As we get to about twenty-four hours before the first pitch at Lamson Park happens on Friday when the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns softball team takes on DePaul, it seems as good of a time as any to preview the season ahead.

Last Season:

The Cajuns were able to dominate the Sun Belt Conference once again, losing only two games in conference play and winning the Sun Belt Conference regular season and the tournament titles. They would end the regular season in Norman, Oklahoma in the Super Regionals falling to the Oklahoma Sooners and ending the season with a 46-9 record.

Returning Starters of Note:

The Cajuns have five starters returning from last season and the most notable of which is Haley Hayden. According to Coach Mike Lotief, she is the wildcard in the lineup due to her ability to play multiple positions.

“She can play first, second, and outfield” Lotief said during media day of the senior “There are about fifteen lineups right now and in a third of them she’s in first, a third she’s at second, and the other third she’s in outfield. But she is at the top of the lineup in all those scenarios.” The only thing that’s changed for the Cajuns is that the number of scenarios has gone down from 15 to six.

Another returning player is the preseason Sun Belt Conference player of the year Aleah Craighton. The junior outfielder is coming off of a great sophomore campaign where she hit 18 home runs, 58 RBIs and a .429 slugging percentage.

These preseason expectations for her haven’t gotten to her though. “It’s a good honor, but I think that was based off of my performance last year” Craighton said “It does pump me up for this year just to get started and be out there to play.”

Finally, the Cajuns have pitcher Alex Stewart returning for her senior season. She had a stellar 2016 with a 20 win season and a 1.94 ERA.

Lotief has mentioned he is having some trouble determining who his starting pitchers will be, but one thing should be clear that Stewart is at the top of the list as a potential starter.

Key Storylines for 2017:

Who Will Be the Catcher? With longtime catcher Lexie Elkins graduating, this is the biggest position that will need someone to step up. According to Lotief, there are currently three players in contention for the spot. They are Jaime Landry, Lexie Comeaux, and Brittany Nollkamper.

Based off of what these players did last season, Nollkamper is the best choice for the position. She filled in for Elkins after she suffered a thumb injury at the tail end of the season and did an admirable job as a freshman. This may be the best choice for the position.

Freshmen Impact Won’t Be Felt Right Away: Speaking of freshmen players, the Cajuns freshmen seem to be ready to make an impact, but not this year.

“I don’t know if any of them are exactly ready mentally, but I know for a fact that three to four pitchers are going to be elite” Lotief said of his freshman pitchers. The staff that he has currently is front-loaded with a trio of seniors in Stewart, Macey Smith, and Victoria Brown. The freshman pitchers will be making an impact in 2018 based off of what Lotief has said.

Is It OKC Or Bust? It seems like every three years the Cajuns get to Oklahoma City. The amount of power that is coming back from last season is pretty strong with four of the five starters from last season hitting above .400 in slugging percentage. Add that with the pitching depth, you’ve got a great shot at seeing the Ragin Cajuns make a run to OKC this season.

-Clint Domingue