BATON ROUGE — After a morning of conditioning and testing in the hitting cages, the LSU softball team held its first practice of the 2009 season Monday afternoon inside the Anderson-Feazel Field at the Charles McClendon Football Practice Facility.
“Today is prime example of why we bring them back a week early [before classes resume],” head coach Yvette Girouard said. “The weather is unpredictable in January. Thank goodness we have this incredible indoor facility to work in. We’ll spend our first week of practice re-emphasizing the fundamentals and techniques that we taught during the fall season.”
Girouard worked extensively with the pitchers as the infield and outfield worked out in individual groups. The Tigers gathered for a team defense session. Afterward, the infield was put into game situations and tested by the left-handed slap hitters. LSU concluded the busy opening day with a 60-minute session in the weight room.
Outfielder Rachel Mitchell, an All-SEC First-Team selection last season, is ready for her junior season. The LaPorte, Texas product paced LSU and ranked inside the SEC’s Top 10 in batting average (.374), home runs (11), RBIs (51), runs scored (48), total bases (126) and slugging percentage (.665).
Dani Hofer and Cody Trahan return to anchor the pitching staff. Both fired over 150 innings for the Tigers as Hofer started last season with an impressive 16-2 mark that included four wins over ranked opponents before a wrist injury. She enters the season ranked in the top eight of program history in 12 different pitching categories
Trahan picked up All-SEC Second-Team honors after going 9-3 with a 2.18 ERA in conference action. The nine wins were fourth, while the 2.18 ERA was fifth in the SEC.
LSU also welcomes nine talented freshmen in addition to transfer Kirsten Shortridge, who is a dual threat in the outfield and circle. She was a member of Baylor’s 2007 Women’s College World Series team.
“We have one month to get ready and we’ll be ready,” Girouard said. “By this time next week, things will start to take shape in the infield and outfield. I thought all of our pitchers were strong and Dani threw pretty darn good coming off her injury.”
LSU opens the 2009 season at the Paradise Softball Classic squaring off against Oklahoma, UAB and host Hawai`i from Feb. 5-7. The new Tiger Park opens against McNeese State on Feb. 11.