2017 LSU Softball Media Guide

Page 28

ASSISTANT COACH

LINDSAY LEFTWICH 6TH SEASON AT LSU

Lindsay Leftwich embarks on her sixth season as an assistant coach at LSU. She is involved with all aspects of the program which include defense, hitting, recruiting, video scouting and camps. The former Northwestern State standout has been with Beth Torina for every step of her ten-year head coaching career which includes LSU’s run to the 2012, 2015 and 2016 Women’s College World Series. In 2016, Leftwich helped five players finish the season hitting over .300 on the season as LSU finished with the fourth most total hits ever, second most runs scored and second most RBIs in a single season. LSU also earned a program-record 315 walks on the year, with a team on-base percentage of .423 which is second all-time and .475 slugging percentage which is tied for third-highest ever. Under Leftwich, LSU produced her second SEC All-Defensive Team member in first baseman Sandra Simmons in 2015 who produced a fielding percentage of .970, while catcher Kellsi Kloss led all players with a .988 mark behind the plate for the Tigers as Kloss was named All-SEC and was the first LSU catcher to earn a spot on the postseason list. In 2014 the team produced its highest fielding percentage under Leftwich, finishing in the top five in the league with a .970 mark. Under her watch, six different players posted defensive averages above led by Sandra Simons who led the team with a .994 average with 309 putouts. LSU improved its fielding percentage to a .968 ratio to rank fourth on the SEC leaderboard during the 2013 season. Sandra

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Simmons tallied 306 putouts, the sixth-most by a position player in program history. She also amassed a .991 fielding clip which sits in fifth place on LSU’s all-time list. The Tigers came away with a .964 team fielding percentage in 2012, the fourth-best defensive clip in the SEC. Ashley Langoni totaled 74 putouts and four assists from her left field post as an All-SEC Defensive Team pick. LSU’s catching tandem of Morgan Russell and Lauren Houston gunned down a combined 21 base runners attempting to steal. The total equaled the program’s secondhighest single season mark. Before coming to LSU, Leftwich spent four seasons as Torina’s top assistant at Florida International. The Golden Panthers collected 14 All-Sun Belt selections sparked by a sweep of the league’s 2010 postseason awards where Kasey Barrett picked up the SBC’s Pitcher of the Year, Ashley McClain notched SBC Player of the Year and Brie Rojas secured SBC Freshman of the Year. McClain also has come away with National Fastpitch Coaches Association [NFCA] All-South Region FirstTeam honors in 2010 and 2011. FIU posted a 38-21 record and claimed the program’s second-ever NCAA Tournament bid and first-ever NCAA Tournament victory in 2010. The Golden Panthers improved their win total during three of her four seasons, and she aided Torina to a pair of SBC Coach of the Year awards. Prior to FIU, Leftwich served as a graduate assistant at New Mexico. She was in charge of softball operations and assisted with daily coaching duties during the 2007 season.

2017 SOFTBALL MEDIA GUIDE

In 2006, Leftwich worked as the pitching coach at Wichita State where she helped the Shockers compile a 35-23 record. Leftwich, a native of Houston, Texas, opened her coaching career as a student assistant at Northwestern State. She aided in coaching the offense and catchers in addition to playing an instrumental role in recruiting, fundraising, alumni relations and camps. Leftwich enjoyed a three-year playing career with the Demons highlighted by NFCA All-Southeast Region, All-Southland Conference and All-Louisiana Second-Team selections in 2002. NSU racked up a program-record 45 victories en route to a NCAA Tournament berth during the 2002 campaign. Leftwich drove home 44 RBIs, which are currently tied for third-most in program history for a single season, while her 123 assists on the infield paced the Southland Conference. During her career, Leftwich added five Southland Conference along with a pair of Louisiana Sports Writers Association [LSWA] Hitter of the Week awards. She finished her career ranked fifth in both home runs and RBIs at NSU after a back injury held her out of her senior season. An excellent student-athlete, Leftwich garnered numerous academic accolades, including Verizon Academic All-District Team recognition in 2002 and 2004 and NFCA Scholar Athlete recognition from 2001-04. In 2005, she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in art and substance abuse prevention.


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2017 LSU Softball Media Guide by LSU Athletics - Issuu