2021 UL Softball Preview: The Outfielders
This is the final part of a four-part series previewing the 2021 Louisiana Ragin Cajun Softball Team.
Today; the outfield.
The outfield looks to be strong against this season, with the ability to provide power, speed, and defense.
Ciara Bryan, a transfer from Georgia, who was tabbed a first-team Preseason All-American by D1Softball, will be a fixture in the UL outfield this season.
A left-handed hitter, Bryan hit .330 in three seasons with Georgia, to go along with 14 home runs and 78 runs batted in, while also accumulating 33 stolen bases.
Bryan, who has one season of eligibility remaining, started 22 games in centerfield for Georgia last season, while starting in right-field in another six games.
For Ragin Cajun softball fans, the 2021 season can t come soon enough.
With the season only 9 days away, Louisiana Ragin Cajun softball coach Gerry Glasco joined me on my show this morning to answer questions about the expected lineup, the layout of his team, pending redshirt decisions, Summer Ellyson, Kandra Lamb, Ciara Bryan, the fanbase, and much more.
Impact of Cajuns Softball Returning Seniors
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Two members of the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns received major preseason accolades last week, as they get set to begin the 2021 college softball season.
For a second-consecutive season, senior pitcher Summer Ellyson was named to the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List, spotlighting the top 50 players in the country, while senior outfielder Ciara Bryan was tabbed a first-team selection to D1Softball s Preseason All-American Team.
Ellyson, an NFCA All-American (third team) and the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2019, put together an 11-1 mark and a 1.83 ERA during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season, after going 39-6 in 2019.
The Top 25 Finalists for the 2021 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award will be announced on April 21 with the Top 10 Finalists being announced on May 5, and the Top Three to be announced on May 19.
RPI: 15.
Ballpark: Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field (1,277)
Postseason history: 22 NCAA Regional appearances, 2 Super Regional appearances, 3 World Series appearances.
Ace of the staff: Kelsey Oh. The senior right-hander had the 2020 season cut short with a foot injury. Oh finished 4-2 with a 2.14 ERA, 51 strikeouts and 16 walks in 32.2 IP.
Impact player: Kenzi Maguire. The graduate senior will be in her sixth season of college softball. Maguire started all 23 games at shortstop in 2020 for the Gamecocks, batting .328 with five doubles, nine RBIs, 14 walks, nine hit by pitches and 22 runs scored.
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Georgia softball enters 2021 with an unexpected surprise as a result of COVID-19
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Georgia was preparing for a youth movement this season. The Bulldogs had a 10-player freshmen class arriving to bolster their five freshmen that joined the team last year.
Georgia planned for the group to fill the void of the departing veterans and begin the collective bonding process for future success.
But the Dawgs got some unexpected insurance after the 2020 season was cut short because of the coronavirus pandemic. Several seniors have returned to provide a mix of youth and experience on the 27-player roster.