Louisiana product Lillian Soto inks With the Ragin’ Cajuns

Cedar Creek School product’s power and run production potential fits Louisiana’s system

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball head coach Gerry Glasco announced on Wednesday (Jan. 25, 2023) the addition of Lillian Soto, from the state of Louisiana high school ranks, to the program’s list of recruits that will join the team in the 2024 season.

Soto, who is set to wrap up her prep career at Cedar Creek School in Ruston, Louisiana this spring, has signed with Louisiana and is set to join the program beginning in the 2023-24 academic year.

She is the third signee for Glasco and the Ragin’ Cajuns during the currently active national signing period for the 2023-24 academic year. Soto joins Lafayette’s own Gabbie Stutes (St. Thomas More Catholic High School) who signed an NLI back in November 2022 and New York native and Canadian National Team pitcher Sam Ryan, who also signed during the winter break, as current members of Louisiana’s recruiting class.

As a junior with Cedar Creek in spring 2022, the Ragin’ Cajuns-to be infielder produced a .385 average and turned in eight doubles, 10 home runs and 39 RBI over 78 at bats. Those efforts earned Soto the team’s Offensive Award and her very first spot on the all-district first team.

Then in the fall travel ball season, Soto generated a .414 average and 1.034 slugging percentage while producing 12 RBI over 29 at bats for Baton Rouge-based D1Vision 18U Nationals.

“Lillian (Soto) is a tremendous hitting prospect who can bring an ability to hit with power and produce RBI for our lineup,” Glasco said. “She’s an excellent student and comes from a competitive athletic family. We firmly believe she will fit well into the culture we are seeking to maintain at Louisiana.”

Soto has been competing at the high school level since her seventh grade year in which she debuted with a .360 average, seven doubles a pair of home runs and 18 RBI. She followed up with another .360-plus average (.389) and double-figure RBI total (19) over 83 at bats in her eighth grade year. Both years she claimed Cedar Creek’s Rising Star award and was a second team all-district selection.

In the COVID-limited 2020 season, she was off to a .483 start over 29 at bats prior to the shutdown.

The 2022 season production marked a triumphant return to the diamond for Soto after missing the entire 2021 calendar with a knee injury.

Her father, T.J., played collegiate baseball at Louisiana Tech from 1997-2000 where he set the Bulldogs and Sun Belt Conference career record for home runs (72). He also played in the Class AA minor league ranks for the Houston Astros from 2000-04.

Soto’s line of relatives who competed in the athletic realm includes: Ashley Barnes-Randolph (aunt), Ohio State Swimming (2001-2005); Greg Randolph (uncle), Ohio State Men’s Volleyball (2001-2004); Lyndsay Barnes-Maher (aunt), Miami University Swimming (1999-2002); and Tori Soto-Brister (aunt), Louisiana Tech Cheerleading (2003-2007).

The three-time defending Sun Belt regular season and tournament champion Ragin’ Cajuns (47-13, 23-4 SBC in 2022) are currently in their sixth season under Glasco’s guidance and are coming off the program’s 23rd consecutive 40-win season and NCAA Tournament appearance.

Louisiana, an NCAA Tournament participant each year since 1999 and has only missed the event once since 1990, officially begins play in the 2023 season the weekend of February 10-12 with the 37th Annual Louisiana Classics at Yvette Girouard Field at Lamson Park. The official season opener is set for Friday, Feb. 10 at 4:30 p.m., when the Ragin’ Cajuns begin play in the Louisiana Classics with a matchup against Lafayette College.