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LAFAYETTE – Long before the days to the start of the 2017 season began to dwindle down, the No. 11-ranked Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball team was well-versed with the task laid before them.
A heralded group of sluggers – namely Sara Corbello, Lexie Elkins, Shellie Landry and Kelsey Vincent – was departing after the 2016 season’s final out was recorded. That group powered the nation’s leading home run club two years running.
“This team has worked hard and prepared thoroughly,” Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Michael Lotief said. “But now the season will challenge us to establish our own identity and chart a brand new course.”
The Ragin’ Cajuns are figured to transition to a different style of producing results in 2017.
“We may be able to replace the home run production of two of them, but not all four,” Lotief mentioned. “Maybe have a speed kid and a few more slappers in the lineup this year.”
The mission gets underway this weekend as No. 11 Louisiana begins the season with the 31st Annual Louisiana Classics at Lamson Park. Opening Day is set for Friday, Feb. 10 with the Ragin’ Cajuns facing DePaul at 3 p.m. and Iowa State at 5:30 p.m.
On paper the transition may appear daunting. However, several pieces from the 2016 team, which advanced to the program’s fifth consecutive NCAA Super Regional, return – a total of 26 players to be exact.
The core group of returnees in the lineup include career .360-hitter Haley Hayden, home run threats Aleah Craighton and DJ Sanders, who both clubbed 18 home runs last season, and Kara Gremillion, who finished the 2016 season as one of the team’s hottest hitters (hit .457 in May).
There’s also Kelli Martinez, who started the entire 2015 campaign as a freshman and finished last year as the starter in right field, plus Kassidy Zeringue who has proved to be a vital asset defensively and last year worked her way into a starter’s role.
“This core group has been together for three years now,” Lotief remarked. “It’s been fun to watch them grow and develop. Now it’s their turn to lead and pass it on to the next group of youngsters.”
Others who have worked their way through the system and waited for their opportunity will provide added experience. Those include Lexie Comeaux, Jaime Landry and Beth Ashley, who each redshirted their freshman season, as well as Corin Voinché and Taylor Terrio.
“This team has a good mix of experienced players and ‘newbies’,” Lotief mentioned. “There will be new starters who were redshirt players and players who have come up through the system who may have been role players but are now being called on to contribute as starters.”
In the pitching circle, the Ragin’ Cajuns bring back the entire group from last season. 2016 All-American and Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year Alex Stewart (29-6, 1.94 ERA) returns as the team’s lead pitcher for a staff that ranked Top 10 nationally with a 2.06 ERA.
“I think this team will be more suited toward pitching and defense,” Lotief said. “I do not anticipate us scoring all the runs or hitting all the home runs like we’ve done the past couple of seasons.
“We have a deep pitching staff with a lot of experience,” Lotief noted. “We have moved a lot of people around on defense to give us more speed and coverage. It will take us time to gel, but I think this team can be good defensively – and it all starts in the circle.”
Preseason predictions, including a No. 11 national rankings and unanimous choice to claim the Sun Belt Conference crown, might appear to put added pressure in the transition time. Lotief, though, believes his team’s preparation will allow them to rise to the challenge.
“This team has worked as hard as any team I’ve ever been around,” Lotief said. “There’s nothing more this group of kids could have done to get ready. And it’s not just their skill set, they’ve worked hard on team bonding and the mental game.
“We’re going to inspire each other to fight every day,” Lotief stressed. “We’re going to find a way to win, find a way to compete every day. The greater the adversity, or struggle, the more we fight – that’s our pledge to each other and to our fan base.”

JENNINGS – The effects of the Trump administration’s policies pose a mixed bag of possibilities for American rice, a USA Rice official said at the recent (Feb. 7) annual joint meeting of the Louisiana Rice Council and Louisiana Rice Growers.
About 250 people attended the event. Gov. John Bel Edwards was scheduled to speak at the meeting, but he canceled to inspect tornado damage in southeast Louisiana.
Betsy Ward, USA Rice president, said President Trump’s nomination of former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue is a plus for Southern agriculture, and he favors a strong U.S. export market.
“I think this is a good appointment for us,” she said.
But she said Trump is opposed to NAFTA, which has been favorable to strengthening the Mexican market for U.S. rice. “It’s been a huge success story for us,” Ward said
Mexico, where 88 percent of the rice is from the U.S., is the No. 1 market for American rice. But with Trump’s cancellation of the Trans Pacific Partnership, Mexico is looking at pursuing individual trade agreements with Pacific Rim countries, she said.
Currently, Mexico imposes a 20 percent tariff on Vietnamese rice, but Mexico’s attitude toward the U.S. has chilled. “They could turn around and drop the tariffs tomorrow in retaliation,” she said.
Progress made with Cuba by the previous administration could be at risk now. “I think we’re taking a big pause,” Ward said.
The appointment of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency is a plus for agriculture, with the expectation that he will roll back harmful regulations, she said.
Mike Strain, Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry commissioner, said Cuba will buy $180 million of Vietnamese rice this year. “We could have rice there in two days,” he said.
Strain praised rice farmers for investing their check-off money for research and promotion, and he said the entire state benefits when the rice industry is doing well.
Michael Klein, USA Rice vice president for marketing and communications, said rice has been receiving positive publicity with a video by the restaurant chain P.F. Chang, and a Cooking Channel program by Chef Sara Moulton, who featured rice farmer Randy Thibodeaux. “Rice has a great story to tell about sustainability,” he said.
Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture, said negotiations are progressing well with BASF for an agreement on the new rice technology, Provisia, being developed at the LSU AgCenter H. Rouse Caffey Rice Research Station. “I think we’re going to see things move in that area to help your industry,” he said.

LAFAYETTE — Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) has created the Greater New Orleans Tornado Relief Fund in response to the devastating tornados that struck several parishes in the Greater New Orleans area on Tuesday, February 7th.
Donations to the fund are tax-deductible and 100% of all contributions will be given to Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) who’s working closely with numerous nonprofit organizations providing immediate assistance to families who suffered catastrophic losses.
CFA will assist GNOF to reach its fundraising goal of $50,000 through Sunday evening. New Orleans musician Trombone Shorty (Troy Andrews) and his Trombone Shorty Foundation will match dollar for dollar contributions made up to $50,000 for all gifts received through Sunday.
“We are sadden to see the devastation affecting our neighbors in the Greater New Orleans area,” said Raymond Hebert, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Acadiana. “It’s only natural we step up and help those in need in the same manner New Orleans did for us after last year’s flood.”
For anyone unable to make a contribution before Sunday, February 12th, they can still make contributions to the CFA fund through Tuesday, February 28th.
Donations from individuals, corporations and others may be made online at CFAcadiana.org. Checks may also be made payable and mailed to Community Foundation of Acadiana (Memo: Greater New Orleans Tornado Relief Fund), 1035 Camellia Blvd., Suite 100, Lafayette, LA 70508.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) core purpose is to connect all generous people to the causes they care about. CFA is south Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organization benefiting our region, with a particular focus on the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Mary, St. Martin and Vermilion. CFA has realized cumulative gifts exceeding $166 million and has made cumulative grants of over $82 million. Learn more at www.cfacadiana.org.

My name is Stacey “T-mom” Trim and I am seeking your support as I run for Alderman of District 5. I have been a resident of Delcambre for 40+ years, having graduated from Delcambre High School in 1989. I worked for Fruit of the Loom from 1990-1996. I worked at University Medical Center from 1998-2012. I am currently working for Rotorcraft Leasing Company as a purchasing agent.
Having lived in District 5 all my life, I am well aware of the issues we face with drainage and flooding in our area, which needs to be addressed. I have great pride in the Town of Delcambre and believe that we can make this a great community to live in, work in and enjoy the culture that we are famous for.
I pledge to always have an open ear for the people of my district to help resolve any issues we may have to make our town a safe, clean and drug free place to raise our children and grandchildren.
Thank you for your time and hopefully your vote. I look forward to representing you for the next four years.