It's no surprise Lexie Elkins and Shellie Landry were named NFCA All-Americans after the seasons they had for Ragin' Cajun Softball.

Their Head Coach, Michael Lotief, is never one to shorten praise for his players. He was quick to remind fans that their progress didn't happen overnight.

"Both of those kids started out near the bottom and because of their hard work, persistence and belief in the process are now being recognized as ending up on top," Lotief said.

Elkins cranked out an impressive 32 home runs this year, setting a new record for a storied program. Her stellar season earned her First Team All-American status by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She joined Christi Orgeron as the only Cajuns to ever collect 80 RBI's, 83 to be exact. She struck fear in the hearts of pitchers, and made them pay in big moments for the Cajuns this season. Not to mention all of the hard work behind the plate. Jordan Wallace said she catches all the wild pitches nobody notices. That's called being the pitcher's best friend.

Landry posted career-bests in multiple categories: batting average (.372), runs (49), hits (64), doubles (16), home runs (20) and total bases (142)...get the picture? One of the strongest leaders on the team, Landry was a steadying presence in the lineup, field, and not to be forgotten, in the dugout and at practice.

Both players would probably deflect praise to one another and the rest of the women on Ragin' Cajun Softball. It's what humble, grounded athletes do. For the moment though, why not celebrate the fact that two of Acadiana's favorites find themselves listed with the best players in the country.

NFCA 1st Team All-Americans
P Cheridan Hawkins, Oregon Ducks
P  Miranda Kramer, Western Kentucky
P Shelby Turnier, UCF
C Lexie Elkins, Louisiana
1B Lauren Chamberlain, Oklahoma
2B Emily Carosone, Auburn
3B Kasey Cooper, Auburn
SS Bianka Bell, LSU
OF Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF Allexis Bennett, UCLA
OF Kelly Christner, Michigan
UT/P Lauren Haeger, Florida
DP or UT/Non-Pitcher Amber Freeman, Arizona State
At-Large/2B Sierra Romero, Michigan
At-Large/2B Kelsey Stewart, Florida
At-Large/UT/P Ally Carda, UCLA
At-Large/SS Shelby Pendley, Oklahoma
At-Large/OF Alaynie Page, South Carolina

NFCA 2nd Team All-Americans
P Paige Parker, Oklahoma
P Megan Good, James Madison
P Alexis Osorio, Alabama
C Ivie Drake, Georgia State
1B Kayla Bonstrom, Stanford
2B Alex Hugo, Georgia
3B Jenna Lilley, Oregon
SS Delaney Spaulding, UCLA
OF Bailey Landry, LSU
OF Cheyenne Cordes, California
OF Janie Takeda, Oregon
UT/P Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota
DP or UT/Non-Pitcher Sahvanna Jaquish, LSU
At-Large/P Megan Betsa, Michigan
At-Large/UT/P Rainey Gaffin, Tennessee
At-Large/OF Shellie Landry, Louisiana
At-Large/C Chelsea Goodacre, Arizona
At-Large/DP or UT/Non-Pitcher Stephany LaRosa, UCLA

NFCA 3rd Team All-Americans
P Carley Hoover, LSU
P Lacey Waldrop, Florida State
P Allie Walljasper, LSU
C Erika Piancastelli, McNeese State
1B Shelby Friudenberg, Baylor
2B Demi Turner, Alabama
3B Marisa Runyon, Alabama
SS Kellie Fox, Arizona
OF Tiffany Howard, Auburn
OF Sierra Lawrence, Michigan
OF Katiyana Mauga, Arizona
UT/P Jailyn Ford, James Madison
DP or UT/Non-Pitcher Cortni Emanuel, Georgia
At-Large/OF Emilee Koerner, Notre Dame
At-Large/P Haylie Wagner, Michigan
At-Large/SS Kristen Brown, North Carolina
At-Large/3B Missy Taukeiaho, Cal State Fullerton
At-Large/P Aleshia Ocasio, Florida
At-Large/OF Kiki Stokes, Nebraska

 

 

 

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