RUSTON, La. — LSU and Louisiana-Lafayette, a pair of nationally ranked teams, combined to place seven players on the 12-person first team and to sweep at least a share of every award on the 2006 Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana team released Saturday.
The team was voted on by members of the LSWA after state sports information directors nominated players from their respective programs.
The Tigers placed four players on the first team and two more on the second team while pitcher Emily Turner was named the LSWA Pitcher of the Year. Tiger pitcher Dani Hofer took home a share of the state Freshman of the Year Award along with Louisiana Tech’s Emma Barnes and Centenary’s Emerald Doria.
LSU coach Yvette Girouard was voted the Coach of the Year after leading LSU to a 55-14 mark and an NCAA Super Regional appearance.
UL-Lafayette boasted three players on the all-state first team and two more on the second team while outfielder Danyelle Gomez earned the Hitter of the Year award and pitcher Krystal Lewallen was voted the Newcomer of the Year.
Turner led the Tigers with a 27-7 mark while recording a 0.83 earned run average, striking out 246 in 219 innings of action. She earned first team All-Southeastern Conference honors and was a five-time selection as the state pitcher of the week.
Gomez led the Ragin’ Cajuns to the NCAA Tournament after winning the “triple crown” in the Sun Belt Conference with a .456 batting average, 28 home runs and 64 RBI. She led the nation in home runs, runs scored (1.29 per game) and slugging percentage (.974).
Lewallen, a Division II transfer, posted a 24-8 mark on the mound for UL-Lafayette with a 1.90 earned run average, recording 198 strikeouts in 206.3 innings of work. The second team All-Sun Belt selection also recorded 29 complete games, including nine complete-game shutouts.
Hofer was 16-5 on the season during her freshman season for LSU, sporting a 2.01 earned run average and eight shutouts while striking out 159 batters in 139.1 innings of work.
Barnes, a first team All-Western Athletic Conference selection, led Tech with a .341 batting average, recording 56 hits in 164 at bats. The Sacramento, Calif., native led Tech with 40 runs scored, 12 stolen bases and ranked in the top five nationally in triples per game.
Doria boasted a .339 batting average with 10 home runs and 26 RBI while scoring 48 runs for the Ladies. The Mid-Continental Newcomer of the Year started every game at shortstop for Centenary.
Girouard earned the state Coach of the Year Award after directing LSU to a 55-14 mark, including a 12-0 record against in-state teams. After leading the Tigers to a 23-win turnaround from 2005, Girouard was voted Co-Coach of the Year in the SEC and was also inducted into the National Fastpich Coaches Association Hall of Fame this season.
A total of seven Louisiana programs were represented on either the first or second team. LSU (6) led the way, while UL-Lafayette (5), Louisiana Tech (4), Nicholls State (3), Centenary (3), Northwestern State (2) and UL-Monroe (1) also boasted members.
2006 All-LSWA First Team
C Regan Clark, Louisiana Tech
1B Lacey Bertucci, UL-Lafayette
2B Vanessa Soto, LSU
SS Kat Harrell, Nicholls State
3B Leah Peterson, Nicholls State
OF Danyelle Gomez, UL-Lafayette
OF Leslie Klein, LSU
OF Micah Rhodes, Centenary
UT Amanda Glenn, Northwestern State
DH Lauren Castle, LSU
P Emily Turner, LSU
P Ashley Kirchberg, UL-Lafayette
2006 All-LSWA Second Team
C Heather Williams, UL-Monroe
1B Stephanie Hill, LSU
2B Brandi Hahn, Nicholls State
SS Emerald Doria, Centenary
3B Jennifer Mango, Centenary
OF Emma Barnes, Louisiana Tech
OF Ashley Evans, UL-Lafayette
OF Sarah Noack, Northwestern State
UT Jessica Elson, Louisiana Tech
DH Ashley Cameron, Louisiana Tech
P Krystal Lewallen, UL-Lafayette
P Dani Hofer, LSU
Specialty Awards
Hitter of the Year: Danyelle Gomez, UL-Lafayette
Pitcher of the Year: Emily Turner, LSU
Freshman of the Year: Emma Barnes, Louisiana Tech; Emerald Doria, Centenary; Dani Hofer, LSU
Newcomer of the Year: Krystal Lewallen, UL-Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Yvette Girouard, LSU
Honorable Mention: Christina Allen (McNeese State), Brittany Bryant (UL-Lafayette), Sandy Clark (Louisiana College), Quinlan Duhon (LSU), Camille Harris (LSU), Yuliana January (Louisiana College), Jamilia Taylor (Southern)