University of Louisiana at Lafayette Athletics
Fall Practice Session Review with Softball's Gerry Glasco
12/15/2021 10:00:00 AM | Softball
LAFAYETTE – The fifth season with Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns Softball will have a different look and feel than the previous ones for head coach Gerry Glasco: the team largely consists of players he recruited and went from being one of the oldest in the nation to one of the youngest.
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"We went from probably being the oldest team in the country with all sixth-year and fifth-year kids to being the youngest with 15 first-year players and 12 freshmen," Glasco said. "That said, I think we have a lot of talent. It just has to be developed."
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While there's plenty of newness and unknowns leading up to the launch of the 2022 season in February, the goal for Glasco and the program remains the same: compete for championships, be one of the Top 25 teams in the country and pursue a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series.
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As the transition from the fall semester to spring semester approaches, Glasco took a moment to reflect on how the team utilized the recent fall practice period to begin molding the returning and incoming players into one cohesive unit.
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Q:Â How would you assess your team's progress over the fall practice period and do you feel your objectives were met?
GG: "I felt our overall improvement was very significant from the beginning until the end of fall practice. That was in large part due to this being an extremely hard-working group of young athletes who are hungry to succeed at the college level.
Â
We had great leadership and work ethic displayed specifically by Melissa Mayeux and Kandra Lamb, and some of the others who are veterans on our ball club. The newcomers really followed their leadership and joined in to create a great atmosphere this fall."
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Q: With a roster that's predominantly made of newcomers, was the approach to this particular fall practice period any different than others?
GG: "We competed more than normal in team scrimmage situations. Our staff wanted to know who the fiercest competitors are going to be and we wanted to identify those individuals who will compete at the highest level in competition or in competitive moments.
Also, we wanted to give everyone a chance to show us what they were capable of doing. It should lead to better team chemistry when everyone knows they had a really good look and were put in many situations during the fall season."
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Q: Looking at all three areas of the game - pitching, hitting and defense - describe the progress made, and what will need to be prioritized when the team returns in January.
GG: "We knew coming into the fall practice period that we had lost a great pitcher in Summer Ellyson. Therefore, we felt our No. 1 goal was to be sure we are prepared in the spring for her absence – which obviously is a significant loss. We feel that our bullpen is deep and talented enough, but that will remain a part of emphasis throughout January and February in the preseason.
Â
Offense will continue to be a point of emphasis as we have a young team. We are still learning how to use our speed and bats to create offensive production. In the fall we were a high strikeout-to-walk team, so we will continue to progress to the point that we can draw more walks and hit by pitches than strikeouts. Â That will be a key to our offensive success or failure. Â
Â
Defensively, we will look to become more consistent. Hopefully as our lineup solidifies in late January we can shift our focus to fine-tuning our defense to be in position to become a great defensive unit by the end of the year."
Â
Q: Of the players returning from the 2021 season, highlight those who made significant progress this fall session.
GG: "I would start with Sophie Piskos and Kandra Lamb. Those two really stood out in the fall season and will be of tremendous importance this upcoming spring.Â
Â
Karly Heath was the most improved pitcher over the course of the fall and we are extremely excited to see where her development takes her as we move into the season in February.Â
Â
Also, I have to mention that Melissa Mayeux has become a tremendous leader on the field for us due to the respect she gains from our team because of her great work habit and desire to be a good player."
Â
Q: There are plenty of new faces on the roster. Spotlight those who made an impression on the staff this fall session.
GG: "Jourdyn Campbell, Ari Quiñones and Stormy Kotzelnick were all very impressive at times during the fall semester. Jourdyn and Stormy both have a work habit similar to Melissa and that really helped set the tone for our ball club in the fall.
Â
Of the incoming freshmen, I would say the most surprising was the success of Kramer Eschete during the fall scrimmages. Maddie Hayden was expected to be really good for us, and she did not disappoint in any way. Maddie showed she could play the game at a very competitive level.
Pitching-wise, Sam Landry came in with the same type of high expectations that Maddie had and she was outstanding in almost all of her appearances this fall. Meghan Schorman also showed that she will be a key member of our staff."
Â
Q:Â What was your message to the team prior to their departure for the holiday break?
GG: "The key for our team is to really stay ready physically over the holiday break. We feel we made great strides in the weight room and with our conditioning during the fall semester. So, we want them to emphasize really being ready when they come back together in January.
Â
Other than that, they just need to keep working hard in their studies in order to finish the semester strong academically and come back knowing that we have a lot of work to do between the first day of spring practice and our first game!"
Â
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS
Louisiana, the two-time defending Sun Belt Conference Softball champions and NCAA Tournament participant each year since 1999, begins the 2022 season at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park with the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics from Feb. 11-13 – and is scheduled to spend the entire first month inside or near the city limits of Lafayette.
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The official season opener is set for Friday, Feb. 11 with a 4 p.m. doubleheader vs. UAB at Lamson Park.
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To view the complete 2022 season schedule, click here.
Â
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
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"We went from probably being the oldest team in the country with all sixth-year and fifth-year kids to being the youngest with 15 first-year players and 12 freshmen," Glasco said. "That said, I think we have a lot of talent. It just has to be developed."
Â
While there's plenty of newness and unknowns leading up to the launch of the 2022 season in February, the goal for Glasco and the program remains the same: compete for championships, be one of the Top 25 teams in the country and pursue a trip to Oklahoma City for the Women's College World Series.
Â
As the transition from the fall semester to spring semester approaches, Glasco took a moment to reflect on how the team utilized the recent fall practice period to begin molding the returning and incoming players into one cohesive unit.
Â
Â
Q:Â How would you assess your team's progress over the fall practice period and do you feel your objectives were met?
GG: "I felt our overall improvement was very significant from the beginning until the end of fall practice. That was in large part due to this being an extremely hard-working group of young athletes who are hungry to succeed at the college level.
Â
We had great leadership and work ethic displayed specifically by Melissa Mayeux and Kandra Lamb, and some of the others who are veterans on our ball club. The newcomers really followed their leadership and joined in to create a great atmosphere this fall."
Â
Q: With a roster that's predominantly made of newcomers, was the approach to this particular fall practice period any different than others?
GG: "We competed more than normal in team scrimmage situations. Our staff wanted to know who the fiercest competitors are going to be and we wanted to identify those individuals who will compete at the highest level in competition or in competitive moments.
Also, we wanted to give everyone a chance to show us what they were capable of doing. It should lead to better team chemistry when everyone knows they had a really good look and were put in many situations during the fall season."
Â
Q: Looking at all three areas of the game - pitching, hitting and defense - describe the progress made, and what will need to be prioritized when the team returns in January.
GG: "We knew coming into the fall practice period that we had lost a great pitcher in Summer Ellyson. Therefore, we felt our No. 1 goal was to be sure we are prepared in the spring for her absence – which obviously is a significant loss. We feel that our bullpen is deep and talented enough, but that will remain a part of emphasis throughout January and February in the preseason.
Â
Offense will continue to be a point of emphasis as we have a young team. We are still learning how to use our speed and bats to create offensive production. In the fall we were a high strikeout-to-walk team, so we will continue to progress to the point that we can draw more walks and hit by pitches than strikeouts. Â That will be a key to our offensive success or failure. Â
Â
Defensively, we will look to become more consistent. Hopefully as our lineup solidifies in late January we can shift our focus to fine-tuning our defense to be in position to become a great defensive unit by the end of the year."
Â
Q: Of the players returning from the 2021 season, highlight those who made significant progress this fall session.
GG: "I would start with Sophie Piskos and Kandra Lamb. Those two really stood out in the fall season and will be of tremendous importance this upcoming spring.Â
Â
Karly Heath was the most improved pitcher over the course of the fall and we are extremely excited to see where her development takes her as we move into the season in February.Â
Â
Also, I have to mention that Melissa Mayeux has become a tremendous leader on the field for us due to the respect she gains from our team because of her great work habit and desire to be a good player."
Â
Q: There are plenty of new faces on the roster. Spotlight those who made an impression on the staff this fall session.
GG: "Jourdyn Campbell, Ari Quiñones and Stormy Kotzelnick were all very impressive at times during the fall semester. Jourdyn and Stormy both have a work habit similar to Melissa and that really helped set the tone for our ball club in the fall.
Â
Of the incoming freshmen, I would say the most surprising was the success of Kramer Eschete during the fall scrimmages. Maddie Hayden was expected to be really good for us, and she did not disappoint in any way. Maddie showed she could play the game at a very competitive level.
Pitching-wise, Sam Landry came in with the same type of high expectations that Maddie had and she was outstanding in almost all of her appearances this fall. Meghan Schorman also showed that she will be a key member of our staff."
Â
Q:Â What was your message to the team prior to their departure for the holiday break?
GG: "The key for our team is to really stay ready physically over the holiday break. We feel we made great strides in the weight room and with our conditioning during the fall semester. So, we want them to emphasize really being ready when they come back together in January.
Â
Other than that, they just need to keep working hard in their studies in order to finish the semester strong academically and come back knowing that we have a lot of work to do between the first day of spring practice and our first game!"
Â
COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS
Louisiana, the two-time defending Sun Belt Conference Softball champions and NCAA Tournament participant each year since 1999, begins the 2022 season at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park with the 36th Annual Louisiana Classics from Feb. 11-13 – and is scheduled to spend the entire first month inside or near the city limits of Lafayette.
Â
The official season opener is set for Friday, Feb. 11 with a 4 p.m. doubleheader vs. UAB at Lamson Park.
Â
To view the complete 2022 season schedule, click here.
Â
FOLLOW THE RAGIN' CAJUNS
Follow the Ragin' Cajuns on Facebook (/RaginCajunsSB), Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@Louisiana.SB) to stay up-to-date on all that is happening with Louisiana Softball.
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- www.RaginCajuns.com -
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