LSU’s Stein active on, off the field

• By WILLIAM WEATHERS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 15, 2008 - Page: 1C - UPDATED: 12:30 a.m.

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Shannon Stein dives into her community service projects with such enthusiasm, typically with a working knowledge of the organization’s background.

“I almost never say no,” Stein said.

When the United Way was in need of a couple of LSU athletes for its “Day of Caring”, LSU’s assistant director of its CHAMPS/Life Skills program Jade Jenkins called Stein, a senior second baseman.

Stein showed up somewhat uncertain of the undertaking where she was paired with LSU senior golfer Garrett Runion in a pancake flipping contest with Runion handling the spatula and blindly flipping pancakes over his head.

That’s where Stein, apron and all, stood self-assuredly with a plate to catch as many pancakes possible within a minute. The winner was determined by the team successfully landing the most pancakes.

Not only did Stein and Runion walk away victorious, but they did so over one of teams featuring Baton Rouge’s more identifiable figures in Mayor-President Kip Holden.

“I really had no idea what I was doing until I showed up,” said Stein, who was named Wednesday to the All-South region’s second team. “Then the mayor came over to me and asked us to take it easy. Of course with my smooth hands I had to win. Coach (LSU’s Yvette Girouard) would have been mad if I didn’t win. The mayor was really nice, but we smoked them.”

Competition and goodwill have seemingly gone hand in hand for Stein, who leads LSU into NCAA regional softball play Friday. That’s where the top-seeded Tigers (46-12) face fourth-seeded Mississippi Valley State (28-26) at 7 p.m. at Tiger Park in a game that will be broadcast locally by WNXX-104.5/104.9-FM.

The double-elimination tournament continues Saturday with the championship game set for 1 p.m. Sunday. The winner advances to super regional play May 24-25 with the Women’s College World Series serving as the ultimate destination for eight teams May 28-June 2.

“I never want it to be the end,” said Stein, one of LSU’s seven seniors. “I love the big- game atmosphere. I think we’re going to have great fans this weekend. They’re the ones that pump us up. I’m going to try to stay within myself and be there for my team. I want to help as much as possible.”

Stein has been a shining light during the course of her career for an LSU program in pursuit of its third consecutive super regional. The contributions, though, of the Upland, Calif. native haven’t always been tangible since transferring from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi three years ago.

“She was a total gift and fell into our lap,” Girouard said. “She called and wanted to transfer. She’s just a great human being. She’s the energy of the team. You know something’s very wrong when she’s not smiling.”

Stein’s perpetual optimistic attitude acted as a magnet with her teammates (she’s served as a tri-captain the past two years) and her outgoing personality and recognizable smile endeared her to LSU’s ardent fan base almost immediately.