Louisiana State Tigers
Overall Rank: #21
Conference Rank: #5 SEC
LSU Team Page
LSU returns 16 letter winners, including nine who played in 50 or more games in 2011, from a squad that went deep on NCAA Regional weekend. First year Head Coach Beth Torina takes over for Yvette Girouard who retired at the end of the 2011 after 11 seasons. Coach Torina will benefit from the return of a dominant and experienced pitching staff and defense as well as the help of Assistant Coach Howard Dobson who comes home after a stint at Oklahoma and a few years at the helm of Southern Miss.
2011: 40-18, 19-9
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Beth Torina, 1st Season
Field Players:
Sophomore centerfielder Simone Hayward led LSU during 2011 in hitting (.294) and steals (23). Senior Ashley Lagoni moves from the outfield to 3B. She was tops on the team in hits and RBI last year with 48 and 38 respectively. Sophomore infielder Tammy Wray started every game for Girouard in 2011 and was second on the team with eight home runs.
Pitchers:
The Tigers have an experienced staff that includes a formidable one-two punch in the circle for 2012. NFCA All American Brittany Mack comes back after winning 20 games with a 1.74 ERA. The senior threw 17 complete games and struck out 209 batters. Junior Rachele Fico won 14 games in 2011. The right hander struck out 183, posted a 2.40 ERA and hurled 16 complete games. Sophomore Meghan Patterson rounds out last year’s bullpen. She was 6-1 as a freshman and struck out 91 in just under 54 innings.
Who to Watch:
A solid group of five freshmen join the LSU Tigers for the 2012 season. Ayanna Andrews headlines the group. The highly decorated lefty from Florida was selected ESPN RISE 2nd Team All-American and picked to play in the Under Armour High School All-American Exhibition. Andrews hit .557, stole 57 bases and scored 55 times as a senior at Countryside High School. Dylan Supak will add extra flexibility to the team. The utility player was a three sport athlete at LaGrange High School and earned All-State honors in softball.
Final Projection:
LSU will play 11 games against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament and five who reached the WCWS, before they begin their very tough SEC schedule. Solid pitching and a defense that returns the core of a team that was ranked 17th nationally in fielding percentage provide a strong base from which the Tigers will look to repeat a 40 win season and challenge for the SEC title. The early season gauntlet and the SEC schedule will keep LSU’s RPI high and give them an excellent chance to return to the NCAA Tournament for the 14th time in 16 seasons.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Tammy Wray, IF, 168
Hits: Ashley Langoni, 3B, 48
Home Runs: Tammy Wray, IF, 8
RBIs: Ashley Langoni, 3B, 38
Runs: Simone Heyward, CF, 39
Stolen Bases: Simone Heyward, CF, 23
Wins: Brittany Mack, P, 20
Innings Pitched: Brittany Mack, P, 184.2
Strikeouts: Brittany Mack, P, 209
Saves: Rachele Fico, P, 2
Madness 2012 NFP Draft Rankings:
#15 Brittany Mack
Madness 2012 Softball Recruit Rankings:
#20 A.J. Andrews
