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The new artificial turf surface at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field is installed and ready for the Ragin' Cajuns to begin preparing for the upcoming 2010 season.
Head coach Tony Robichaux and his squad will officially begin team practice for the 2010 season on Friday, Jan. 29 at "The Tigue" beginning at 2 p.m.
The Ragin' Cajuns return 18 letterwinners off last season's squad and welcome 16 newcomers.
Zach Osborne and Justin Robichaux headline the pitching staff. Six position starters return and that group includes three of the top four batting averages and three of the top five run producers off last season's squad.
"I like this group, they've worked hard all fall," Robichaux said. "The depth of our pitching staff is going to be good and that will make us competitive night-in and night-out.
"I believe we're going to play better defense with the turf. The addition of Brooks Badeaux has helped us with our fielding. In addition coach (Anthony) Babineaux and coach (Mike) Trahan are both in their second year of what they are doing and that's going to make a difference for us this season."
The turf - an entire field coverage with the only dirt located at the pitcher's mound - was installed by ProGrass Synthetic Turf Systems, the same company that laid down turf at Cajun Field.
"This turf will do many things for us," Robichaux said. "First off it stops all of the rainouts which helps our season ticket holders in that we will be able to complete a game similar to the conference tournament last season in Troy.
"The recruiting side helps us because now the recruits see the surface when they come for a visit no matter the time of the year," Robichaux added. "And it's a boost for our practices, time-wise because you only have so many hours in a week that you can practice and now at least 35 minutes per day is saved because now there's no field maintenance."
The squad will wrap up its first full week of practice Saturday, Feb. 6 with Fan Day at 11 a.m. More details will be released later this week.
The regular season begins on Friday, Feb. 19 at "The Tigue" against Nicholls State at 6 p.m.
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