”
Fitzgerald said spring practice has provided the time for the unit to gel more and expects big things from the infield this season.
“It kind of feels as though the whole infield is new,” Wiese said. “Me and [Fitzgerald] have been here for years. But the two new ones are filling big positions.”
One of those new players in the infield is redshirt freshman Leslie Kline, who redshirted last season after suffering an ACL injury.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard projects her to be the starter at first.
“Because of our need at first base, [Kline] will play there,” Girouard said.
The need for a first baseman came when junior transfer Amber Brooks, who had been penciled in as the starter, blew out her shoulder two days into spring practice.
“Kline has shown a tremendous recovery from her ACL injury,” Girouard said. “She is in the best shape of her life. I think she may be the best ballplayer on our team — just pure all-around ballplayer.”
Freshman pitcher Emily Turner may also see some time at first, adding great speed and athleticism to the position.
“Whereas Kline may be the best ballplayer on the team, Turner is most definitely the best athlete on the team,” Girouard said.
At second Girouard will utilize Fitzgerald’s leadership. The 5-foot-3 infielder batted .272 a year ago with 15 doubles, three home runs and 33 RBIs.
“[Fitzgerald] did a great job for us last year and I expect her to produce the same kinds of numbers this season,” Girouard said.
Fitzgerald started every game last season for the Tigers, leading the team in hits while ranking eighth in the SEC in runs scored with 40.
For her career, Fitzgerald is a .255 hitter with 15 doubles, three home runs and 44 RBIs.
Fitzgerald’s double-play partner at shortstop, Delahoussaye, the 5-foot-5 sophomore from Lafayette, batted .224 last season with the Tigers, but only started 12 games at shortstop last season.
“[Delahoussaye] has a cannon for an arm and has one of the quickest releases I have ever seen,” Girouard said.
In 49 plate appearances Delahoussaye had 11 hits and eight RBIs with a fielding percentage of .833.
At third base Wiese will be the “rock” of the infield, according to Girouard.
“She is as steady as can be,” Girouard said. “I expect her to have her best season ever. She has arrived at the realization that this is her final year and I think she is just having fun playing softball.”
In 2003 Wiese hit .258 with 17 doubles, nine home runs and 33 RBIs.
Wiese started all 67 games last season and led the team in doubles while ranking fourth in the SEC.
For her career Wiese is a .264 hitter with 38 doubles, 23 home runs and 95 RBIs.