BATON ROUGE — The LSU softball team selected returning All-Americans Stephanie Hastings and Britni Sneed as team captains for the 2001 season.
“I am extremely pleased that the team has had the wisdom to choose these two fine athletes as their captains,” said new head coach Yvette Girouard. “They are the embodiment of the definition of student-athlete. They lead by example and by their talents and should provide excellent leadership throughout the season.”
A senior this season, Hastings was named first-team All-American at second base in 2000. After starting at second base for three seasons, she will move to shortstop this season to fill the hole left by former LSU All-American Tara Asbill.
Hastings finished her junior season second on the team with a batting average of .361. Hastings struck out only six times in 227 at bats. In the field, she had 160 putouts and 126 assists at second base. Hastings was also named first-team All-SEC for her junior season.
Sneed was named second-team All-American at pitcher after striking out a school record 278 opponents in 2000. She had an ERA of 1.14 in 239.1 innings and finished the season with a record of 27-7. Sneed pitched for the U.S. Junior Olympic softball team in the summer of 1999, not giving up a single run or hit. She was also named first-team All-SEC.
A junior this season, Sneed has shared the starting pitching position with Ashley Lewis for the past two seasons to combine for one of the best staffs in the country. At the end of 2000, the LSU pitchers were ranked ninth in the NCAA stats. Sneed ranked 16th in strikeouts per seven innings and 14th in victories nationally.
LSU will open its season February 9-11 with the Fiesta Bowl Classic at Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. against Washington.