Ragin’ Cajun Softballers Draheim And Cherry Earn All-American Honors

Louisiana's Ragin' Cajun softball team saw two of their own honored as All-Americans on Wednesday.

Senior center fielder Brianna Cherry and senior catcher Sarah Draheim were recognized by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) as All-Americans. Cherry took home second-team honors, while Draheim was awarded a third-team distinction.

Cherry finished the season with a batting average of .393, and a team-high 65 runs scored and 55 RBI, with 14 home runs.

"It has always been a goal of mine to be an All-American," Cherry is quoted as saying on ragincajuns.com.  "I set out to accomplish what most can say they have never achieved.  I knew that it was going to be a grind during the season but my motto was 'only the strong survive.'  That definitely propelled me to reaching my goal."

Draheim played every game of the season at catcher for Louisiana, committing just one error in 500 chances, and leading the team with a .998 fielding percentage. She was remarkable swinging the bat as well, batting a .409 average with 17 home runs, 67 RBI, and a .746 slugging percentage, all team and conference highs.

For Sarah, the honor of All-American is something she's dreamt of more than half her life.

"It has been a goal I have been dreaming of since I was 10," Draheim said to ragincajuns.com. "With the help of coach Mike and my sisters, that dream came true today."

Cherry and Draheim become the 43rd and 44th All-Americans in the program’s history and 15th and 16th in the Lotief era.