University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Ragin' Cajuns Softball 2015 Preview: Outfielders
2/5/2015 4:08:00 PM | Softball
LAFAYETTE – Shellie Landry will be the veteran leader for the 9th-ranked Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns softball outfield corps in 2015 flanked by a pair of new faces replacing the departed Shelbi Redfearn and infield-bound Haley Hayden.
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Landry returns to left field – where she started as a freshman in 2013 – after spending last season in right field.
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Redfearn's graduation and Hayden's shift to the infield created a pair of openings. Stepping in will be redshirt freshman Aleah Craighton (Prairieville, La./Dutchtown HS) and true freshman Kelli Martinez (Katy, Texas/Cinco Rancho HS).
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Landry was an All-Sun Belt Conference performer in 2014, starting all 60 games for Louisiana in right field. She hit .287 with 51 hits, 39 RBI and 28 runs scored. Her .367 average during conference play ranked third best on the team and she finished eighth in the league in RBI.
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"Shellie continues to develop her game offensively," head coach Michael Lotief said. "She combines power with gap power and above average speed. Her mental plan at the plate is really advancing."
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Landry hit above .280 each of her first two seasons and proved her freshman season that she has power in her swing, belting 15 home runs.
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Martinez gives the Cajuns a slapper in the lineup, similar to the role of Natalie Fernandez. The Katy, Texas native is penciled in to assume center field duties in place of Hayden who moved to second base.
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Martinez played centerfielder for two seasons at Mayde Creek (Texas) High School before transferring to Cinco Ranch HS in Katy, Texas. She also ran track at Mayde Creek, running the 4x200, advancing to the regional meet.
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"Kelli is a speed kid and her range in the outfield is really good," Lotief said. "I think she has the potential to develop into a triple-threat slapper."
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Craighton has one year in the Ragin' Cajuns system, spending 2014 as a redshirt freshman. She will step out onto the field for the first time this season, managing right field for Louisiana.
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A three-time letterwinner at Dutchtown High School in Geismar, La., Craighton earned all-Baton Rouge honors as a senior and was an All-State selection.
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"Aleah has power and speed," Lotief noted. "Her offensive game has continued to develop, but is still a work in progress. She needs to be thrown out there and fail, get exposed and learn and grow from it."
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Gabby Felps is likely to see time in right field and during situations when Craighton is shifted to center field.
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Expect a similar role for Kendall Smith and Kassidy Zeringue, both used as late-inning defensive substitutions in the outfield in 2014. Leandra Maly is likely to be in the rotation for late-inning defensive substitutions.
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#GeauxCajuns
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Landry returns to left field – where she started as a freshman in 2013 – after spending last season in right field.
Â
Redfearn's graduation and Hayden's shift to the infield created a pair of openings. Stepping in will be redshirt freshman Aleah Craighton (Prairieville, La./Dutchtown HS) and true freshman Kelli Martinez (Katy, Texas/Cinco Rancho HS).
Â
Landry was an All-Sun Belt Conference performer in 2014, starting all 60 games for Louisiana in right field. She hit .287 with 51 hits, 39 RBI and 28 runs scored. Her .367 average during conference play ranked third best on the team and she finished eighth in the league in RBI.
Â
"Shellie continues to develop her game offensively," head coach Michael Lotief said. "She combines power with gap power and above average speed. Her mental plan at the plate is really advancing."
Â
Landry hit above .280 each of her first two seasons and proved her freshman season that she has power in her swing, belting 15 home runs.
Â
Martinez gives the Cajuns a slapper in the lineup, similar to the role of Natalie Fernandez. The Katy, Texas native is penciled in to assume center field duties in place of Hayden who moved to second base.
Â
Martinez played centerfielder for two seasons at Mayde Creek (Texas) High School before transferring to Cinco Ranch HS in Katy, Texas. She also ran track at Mayde Creek, running the 4x200, advancing to the regional meet.
Â
"Kelli is a speed kid and her range in the outfield is really good," Lotief said. "I think she has the potential to develop into a triple-threat slapper."
Â
Craighton has one year in the Ragin' Cajuns system, spending 2014 as a redshirt freshman. She will step out onto the field for the first time this season, managing right field for Louisiana.
Â
A three-time letterwinner at Dutchtown High School in Geismar, La., Craighton earned all-Baton Rouge honors as a senior and was an All-State selection.
Â
"Aleah has power and speed," Lotief noted. "Her offensive game has continued to develop, but is still a work in progress. She needs to be thrown out there and fail, get exposed and learn and grow from it."
Â
Gabby Felps is likely to see time in right field and during situations when Craighton is shifted to center field.
Â
Expect a similar role for Kendall Smith and Kassidy Zeringue, both used as late-inning defensive substitutions in the outfield in 2014. Leandra Maly is likely to be in the rotation for late-inning defensive substitutions.
Â
#GeauxCajuns
Players Mentioned
RF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
2B
/ Softball
LF
/ Softball
DP
/ Softball
CF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
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