Softball starting off season nationally ranked

With less than a week until the season opener, Louisiana's Ragin' Cajuns softball team is preparing to build off of last year's success.

The squad that went 51-11 last year is featured in both nationally recognized preseason college softball polls, receiving the No. 23 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll and No. 24 in the ESPN.com softball poll. The Cajuns drew 95 votes in the USA Today/ NCFA Division I Top 25 poll, which are voted by Division I head coaches, and 52 votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll.

Luckily for the Cajuns, they return eight position starters and 15 letter winners from the team that made its 13th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance. The team also had the top offense in the country, setting a school and Sun Belt record with 481 runs. Co-head coaches Michael and Stefni Lotief said they look forward to competing with an experienced team, but admitted there is a lot of work to be done.

"We fell short last year, so we have to make sure that there is improvement with the people that we have back," Michael Lotief said. "The advantage is that we have a lot of girls who understand what it takes to compete."

He said he believes the Cajuns are showing improvement.

"This team works very hard," he said. "It's a good group of kids who understand the process, and they are tireless workers. We have gotten better, but we are still a work in progress."

The Cajuns have big shoes to fill at first base with the loss of Third Team All-American Gabrielle Bridges, who graduated last year after leading the nation in home runs. Stefni Lotief said she feels confident the team can move on.

"I don't know about filling her spot," she said, "but if everyone pulls their load and plays when called upon, it won't be a problem."

One of the key returners for the Cajuns is fifth-year senior outfielder Christi Orgeron, who was named to the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award preseason watch list. As a junior, Orgeron was a Top-10 finalist for the same award after batting .414 with 23 homeruns and 101 RBI, third all-time most RBIs recorded in a single season in NCAA. She also helped Team USA to a gold medal in the Pan-American Games in October 2011.

"Christi is a true leader," Stefni Lotief said. "We are hoping she can stay locked in and focused for the season."

The season kicks off Friday with the first of two back-to-back tournaments hosted by the Cajuns with the 26th Annual Louisiana Classic. The Cajuns are slated to play their first of five games this weekend against Rutgers at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the newly renovated Lamson Park. The following weekend will be the 8th Annual Mardi Gras Invitational.