LAFAYETTE — When the college softball season was canceled in March, the Ragin' Cajuns were ranked 8th in the coaches poll. UL already had 4 wins against top 10 teams like Texas, Florida and LSU. For senior catcher Julie Rawls, it felt like she was robbed.
"I was just mad. That was my word when Gerry asked me in front of everyone. I was mad," Rawls expresses. "We saw how good we were and everything was in our corner. We were ranked number 1 in RPI. We were on a high and it just came to a halt so fast."
The road to the Women's College World Series was supposed to begin this week, as Regionals were scheduled for May 14th-17th. Louisiana was in a great position to land a top 8 seed and host a regional and super regional in Lafayette. Realistic dreams of making a deep run to Oklahoma City, are now reduced to daydreams of 'what if' and reminders of what time of the year it is.
"I do think about it, because my Facebook memories pop up and all that stuff but I don't try to dwell on it too much," Rawls said. "I just try to think about the future and how great those things can be."
Rawls graduates from UL-Lafayette this Friday and her plan was to start preparing for law school. But after spring athletes were granted an extra year, the chance to come back was too hard to pass up.
"I transferred, so I only had 2 years at UL. So I mean, why not have another year?" Rawls explains. "I feel like I wasn't here as long as I couldve been any way. I'm just glad I get to come back to this great town and great atmosphere and I don't want to take that for granted."
Rawls, along with All-American pitcher Summer Ellyson and Sun Belt Hitter of the Year Alissa Dalton, are among the 5 UL seniors announcing their return for 2021, as they hope to make another run at OKC.
"I think we all feel the same way. We have another chance at the world series and another chance to better ourselves," Rawls said. "I talk to Summer (Ellyson) a lot. We both are just really excited to get back out there. Why don't we just go back out there and compete."