When the lights go on at Alex Box Stadium, it’s a competition between teams. 
When the sun shines on the LSU baseball team during practice, it’s a competition between the Tigers’ outfielders. 
“We try to show up each other every day and see who can make the better catches,” said LSU junior center fielder Andrew Stevenson. “Everybody’s trying to outdo each other out here. It pushes me to be better, and I’m sure it pushes the other guys when we’re all getting after it and having fun
out there.” 
Every day is a competition between Stevenson and his fellow outfielders, who are two days from their season-opener against Kansas on Friday. For an outfield being hailed as one of the best in the nation, routine catches are the norm, but diving catches are expected. 
At least that’s how LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri sees it. 
“I expect them to make those kind of plays,” Mainieri said. “I want them to make extraordinary plays in the outfield. I think it’s the way to play. It’s an approach and a mentality. When you need to make that play in a game, you can’t make it if you haven’t already practiced it.” 
A key reason for Mainieri’s insistence on big plays in the outfield is connected to the Tigers’ talented but inexperienced pitching staff. With the possibility of multiple freshmen starting on the mound this season, Mainieri said having reliable players backing them up provides an extra boost of confidence to the young pitchers. 
“If you’re a pitcher, and you’re not afraid to throw the ball over the plate because if it’s hit and you feel like you’re players have a good chance of catching the ball, then you’re not going to hesitate to throw the ball over the plate,” Mainieri said. 
Mainieri’s outfield should give the young pitching staff plenty of confidence. The trio of Stevenson, junior outfielder Mark Laird and sophomore outfielder Jake Fraley started a combined 144 games last season. In 360 chances, the three committed just four errors for a .988 fielding percentage. 
Individually, Stevenson earned 2014 Southeastern Conference All-Defensive Team recognition for his play in centerfield last season before being named to a Preseason Third-Team All-American by D1Baseball.com in 2015. 
Though Laird didn’t receive the same level of recognition as Stevenson, the right fielder has played in 122 games during his two-year career without ever making an error.
As a freshman, Fraley’s playing time wasn’t as extensive as the more veteran Laird and Stevenson’s, but in 49 games the Delaware native made only one error in 59 chances. Fraley’s defensive effort coupled with his .372 batting average resulted in him being named a 2014 Second-Team Freshman All-American.
The trio has played numerous games together, but it all begins with the competitions in practice. 
“We always joke around with each other in practice saying, ‘Nothing hits the grass,’” Laird said. “We hold ourselves to a high standard, and that goes for everybody on the team.” 
However, there probably isn’t a group on the team that’s played as much together as the Tigers’ outfield, making life easier for Fraley, Stevenson and Laird. 
Fraley said just knowing each other’s range in the outfield can be the difference between an out and an extra-base hit. 
“When a ball’s hit, we don’t have to say anything,” Fraley said. “We already just click because we already understand each other’s games, how well we play and how fast we are, too. All that matters.”  
LSU sophomore southpaw Jared Poche’ will likely start the Tigers’ season-opener against Kansas on Friday. But for the Saturday and Sunday games, it may be one or two of LSU’s freshmen pitchers taking the mound. 
Fraley doesn’t want them to worry about what happens behind them. He just wants them to throw strikes.
“We mess with the pitchers all the time, telling them to throw the ball down the middle and let them hit the ball because we’ll catch everything that comes out there,” Fraley said. “All three of us, we 110 percent believe in that. There’s no doubt in our mind that whenever a ball’s hit out there, no matter where it is, we’re going to have a great shot at catching it.” 
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.