Allie Walljasper is coming home.
“I’m excited to see everyone,” said the LSU senior and 2014 graduate of Sierra High.
She’ll be in the area with her seventh-ranked squad, according to the USA Today/NFCA coaches Top 25 Poll, playing in the Libby Matson Tournament at the University of the Pacific today and friday.
LSU — like Pacific, also called the Tigers — is currently unbeaten at 10-0 and off to its best season since 2015. Tourney host UOP is 6-4 and features former East Union shortstop Samantha Owen, who is hitting .412 with a team-high 14 hits and 10 RBI. Walljasper and Owen, former Valley Oak League rivals, will reunite in the second game of the tournament starting at 5 today. LSU opens with San Jose State at 2:30.
Walljasper along with Maribeth Gorsuch are part of the Tigers’ success. Both are coming off complete-game victories — Walljasper currently has 4-0 pitching mark.
LSU will play San Jose State, Nevada and Pacific during Thursday’s tournament in Stockton.
Walljasper indicated that her folks, Troy and Kelli, along with her sister Lindsey — she recently signed on to play softball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers in fall — friends and even members of the current Timberwolves softball team will be in attendance. She’s uncertain on what game she’ll pitch.
LSU put this event on the schedule specifically for Walljasper. “The coaches do that (playing games at or near the home town) for all of the seniors,” she said Tuesday from Baton Rouge, LA.
Walljasper is coming off a highly decorated junior campaign, leading the Tigers in wins, ERA, appearances, starts, complete games, saves and innings pitched.
She was named 2017 National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Third Team All-American, NFCA Division I South Region First Team, Louisiana Sports Writer All-Louisiana and LSWA Pitcher of the Year, All-SEC Second Team, SEC All-Tournament Team, and three-time LSWA Player of the Week.
Walljasper compiled an 18-6 record on the mound, throwing 165 innings while giving up 48 earned runs to go with a 1.61 ERA.
As a sophomore, she was named NFCA All-South Region First Team and 2016 LSWA All-Louisiana Second Team.
Walljasper earned similar honors as a freshman, making the 2015 NFCA D-I National Freshman of the Year Award Top 25 Finalist and was twice SEC Freshman of the Week.
Locally, she’s remembered as a four-time Most Valuable Player of the VOL, three-time pitcher of the year and was named Manteca Bulletin All-Area MVP four consecutive years.
In addition, Walljasper was a MaxPreps All-American and Cal-Hi All-State selection.
To contact reporter Vince Rembulat, e-mail vrembulat@mantecabulletin.com.
