The Book 2007 Ragin' Cajun Baseball

<! W. Kentucky wins first game 6-5, UL takes second 10-6 ->

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&nbsp; UL's baseball team hadn't lost at home all season, but the Ragin' Cajuns were in prime shape to be swept by Western Kentucky in a cold and rainy Moore Field doubleheader Saturday.

Gregory Harmon and Jefferies Tatford wouldn't let it happen.

Harmon pitched six strong relief innings in Saturday's second contest and Tatford launched a game-changing grand-slam in that game's sixth inning, propelling the Cajuns to a 10-6 nightcap win and a 2-1 advantage in the weekend Sun Belt Conference series.

Western Kentucky had claimed Saturday's first game 6-5 in 10 innings thanks to Matt Hightower's clutch 10th-inning homer, and the visiting Hilltoppers held a 6-0 lead midway through the sixth inning of the nightcap.

That was before UL (26-7, 11-4) exploded for eight runs in the bottom of that frame, and Tatford's two-out, 3-and-2 slam over the right-field wall sent home the final four of those runs.

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Dan McDonald
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"It was a huge emotional boost for us," Tatford said. "We were still down at the time, but it looked like things were turning our way in that inning with walks and some hits. We just needed that one big boost for things to fall our way."

That boost came on a J. B. Paxson fast ball that turned into Tatford's second homer of the day and third of the series.

"At that point they were loaded and a full count," Tatford said, "and he couldn't afford to throw a ball."

UL had already scored four runs in the inning including a Scott Hawkins RBI single, a two-run single by Kolin Hatfield and an error. Other than that inning, the Cajuns only had two hits the rest of the game.

Harmon (1-0) kept the Hilltoppers (12-16, 6-6) close after WKU scored four runs off UL starter Justin Robichaux, three of those runs in the fourth inning. Harmon forced a double play and got a strikeout to prevent further damage, but WKU added two more runs on Matt Payton's two-run single in the sixth for the 6-0 lead.

Harmon allowed only two baserunners the rest of the way.

"I've been pitching with some confidence, and that's the biggest thing," Harmon said. "It was cold and nobody was really into it, but when we got the big inning it changed everything. Our hitters are going to have a big inning somewhere."

"He kept us within striking distance," UL head coach Tony Robichaux said of Harmon, "until we got it done."

The Cajuns held 2-0, 4-2 and 5-4 leads in the opener, including Tatford's two-run homer in the fourth and Scott Hawkins' solo shot in the fifth. But WKU battled from behind to tie the game each time, and reliever Colby Beach (2-0) shut down UL's attack over the final four innings.

Beach fanned seven and allowed only one hit in that stretch in a late-game pitching duel with UL reliever Danny Farquhar, who came in the seventh inning and retired the first nine batters he faced to maintain a 5-5 tie.

The tenth batter, though, was Hightower, whose solo homer sailed over the right-field fence and provided WKU's margin of victory. It also gave UL its first home loss after 15 straight Moore Field wins.

"We were lethargic," Tony Robichaux said. "That's something we have to address. They got the big lick in the first game and we didn't, but we were able to hang on until we got one in the second game."





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&nbsp; Don't get Lafayette High's Brian Bowman wrong.

He loved playing basketball for the Mighty Lions, and earned first-team All-District honors this past season in leading Lafayette High to a third-place finish and state playoff berth.

He also can't wait until he begins his career as a UL Ragin' Cajun baseball player in the fall. It's at that time that he'll finally be able to put all his energy into one sport.

"At UL, it's going to start in the summer and be a year around thing,'' Bowman said. "I'm definitely looking forward to it.''

Even as a senior, Bowman found the transition from basketball to baseball to be a tough one.

"There's just a big difference seeing that little ball all of a sudden compared to that big round ball,'' he said. "It was tough. At one point, Coach (Jay Domengeaux) even moved me into the nine hole. It's just hard when you don't swing the bat for a couple of months. Your hips start to fly open. There are a lot of things that go wrong.''

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Now that the Lions are six games into their 14-game District 2-5A schedule, Bowman is finally beginning to feel comfortable.

"It's not surprising, though,'' Bowman said. "Baseball is about timing and practice. It's coming back. I've been seeing the ball in the last few games.''

Domengeaux's even noticed a difference in Bowman's defensive play.

"He's much more comfortable at the plate and his defensive play is back to normal,'' he said. "There's no more throwing the ball halfway up the backstop.''

While the transition may have been rough, no one doubted that it would smoothen out eventually with Bowman's dedication to succeed.

"He's going to do what it takes to be successful,'' Domengeaux said.

Bowman's natural personality of being quiet and committed allows him to be a leader and that also carries with it a duty.

"I know the guys look up to me,'' he said. "If things aren't going well, they look to me to keep my composure and maintain my focus. If I keep my composure, everybody stays confident.''

Bowman said he doesn't know where his level of maturity on the field or the court comes from, although he hinted that the discipline and killer instinct may have come from his mother and composure from his father.

"Sometimes after games when he (father) can tell that I'm angry or upset, he tells me to apologize to my coach and my teammates,'' Bowman said. "It's tougher in basketball, because it's such a team game. Baseball is more of an individual game within the team. It's easier just to blame myself when I mess up in baseball.''

Bowman will be heading to UL's program after his senior season with Lion teammate Mike Cook.

"Mike and I have been playing ball together since we were 10,'' Bowman said. "He's kind of like my brother. He's a quiet guy too. You never have to do anything to get him focused.''

Bowman hopes to get a chance to play centerfield with the Cajuns, as well as get some at-bats as a true freshman next spring.

"It all depends on me,'' he said.

"He's a positive guy,'' Domengeaux said. "He can run and his arm is really good in the outfield. He hits the ball in the gaps and when he's struggles at the plate, he hits the ball on the ground and uses his speed.''




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Congrats to the cajuns for not bowing down. Yesterday was a glum day at the Tigue and it just wasn't happening for a lot of the guys. I was getting worried in that 2nd game! Geaux Cajuns!

I had to leave for a family function 2 batters before Tat's granny. :mad:

But I'll take it! ..O..

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Originally Posted by CajunCherokee

_ I had to leave for a family function 2 batters before Tat's granny. :mad:

But I'll take it! ..O.. _

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Tat has become the player we all looked for when he signed.:h: :h: :h: :h: He is having a marvelous season.

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Originally Posted by Cajun Express

_ Tat has become the player we all looked for when he signed.:h: :h: :h: :h: He is having a marvelous season. _

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If VanDeKeer (Spelling?) ever comes around this season, just imagine how dangerous we will be.

Anybody planning on going to the baseball game tomorrow night at Zephyr field?

Who are we pithcing?

We Have A Crew That Is Planning To Go But New Orleans Is Expecting Close To An Inch Of Rain Tomorrow So I Have A Feeling It Will Get Rained Out.

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Originally Posted by cajunproud

_ Anybody planning on going to the baseball game tomorrow night at Zephyr field?

Who are we pithcing? _

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Solich will start.

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Originally Posted by BirdofParadise

_ Solich will start. _

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I assume that the length of his start depends on how he is pitching and the score of the game, etc...., but is he pre-determined to pitch a set amount of innings, or is he slated to go all the way if he is pitiching well.