2021 UL Softball Preview: The Catchers

Catcher looks to be in good hands as Julie Rawls, a First Team All-Sun Belt Conference and All-Louisiana selection in 2019, as well as a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference pick this year, who can also play the outfield, returns for her third season with Louisiana.

A senior from Hallsville, Texas, Rawls was outstanding in her first season with Louisiana in 2019, after transferring from Northwestern St., hitting .360, to go along with 10 home runs and 49 runs batted in.

Those numbers were good enough to land Rawls first-team All-Sun Belt Conference, first-team All-Louisiana, and second-team NFCA All-Central Region honors.

Last season, in the shortened campaign, Rawls hit .315, to go along with five home runs and 18 runs batted in in only 24 games.

A left-handed catcher, Rawls should be even better behind the plate this season, her third as a catcher, after being converted from the outfield, where she compiled 17 assists at Northwestern St. in 2018.

Speaking of the outfield, look for the Cajuns to try and keep Rawls fresh throughout the season by giving her a little more time in the outfield, meaning that Bailey Curry and/or Melissa Mayeaux could see playing time at the catching position.

A junior from Frankfort, Kentucky, Curry hit three homers with 12 RBI's last season, her second as a Cajun after transferring from Toledo following the 2018 season.

Curry, who will get at-bats, will likely see time at first base, designated player, and catcher this season.

A junior from France, Mayeaux saw action in 23 of the 24 games for UL last season, including 19 starts, primarily at third base, hitting .294 with four homers and 19 RBI's in her first season with the Cajuns.

Mayeaux is going to be a valuable, versatile player for Louisiana this season, who is likely to see playing time at multiple positions, including catcher.

The lone freshman who figures into the catching position is Sophie Piskos, a native of Paris, Tennessee.

Piskos, who can also play corner infield spots, helped The Baylor School, located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, to back-to-back state titles in 2018 and 2019.

Piskos, like most of the UL freshmen, could be a redshirt candidate, in which case she'll have four seasons of eligibility remaining, beginning in 2022.

If she's not redshirted, Piskos could be a valuable bench commodity for the Cajuns this season.

Louisiana is excited about its catching prospects, this year, and in the future.