LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball’s Michael and Stefni Lotief are members of the 2016 Class of the Louisiana Softball Hall of Fame, presented by ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana, the organization announced on Wednesday.
The 2016 Class will be inducted into the Louisiana Softball Hall of Fame at the New Orleans Airport-Crown Plaza Hotel on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.
Tickets for this year’s ceremony which includes a dinner, are $35 per guest, and are available online at ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana’s official website, USASoftball.net, or may be ordered by contacting State Commissioner Bill Skinner at Bill@usasoftball.net or (985) 507-0092.
Members of the 2016 Class are: Michael and Stefni Lotief (co-coaches), Yvette Girouard (coach), Alyson Habetz (coach), Joseph Brignac (coach), Candice Carnahan Jackson (player), Marcus Fontenot (player), Ricky Latiolais (player), Ted L. Perrodin (player), J. Rogers Pope (player), Durand “Rudy” Macklin (meritorious service), Ernest Palmisoino, Jr. (meritorious service).
Prior to beginning their collegiate coaching career with the Ragin’ Cajuns, Michael and Stefni Lotief were involved in the ASA/USA Softball program in Louisiana.
Michael started his softball coaching career with the Louisiana Reflections, an ASA travel program he was instrumental in developing. The Reflections won five consecutive state championships and made five national tournament appearances, winning the 18-U National Championship in 2000.
In 1994, with husband Michael, Stefni helped develop the Louisiana Image and the Louisiana Reflections, ASA travel ball organizations. She led the Image to become one of the best teams in the country.
Michael and Stefni Lotief served as co-head coaches for Ragin’ Cajuns Softball from 2003-12. Michael remains as the program’s head coach, while Stefni serves as the team’s administrator and chief fundraiser.
In his 14 seasons as either head coach or co-head coach, and 16 seasons overall, Michael Lotief has guided the Ragin’ Cajuns to over 40 wins in every season, advanced to three Women’s College World Series (2003, 2008 and 2014), seven NCAA Super Regionals and 14 NCAA regionals. Louisiana heads toward the 2017 season with an active streak of five consecutive Super Regional appearances.
As a collegiate pitcher for the Ragin’ Cajuns from 1987-90, Stefni (Whitton) Lotief won 78 games, was the program’s first All-American in 1989 and became the first to receive first team All-America honors the following year.
In 2001, Stefni was entrusted with the reins of her beloved alma mater, and served 12 seasons as head coach – the final 10 seasons as co-head coach alongside husband, Michael. She led the program to 601 victories, nine NCAA Regional championship games, three Super Regionals and two Women’s College World Series appearances during her tenure.
For more information on Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball, as well as all of Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball),Twitter (@RaginCajunSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsSoftball).
About ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana
ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana is committed to organizing, and providing a first-class program to serve the needs of the sport of softball for participants of all ages in Louisiana. ASA/USA Softball of Louisiana represents the state as a member of ASA/USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball.
About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles.
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