2008 Louisiana Baseball Preview

Coming off one of the best seasons in school history and with 17 letter winners, seven pitchers and five position starters returning, expectations will be at an all-time high for the 2008 Ragin’Cajun baseball team.

Louisiana posted a 45-17 overall mark, including a program best 23-7 ledger in Sun Belt conference play a year ago, and the Cajuns are the consensus choice to defend their regular season title in 2008.

Six Ragin’ Cajuns earned All-Sun Belt honors, while Cajun outfielder Nolan Gisclair was named to Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year and Tony Robichaux was honored as the league’s Coach of the Year.

The program has received preseason recognition from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers of America (NCBWA) picked the Cajuns No. 28 in its preseason top 35 poll. Earlier this spring, Ping! Baseball tabbed the Cajuns 17th nationally in its preseason Top 30 poll, while Collegiate Baseball Newspaper selected Louisiana 32nd in its Fabulous 40 Preseason Poll.

However, it is a role that head coach Tony Robichaux believes his team is ready to handle.

“The difference between this year’s squad and last year’s is that we’re mature. The guys who return from last year are better than they were at this time in 2007. Getting to the NCAA Regionals consistently educates them in knowing what we expect every year.

“We want to consistently play at that level and we won’t be satisfied with just winning every year. We want to build on the year before and get better with each game.”

Starting Pitching

The Cajuns return their three weekend starters from a year ago which makes them the most experienced pitching rotation in the Sun Belt. The Cajuns’ “Big Four”- Moody, Glass, Solich and Farquhar- accounted for 26 of the Cajuns’ 45 wins last season.

At the front of the Cajun’s starting rotation is junior Danny Farquhar. Last season, the Florida native went 6-3 with a team-high six saves, while striking out 115 batters. Farquhar is one of the best returning starters in the Sun Belt and is projected has a high-round draft pick in next seasons Major League Baseball draft.

Senior Hunter Moody will follow Farquhar in the Cajun rotation. Moody went 8-3 with a 4.13 ERA in what most would consider a down year following his SBC Pitcher of the Year and All-American season in 2006. Moody has a career record of 22-5 on the mound for the Cajuns.

Buddy Glass will follow Moody in the rotation this spring. Glass earned All-Sun Belt honors in 2007, with a 7-5 campaign. Glass has battled back from tough fall and has pitched well this spring.

Brent Solich pitched well down the stretch for the Cajuns in 2007. Solich finished the season 5-2, with a 3.21 ERA and was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team.


Bullpen

John Zorich, Justin Robichaux and Gregory Harmon all return with starting experience, however all three will be used in middle or late-inning relief. Sophomore Justin Robichaux will serve as the Cajuns primary closer. Last season, Robichaux went 3-1 with a 5.47 ERA in 242/3 innings. Gregory Harmon will give the Cajuns another strong arm in the closer role. Harmon will also give the bullpen experience in the set-up role.

Junior college transfers Matt Broussard, Corey Chapman, and senior John Zorich give the Cajuns added depth in the bullpen.

Projected Starters

Danny Farquhar RHP
Brent Solich LHP
Buddy Glass RHP
Hunter Moody LHP


Bullpen

Gregory Harmon RHP
Justin Robichaux RHP
John Zorich LHP
Matt Broussard RHP
Corey Chapman LHP
Randall Bulliard RHP


Catching

Thad Griffen RH Fr.
Dillon Guillory LH R-Fr.
Scott Hawkins RH- Jr.
Chance Harst RH- So. TR

The Cajuns will have solid depth behind the plate this year. Highly touted freshman Thad Griffen will start the season behind the plate. Griffen chose to attend Louisiana after being drafted by Major League Baseball. Dillion Guillory, another highly touted prospect will get some time behind Griffen during the season. Southern Mississippi transfer Chance Hurst and All-American Scott Hawkins will serve as reserves to add depth to the position. Hawkins will be used primarily as the designated hitter and Hurst will back up at several other positions.


Infielders

The Cajuns will have just one everyday starter returning from last season in third baseman Matt Hicks. Hicks will once again be a fixture at third base for the 2008 season.

Hicks started 32 games during the 2007 season, hit .309, with 6 homeruns and 23 RBI’s. Talented freshman Tyler Benzel will provide depth behind Matt Hicks at third base.

Second base has been more of a question mark coming into spring with the departure of sure handed Devon Bourque. However, Grant Derouen returns after missing the 2007 season and playing mostly third base as a true freshman. The surprise of the spring has been late junior college transfer Jordan Porrier from Pensacola JC. Porrier has impressed the staff with solid glove and potent bat from the second base position. Redshirt junior Cy Primeaux will provide depth at second base as well.

At Shortstop, the Cajuns will make the transition from Xavier Alexander to William Long. Long played in over 35 games during the 2007 season, but really needs to step up at the plate and live up to the high expectations he garnered as a top prospect out of Florida. True freshman will Greg Fontenot will provide depth behind Long and could end up in the starting lineup if Long struggles at the plate again this season. The coaching staff is very high on Fontenot, as he swung the bat extremely well in the fall and spring workouts. Fontenot handles the position well, but does not have the arm that Long possess at shortstop.

Sophomore Justin Robichaux is penciled in as the opening day starter at first base and will be backed up by redshirt freshman Travis Whipple who will also see time in left field. Chance Harst, Tyler Benzel and Scott Hawkins will provide depth at fist base as well.

Justin Robichaux is another highly publicized recruit that needs to play up to his potential. Robichaux showed glimpse of his talent at times last season at the plate and in the field, but was not consistent hitting .257 with 19 RBI’s.


Infield Depth Chart


First Base

Justin Robichaux R-R Soph.
Travis Whipple L-L R-Fr.
Tyler Benzel R-R Fr.


Second Base

Jordan Poirrier L-R Soph./JC
Grant Derouen R-R Soph.
Cy Primeaux R-R R-Jr

Third Base


Matt Hicks R-R JR.
Tyler Benzel. R-R Fr.
Grant Derouen R-R So.


Outfield

The Cajuns return all three of their starting outfielders from last season’s squad, including senior centerfielder Josh Logan. Last season, Logan led the team with 19 stolen bases, while hitting .335 with 19 RBI’s. Behind Logan will be freshman Brian Bowman from Lafayette High.

Kolin Hatfield will once again patrol left field for the Cajuns. Hatfield has a solid glove and gives the Cajun power from a corner outfield position hitting .264 with 6 homeruns and 34 RBI’s.

Right field will be held down by 2007 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year Nolan Gisclair who hit .348 with 13 home runs and 54 RBI. Backing up Gisclair will be freshman Matt Goulas, freshman transfer Andre Robichaux and redshirt freshman Gabe Begneaud.


Outfield Depth

Nolan Gisclair R-R Sr.
Josh Logan R-R Sr.
Kolin Hatfield R-R Sr.
Chance Harst R-R So.
Brian Bowman R-R Fr.
Matt Goulas R-R Fr.TR
Andre Robichaux R-L Fr. TR.
Gabe Begneaud R-R R-Fr.


Schedule

The Cajuns will face potential Top 50 RPI programs LSU, Nebraska, Rice, Tulane, Oral Roberts, Texas Tech and Florida Atlantic all on the road this season. Robichaux would like to come out of those games with a winning record, but the task will be difficult. With pitching depth the Cajuns have on this years’ squad, this team just might be up to the task. It’s important that the Cajuns pitching staff remains healthy and the young bats develop around the five returning position starters. If that happens, the Cajuns will have the opportunity to finish at the top of the Sun Belt and participate in a regional in 2008.