The Francis Howell softball team is off to another outstanding season with just a few weeks left before districts begin. One of the reasons for their success this season is a junior leading the Vikings offense at the plate and a natural leader on the field.

Lorin Boutte is a mainstay in the Howell lineup and is second on the team in batting with a .413 batting average and is tied for the lead in runs batted in with 21. One of the most impressive things about Boutte is that she has only struck out twice this season as the Vikings are 18-3 on the year. She is also a standout pitcher with an 8-1 record on the year with a 1.60 earned run average. She also has struck out 109 batters on the season.

Boutte credits the Viking’s work ethic and preparation over the summer and during the season as one of the reasons for the outstanding record as they head to the last part of the regular season.

Photo courtesy of Francis Howell High School

“During the summer, we did a lot of stuff with our club teams so that got us ready for the early season workouts,” stated Boutte. “Doing that made the transition to high school ball a lot easier. We did some camps and weightlifting as a team, which got us working better as a group. And getting to know the underclassmen better was a big part as well. We started a little rough in our jamboree, but after that, we kept working towards our theme of “Holding the Rope”, and we persevered through that adversity in the beginning, and we have had success since that point.”

Boutte is a player that approaches the game in a matter that you would see from many baseball and softball players. She works hard at her craft, stays in the moment, and doesn’t look back on the past.

“I go into things with a clear mind and even I strike out, I have short-term memory,” said Boutte. “I tend to forget all that stuff that happened in the past, reset and tell myself that the next one will be better and just from there. At the beginning of the year, I was struggling at the plate, so I got in some work with my hitting coach, and we made some tiny adjustments so that I could settle back in.”

One thing fueling the Vikings this season is the heartbreaking loss to Howell Central in the state tournament last fall. Boutte and her teammates do not want to have the feeling of being that close to making it to the state final four, they want to be playing in Springfield at the end of October.

“It was a tough loss last year, so that is the fuel for us heading into this year,” stated Boutte. “The goal for us this year is to get back to that point and show everyone that we can get past that and show everyone that we can play for the state championship in the final four.”

A few weeks ago, Howell avenged the loss to Howell Central in their annual “Purple Out Game”, in which the two schools combined to raise over $1,400 for the Friends with Kids with Cancer group. The game was one thing but raising money and awareness for a great cause was another thing for Boutte and the Vikings.

“It is an awesome experience as Central is one of our rivals and one of the better teams that we will play,” said Boutte. “We put all of that aside and play for the cause and help raise money for a great cause that is giving back to a family that has been a part of our program. It is fun.”

Boutte has grown up in a softball family as her mom, Leticia Pineda-Boutte, was the long-time softball coach at Washington University in St. Louis. Her mom is one of her biggest supporters and is there to help her at any time to be successful.

“It is awesome as I grew up around softball,” stated Boutte. “When I was born, she was coaching. She was pregnant with me while she was coaching, so I was around practices and saw how she taught her girls teamwork, effort, and commitment can make you a great softball player. She has helped me with everything whether it was hitting or throwing, she has been there with me every step of the way.”

As we always talk about with our great student-athletes, it is a juggling act to ensure that the same amount of time and energy is put into the classroom and on the field. Boutte is no different as she knows the importance of both.

“It can be hard, and I can admit that,” said Boutte. “I prioritize my studying and I make sure that I get extra time set aside for my studies so that I get everything in on time. I try to get things done in advance so that I do not have to cram a bunch of different assignments into one day. I also know that I need help, I can ask my teachers and I just take my time to make sure that I am getting things thoroughly and not rushing it.”

Congratulations to Lorin Boutte on being named our HSSC/Scoops with Danny Mac Student-Athlete of the Week and we wish her and her teammates the best of luck in the upcoming state playoffs.

Jim Powers

Jim Powers

Jim Powers has been covering prep sports in the St. Louis area for 15+ years and a part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association Championship Broadcasts for the past 11 years. Powers is also a part of the Fox 2 Verlo Mattress Prep Zone Friday nights at 10:10 during the football and basketball seasons. If you have a prep sports story, please contact Jim at japowers2421@yahoo.com. Follow Jim at @hssportscaravan