Editor’s Note: The following is an official press release courtesy of LSU’s athletics department.
BATON ROUGE, La. – The 2023 Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) tabbed eight student-athletes from LSU softball to the All-Louisiana College Softball Team, announced Tuesday afternoon.
Freshman pitcher and NFCA All-American Sydney Berzon earned first-team status along with two-time Gold Glove outfielder Ciara Briggs, designated player Georgia Clark, third baseman Danieca Coffey, utility player Ali Newland and shortstop Taylor Pleasants. Pitcher Ali Kilponen and outfielder McKenzie Redoutey were placed on the second team.
The Tigers have earned six All-Louisiana first-team selections for the first time under Head Coach Beth Torina. The program has logged six or more first-team honorees in four different seasons, with the last occurring in 2007, and has eight or more All-Louisiana selections for the first time since 2004.
Berzon led the pitching staff with 121 strikeouts with a 1.68 ERA over 129.0 innings pitched. Berzon had a 13-7 record in the circle with three shutouts and three saves and held opposing batters to a .204 average. Berzon’s 121 strikeouts in 2023 are the sixth most by an LSU freshman pitcher.
Briggs is now a three-time All-Louisiana winner and two-time first-team honoree. Briggs finished the 2023 season with another perfect fielding percentage after recording 83 putouts and four assists in 87 chances. The star centerfielder currently ranks No. 7 in program history with a .990 career fielding percentage in 291 chances. At the plate in 2023, the California native had a .347 batting average behind 68 hits, 24 RBIs and a team-high 46 runs scored.
Clark is a two-time All-Louisiana selection after being named to the second team last season and was an honorable mention in 2021. In 2023, Clark logged a .294 batting average with 48 hits, including a team-high 13 home runs that ranked No. 12 in the SEC. She also had 46 RBIs, 36 runs and drew 41 walks (No. 6 in SEC). Clark concludes her career ranking as No. 3 all-time in program history with 130 career walks, No. 4 with 43 career home runs, No. 7 with a .575 career slugging percentage and No. 9 with 165 career RBIs.
Coffey received back-to-back All-Louisiana recognition after being placed on the second team in 2022. Coffey led the Tigers with a .392 batting average, ranking No. 7 in the SEC, and paced the team with 74 hits – the fourth most in the conference. Coffey also led the team with a .482 on-base percentage (No. 9 in SEC) and 12 stolen bases. In addition, Coffey recorded 44 runs, 24 RBIs and drew 33 walks.
Newland is awarded a spot on the All-Louisiana team for the first time. Newland played in all 59 games, with 57 starts at either left field or the catcher position. Newland turned in a .329 batting average with 54 hits, 38 RBIs, 37 runs, and 8-for-8 in stolen bases in 2023. The Georgia native led the Tigers with a .419 batting average, 31 hits, 18 runs, 16 RBIs, a .627 slugging percentage, and a .458 on-base percentage in SEC games alone, placing her on the 2023 All-SEC First Team.
Pleasants becomes the eighth player in program history with three All-Louisiana First Team selections. The program currently has three student-athletes who earned first-team honors in all four seasons, including Sahvanna Jaquish (2014-2017), Bianka Bell (2013-2016) and Britni Sneed (1999-2002). Pleasants started in all 55 games she appeared in and concluded the season with a .346 batting average with team-highs of 53 RBIs (No. 8 in SEC) and a .562 slugging percentage. Pleasants finished the 2023 season with 56 hits, including 11 doubles and eight home runs. Pleasants also led the team with 118 assists and had 61 putouts while turning 15 double plays.
Kilponen completes her career with the Purple and Gold as a three-time All-Louisiana selection, including a pair of first-team selections in 2021-2022. Kilponen finished the 2023 season with a 13-7 record in the circle with a 2.25 ERA. She registered 112 strikeouts (No. 11 in SEC) in 127.2 innings pitched (No. 7 in SEC). Kilponen had four shutouts and three saves while keeping opposing batters at a .211 clip. In her career, Kilponen ranks No. 3 all-time in program history with eight saves, No. 8 all-time with 474 career strikeouts and No. 9 all-time with 57 career wins, 47 complete games and a .206 opposing batting average.
Redoutey rounds out the 2023 All-Louisiana team with her first career appearance. In 59 starts in right field, Redoutey recorded a .984 fielding percentage with 56 putouts, four assists, and one error and was involved in two double plays to place her on the 2023 SEC All-Defensive Team. In the batter’s box, Redoutey averaged .306 with 48 hits, including a team-high 20 extra-base hits with 11 doubles, three triples and six home runs. The North Carolina native also had 35 RBIs, 31 runs and a .529 slugging percentage.
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2023 All-Louisiana Collegiate Softball Team
First Team:
Pitcher: Sydney Berzon, Fr., LSU
Pitcher: Sam Landry, So., UL-Lafayette
Pitcher: Whitney Tate, Jr., McNeese
Catcher: Bailey Krolczyk, Jr., Southeastern Louisiana
First Base: Lauren Allred, Fr., UL-Lafayette
Second Base: Erin Krause, Fr., Nicholls
Third Base: Danieca Coffey, Jr., LSU
Shortstop: Taylor Pleasants, Jr., LSU
Outfield: Ciara Briggs, Jr., LSU
Outfield: Karly Heath, Sr., UL-Lafayette
Outfield: Mihyia Davis, Fr., UL-Lafayette
Designated Player: Georgia Clark, Sr., LSU
Utility: Ali Newland, Jr., LSU
Major Awards
Hitter of the Year: Karly Heath, UL-Lafayette
Pitcher of the Year: Sam Landry, UL-Lafayette
Newcomer of the Year: Mariana Torres, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Mihyia Davis, UL-Lafayette
Coach of the Year: Gerry Glasco, UL-Lafayette
Second Team:
Pitcher: Chloe Bennett, Sr., LSU-Eunice
Pitcher: Ali Kilponen, Sr., LSU
Pitcher: KK Ladner, Sr., Southeastern Louisiana
Catcher: Sophie Piskos, Jr., UL-Lafayette
First Base: Lexi Johnson, Jr., Southeastern Louisiana
Second Base: Mariana Torres, So., McNeese
Third Base: Maria Detillier, Fr., Southeastern Louisiana
Shortstop: Reese Reyna, So., McNeese
Outfield: Kylie Neel, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Outfield: Alexa Poché, Jr., Nicholls
Outfield: McKenzie Redoutey, So., LSU
Outfield: Alayis Seneca, Sr., McNeese
Designated Player: Audrey Greely, Jr., Southeastern Louisiana
Utility: Katie Salling, Fr., LSU-Eunice
Honorable Mention
Pitcher: Cera Blanchard, Southeastern Louisiana; Meghan Schorman, UL-Lafayette; Ashley Vallejo, McNeese.
Third Base: Rylie Bouvier, McNeese.
Shortstop: Alexa Langeliers, UL-Lafayette.
Outfield: Kaylea Patridge, Centenary.
Designated Player: Makenzie Chaffin, Northwestern State.