Hofer hoping to see some action in regional

• By WILLIAM WEATHERS
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: May 16, 2008 - Page: 3C - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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LSU junior pitcher Dani Hofer emerged from her first extensive week of workouts with a promising prognosis.

“I’ll be ready this weekend so whenever they need me I can go in,” Hofer said following Thursday’s practice.

When top-seeded LSU (42-16) opens NCAA regional softball competition at 7 p.m. today against fourth-seeded Mississippi Valley at Tiger Park, Hofer’s role is still evolving.

That’s also the desire of LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard who will start either freshman Casey Faile (3-1) or senior Tiffany Garcia (3-3) against the Devilettes.

“We’re hoping that maybe she can get some innings in for us,” Girouard said. “It’s probably going to be a matter of gutting it for her but at this point there’s a lot of players that have to gut it out.”

Hofer, a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection a year ago, has not pitched in nearly four weeks since departing from a start against Tennessee in which she did not record an out after giving up two hits and three runs.

It was later determined that Hofer (18-7, 1.90 ERA) was suffering from tendinitis in his right (pitching) rest and would not pitch again until the postseason.

She resumed workouts Monday and has gradually gotten back to where she’s getting the desired results on her fastball and off-speed stuff.

“I’d say I’m 85-90 percent,” she said. “Being off for that many weeks has given my arm a lot of rest. My arm’s very lively and the movement is pretty much back.”

Holding its own
LSU’s Tiger Park, like a lot of places in the Baton Rouge area, took on about six inches of water after a torrential downpour Wednesday evening and Thursday morning.

LSU assistant manager of athletic facilities and grounds Mark Lee said the tarp was placed on the infield at 1 p.m. Wednesday and will remain there until this morning.

“I’m not going to take any chances,” Lee said of the possibility of pulling up the tarp before then. “There’s still some more storms likely to come tonight (Thursday) and maybe a few showers Friday.”

The outfield, which had a new drainage system put in last year, had no standing water Thursday afternoon but the three teams (LSU, East Carolina and Mississippi Valley State) that practiced only utilized the covered batting cages behind left field and went into LSU’s indoor football practice facility.