UL Softball Preview – The Outfielders

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajun softball team began their 2016 regular season schedule this weekend, taking part in the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Alabama.

This season, Louisiana returns 8 starting position players, as well as two pitchers, from a team that went 42-12 as season ago, including a regular season Sun Belt Conference championship, and a fourth-consecutive appearance in an NCAA Super Regional, including their fifth in the last six years, and their sixth in the last eight years.

Once again in 2016, Louisiana, ranked #11 in the country, is expected to be the team to beat in the Sun Belt Conference, as they work towards their goal of heading back to Oklahoma City and the Women’s College World Series for the second time in three years.

Over a four-day period, we previewed the 2016 edition of the Cajuns.

Yesterday, we profiled the UL infielders.

Today, in our final installment, we look at the outfielders.

Shellie Landry returns in left field, after hitting a .372 with 20 home runs and 59 runs batted in.

A senior from St. Thomas More High School, Landry, a second team NFCA All-American last season, has hit 40 homers, while driving in 159 runs in her three-year career.

Aleah Craighton, a sophomore from Prairieville, La., returns for her second season, possibly in centerfield, after playing right in 2015.

An honorable mention All-Louisiana choice last season, Craighton hit a .371 with 12 homers and 45 RBI's a season ago.

Sophomore Kelli Martinez is back for another year, after hitting a .295lder as the team's starting centerfielder last year.