In August, all Lisaira Daniels wanted to do was take classes.

After finishing her first year as an outfielder for Georgia’s softball team, Daniels decided that she no longer wanted to play for the Bulldogs. It was a decision she made despite the fact that she started in right field and hit over .300 on a College World Series team as a true freshman.

But after a conversation with Tina Whitlock, Le Moyne’s head coach, everything changed. Daniels would move 918 miles north and transfer to Syracuse.

‘Coach Whitlock was like, ‘(Lisaira), they would love for you to come here, and it would be a great opportunity to play,” Daniels said. ‘So I called (Syracuse) and I came here on my visit and loved it here.’

Whitlock, Daniels’ former hitting coach back in Georgia, advised Daniels to give the Syracuse softball team a shot. It was a no-brainer for the LeMoyne coach. The connections were there. Syracuse was heavily recruiting Daniels’ sister Shirley, and SU’s head coach Leigh Ross is a good friend of Whitlock’s.

One autumn trip to Syracuse later, Daniels is officially a member of the Orange. After visiting the SU campus with Shirley this past fall, Daniels committed to play for Syracuse along with her sister. She will be eligible to play this season. Shirley will enroll at SU as a freshman next fall.

Daniels figures to be a key addition for the Orange this season as the former Bulldog brings big-game experience with her. Last year, Daniels started all 53 games she played in for a Bulldog team that garnered a No. 4 national ranking. Georgia lost to eventual-national champion Washington in the national semifinals. It’s an experience she will look to draw from while on the diamond this year.

‘Incredible,’ Daniels said of her College World Series experience. ‘That is something that I will never, ever forget. I love UG. I love those girls to death. It was sad leaving, but you have to do what you have to do. I hope we can go to the World Series this year. As long as we can keep that in my mindset, I think we can get there.’

Aside from her NCAA tournament experience, Ross knows Daniels has certain skills Syracuse will benefit from. Daniels’ speed and defensive abilities immediately come to mind when Ross speaks about her new outfielder.

The main thing, though, that Ross is looking forward to is Daniels’ effect on the rest of the team and, conversely, the rest of the team’s effect on Daniels.

Ross feels Daniels’ mere presence at practices and in games will help reality set in for the rest of the squad, giving them an up-close look at a World Series-caliber player. Heading into the regular season, both Daniels and the rest of the team will be able to bridge the gap between nationally regarded SEC softball and Big East softball.

‘One big thing that she will bring is she is looking at our team and thinking that we are no different than the team she was on in Georgia,’ Ross said. So she will believe we are the same. It is all about having a great year. It is all about getting it done at the right time.’

Now that all of the commotion of the past few moths has died down, the sophomore knows it’s time to get back into true softball shape. Last semester, while still attending classes at Georgia, Daniels continued to stay in shape. That thought of continuing to play softball was in the back of her mind. But she wasn’t able to use the athletic facilities at Georgia as just any other student.

Daniels doesn’t have that problem anymore. The athletic facilities are once again available to her, this time coated in Orange.

Instead, classes are once again the main issue on Daniels’ mind — just like back in August.

‘Yeah, it’s been really smooth, but I’m having a hard time adjusting with classes,’ Daniels said jokingly before practice Tuesday. ‘I have needed to change my classes four times.’

aolivero@syr.edu

Published on January 26, 2010 at 12:00 pm