BATON ROUGE — LSU head coach Yvette Girouard and the four-time Southeastern Conference champion Tiger softball team have received six national letters-of-intent during the signing period that began last Wednesday.
LSU’s class features six high school athletes, including local product Quinlan Duhon of St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette. Three California players – Andrea Smith of Moreno Valley, Vanessa Soto of San Diego and Erika Sluss of Rancho Buena Vista – along with Killian Roessner of Manasquan, New Jersey and Tiffany Garcia of LaPorte complete the class.
“Our coaching staff is delighted with the acquisition of depth, talent, athleticism, ambitious student-athletes and the solid support systems of great family environments in this recruiting class,” said Girouard, entering her fourth season at the helm of the Tiger program. “LSU softball has stayed within the state and gone from coast to coast with these signees.”
Roessner, a catcher and utility player from Wall High School, actually committed to the Tigers in the fall of her junior year. Last summer she played on the Virginia Shamrocks travel ball team that finished second in the Gold Nationals. The daughter of Richard and Joanne Roessner, she was also recruited by Alabama, Tennessee and Nebraska.
“Killian is a great catcher with a big arm,” said Girouard. “She has a great arm and will be tough to run on. She also possesses power offensively at the plate.”
A pitcher from LaPorte High School, Garcia helped lead her team to a 27-2 final record and a 13th place finish in the nation last season. She also had a great summer with the Missouri City Magic travel ball team. Her team finished ninth at the Gold Nationals. The daughter of Mitchell and Julene Garcia, she picked the Tigers over Texas State and North Texas.
“Tiffany is a deceptive pitcher,” said Girouard. “She will be a great compliment to the Tiger staff as she will bring a different look with the change of speeds in her pitching repertoire.”
An All-state, All-Acadiana and district Most Valuable Player from Youngsville, La., Duhon should play in the outfield but could catch for the Tigers if necessary. A 4.0 student at St. Thomas More, she played for the Louisiana Reflections travel ball team last summer. Duhon picked LSU over Boston College, Florida and Centenary and is the daughter of Amy and Casey Duhon.
“Quinlan is the total package in a student-athlete,” said Girouard. “She knows nothing but the ‘team concept’ and will add great offensive power and defensive skills to the Tiger program.”
A California Scholar Athlete, Smith possesses a 3.987 grade point average and should play shortstop for the Tigers. A member of the California Cruisers travel ball team, she chose LSU over Arizona, Texas A&M, Tennessee and Virginia. She is the daughter of Dave and Vickie Smith.
“Andrea is another tremendous student-athlete,” said Girouard. “She is a tremendous defensive shortstop that will remind Tiger fans of another slick fielding shortstop – her sister, Blair. She will bring great offensive skills along with her talented defensive skills to this program.”
A third baseman for Mount Carmel High School, Soto also carries a solid 3.5 grade point average. The powerful left-hander from San Diego was named to the first team All-Avocado League and the second team All-CIF San Diego Section, All-North County and All-Section. She plays travel ball with the San Diego Breakers, which placed 17th at the Gold Nationals last summer. The daughter of Janet Foley and Fabio Soto, she was also recruited by Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Utah, Wichita State and UNLV.
“Vanessa is a defensive wizard at third base,” said Girouard. “She is one of those special athletes that can do it all — on the field, in the classroom and in the community.”
A travel ball teammate of Soto’s, Sluss could play any position on the field except pitcher for the Tigers. Also a letterwinner on the Rancho Buena Vista High School field hockey team, she was recruited by Tennessee, Boston University and Cal Poly. Sluss is the daughter of Lori Hoskins and Todd Sluss.
“Erika is a versatile athlete that could see time anywhere on the field except in the circle,” said Girouard. “She has tremendous pop offensively and plays with a hard nosed attitude on the field.”
LSU will begin the 2004 season with the Tiger Classic from Feb. 6-8 at Tiger Park. The Tigers will begin play against Centenary at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. LSU will also take on Oklahoma Illinois and Southeastern Louisiana in the three-day tournament.