A medical condition known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome - which happens when a rib compresses a nerve and restricts blood flow to the arm - stole the first half of the 2009 baseball season from UL outfielder Matt Goulas.

Now the New Iberia native will try to make the most of this summer to make up for some of that lost time on the diamond.

Goulas, who played the final half of his sophomore season after having part of a rib removed, is one of 18 Ragin' Cajuns set to play in collegiate wood bat summer leagues nationwide in the next few months. He leaves on a flight for Massachusetts early this morning to play for the North Adams SteepleCats in the New England Collegiate Baseball League before the team's season opener on Friday.

The rest of the story

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • June 2, 2009