Cajuns Chosen as Sun Belt Favorite in 2007

LAFAYETTE - Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns softball team was chosen Tuesday as the early favorite to win the 2007 Sun Belt Conference softball title.  The 2007 Preseason All-Conference team was also announced on Tuesday.

The Ragin’ Cajuns tallied 78 points receiving six of the possible nine first place votes to edge out Florida Atlantic, which had earned 69 points and three first place votes. 

The poll and team were conducted by the nine Sun Belt head coaches.

UL’s own first baseman Lacey Bertucci was named Preseason Player of the Year.  Ragin’ Cajuns teammate Holly Tankersley was also selected to the preseason team as the designated player.

Bertucci ranked 10th in the nation with 19 total home runs in 2006. She ranked second in Sun Belt with 57 RBI – most RBI amongst all first basemen – third in runs (51) and fourth in total bases (128).

Tankersley features the best batting average amongst all Sun Belt returnees from last season – hit .339 in 2006. Her nine home runs last season increased her career total to 30 (is averaging 15 home runs per season).

Florida International was picked third by the coaches as catcher Tabitha Embry and outfielder Deomni Murray were named to the preseason all-conference team. 

Western Kentucky followed FIU in fourth and also placed two athletes on the 2007 squad as pitcher Ryan Rogge and outfielder Alana Towns were selected to the preseason team.

Filling out the remaining spots in the preseason poll were Troy, Middle Tennessee, North Texas, Louisiana-Monroe (competed in Southland Conference in 2006), and South Alabama who will begin softball play for the first time in 2007.

The infield was completed as second baseman Heather Hanson of ULM, shortstop Shelby Stiner of Middle Tennessee and third baseman Susan Waters of North Texas were named to the preseason all-conference team.

Louisiana-Lafayette, the defending SBC softball champs, return seven letterwinners with six of them starters from their 2006 championship team.  The team finished first overall in SBC play with a 12-3 SBC record and 50-12 overall record.