The Scoop [UL Baseball 2014]

By: BabySitter

The last time I was on this board was about this time last year saying how exciting last years 2013 team had the "potential" to be. Well, making it to the regional finals in Alex Box against LSU was nothing more than a pipe dream at that time coming off of a miserable 2012 campaign. So hey, I was wrong. We overacheived in 2013 !! Seriously folks, what a fun season 2013 was for many of us.

Ther's a lot of BIG TALK going on about this years version of UL baseball. Conference champs, hosting a regional, hosting a super regional, and the crown jewel........ The CWS. Let's pump the brakes for just a minute here. MANY things have to happen for all of the previously mentioned to happen. We MUST stay healthy from positions players to pitchers and back-ups first and foremost. All the stars must be aligned!!! Don't laugh, I'm serious. Defense and pitching as we have all heard wins championships. We'll see how good we are in both relatively early. But lets not start the celebration anytime soon. Long season.

Lets not forget about the 3 new additions to our conference in Texas State, Georgia State, and UTA. They don't know us and guess what, we don't know them either. No warm and fuzzy feeling here about sweeping any of these three teams. We still gotta play it out.

Pardon my somewhat "negativity" so early in the year and so late at night but I'm a realist and I love this game but just when we think all is grand, it brings you to your knees. This is pitch by pitch inning by inning game by game and that's what I suggest we do this season as a really fun ride "could" be in store.

As for personnel, here's how I see the batting order stacking up. We'll see if I'm close on opening night :

Harrison [CF] [This years Dex Kjerstad. Remember that] [Jr]
Leonards [DH or 3B] [Expect a great senior year] [Sr]
Adams [LF] [Minumum 15 bombs] [Jr]
Strentz [C] [Will also see some OF at times] [Jr]
Conrad [2B] [Expect a big year here] [Jr]
Compton [1B] [Got his stroke back and expect big things from him] [Sr]
Butler [RF] [May be the key to the whole thing. He's got to stay healthy] [Jr]
Girouard [DH / 3B] [.350 plus hitter hitting in the 8 hole is SICK] [RS Jr]
Trahan [SS] [Fill in whatever you want here] [Soph]

Back ups

Joe Robbins [Soph]- Vastly improved over last season both defense and offense.
Evan Powell - [Jr.] - Stud who will see his fair share at DH, 3B, and catcher. Hits it a ton.
Greg Davis - [Fr] - First baseman and right handed hitter with big time pop. Lots of potential here.
Kyle Clement - [jr.] - LH hitting utility player. Good athlete with high baseball IQ.
Nick Thurman- [Soph] - LH hitting catcher who came up huge in the post season last year. Watch his development.

As you can see, not exactly a yellow brick road through this lineup no matter what the order.

Pitching

Robe [Starter]- We know what we have here. Just needs to stay the course. [Jr]
Milhorn [Starter]- 90-92 at the shins [Jr]
Baranik [Starter] - 91-93. Had a great fall vs some good hitters [Jr]
Wilson [Mid-week starter / reliever] [Sr] Love this guy
Boutte [Mid-week starter / reliever] [Sr] Ice in his veins no matter what role
Guidry [Middle relief and a bulldog on the mound] Low 90's [Fr. I think]
Bazar [1 or 2 inning guy] 6'7" 93-95. RGE's [Radar Gun Erections] when this guy trots out there. Must keep ball down. [Fr.]
Hicks [Closer] What else can you say... [Sr.]
Cooper [Middle relief]. Crafty LHP who competes. Upper 80's with a _____ curve ball [Fr.]
Toups [Middle relief] LHP mid 80's with movement. Not scared to pitch. [Fr]
Zaunbracher - [Middle relief] RHP who has improved and pounds the zone

I know I missed a few pitchers for sure but this team should be very solid with arms. I'll say this, this is twice the staff we had in 2013 with tons of potential the deeper we go. I'll leave it at that.

With all that said, see you at the ballpark.....Game by game by game by game.....