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Recalling his experiences as a UL baseball player, Cajun coach Tony Robichaux knows the importance of remembering the past. On Saturday, the Cajuns did just that before a frustrating 15-6 loss to UL Monroe at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field.
As part of Alumni Weekend, UL celebrated the 30th anniversary of its home ballpark. The Cajuns honored approximately 150 former Cajuns before the game, including members of the 1978 team - the first to play games at the facility. Former players stood at their old positions in the field with the current Cajuns during the national anthem.
It was a scene that tugged on the emotions of many attending the game - especially Robichaux.
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Joshua Parrott
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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"This is important to me because I played here," said Robichaux, who pitched for the Cajuns in 1984 before finishing his career at McNeese State. "I think it's important to never forget the past. You're only as good as your past.
"It's a good weekend for us to have these guys here."
Many players from the '78 team had not seen their teammates since Jose Alvarez's no-hitter in the season-finale at Moore Field on April 30, 1978. The Cajuns beat Texas-Arlington, 11-0, as Alvarez struck out 10 in nine innings. It was the first complete-game, nine-inning no-hitter in program history.
Alvarez threw out the first pitch before Saturday's game, kicking off his hat and shoes on the throw home. On the receiving end behind the plate was his old catcher Matt Sexauer.
According to Alvarez, all but two players from the '78 team - Mickey Berry and David Oliver - attended Saturday's game.
"It was special being on the mound again," said Alvarez, who won 17 games as a Cajun pitcher from 1977-78. "I had as many chills as I did when I was pitching in Dodger Stadium."
Alvarez pitched in plenty of major league stadiums. Drafted by Atlanta in the eighth round of the 1978 amateur draft, Alvarez went 8-9 with a 2.99 ERA in 98 appearances with the Braves from 1981-82 and '88-89. His most productive year came in 1988, when he posted a 5-6 record and a 2.99 ERA in 60 appearances.
The opportunity for Alvarez to come back to Moore Field with his old teammates, fellow former Cajuns and current UL players was too much to pass up. The return to familiar surroundings made sense.
"This is the place where I learned what life was about and matured as a man," Alvarez said. "Lafayette embraced us, loved us and showed us they cared. The fans here were so great to us."
Much has changed since Alvarez last pitched for the Cajuns. Todd Credeur, Scott Hurst and Jerry Bourgeois have all thrown no-hitters for UL. Moore Field was officially renamed M.L. "Tigue" Moore Jr. Field in 1995 in honor of the late M. Latigue Moore Jr. The program has won four Sun Belt titles, made 11 NCAA Regional appearances, reached two NCAA Super Regionals and advanced to the College World Series for the first time in 2000.
The once-young program has made strides that still amaze Alvarez and his former teammates.
"I'd come back a few times before, but coming back this time was really special for me," said Alvarez, who now resides in South Carolina and is chaplain of the Nationwide Tour. "Just to see where this program has gone in 30 years is incredible."
Joshua Parrott covers UL athletics for The Daily Advertiser. Reach him at (337) 289-6318 or
jparrott@theadvertiser.com
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