Despite all its regular season woes, the LSU baseball team (36-20) hashad one mantra: get to the post season.
With that goal accomplished, the team sees the Southeastern ConferenceChampionship Tournament as the start of a new season.
The No. 8 seeded Tigers will get a chance at redemption against No. 1 seeded Florida, who they last played in the middle of a seven-gameslump.
“We played them at a time when we’d just come off four tough games,”said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “They were hot as a firecracker.”
Junior catcher Micah Gibbs said LSU last played Florida at a time whenthe Gators played their best baseball of the season and the Tigersplayed their worst.
“Now we’re at a neutral site and we usually have a real good followingat the SEC tournament,” Gibbs said. “We’ve won two years in a row andI think we can definitely come back and show them what we’re reallylike.”
The SEC tournament has a unique atmosphere. All eight teams stayin one hotel, allowing for some competition even off the field.
“You see guys in the lobby and it kind of gets you a little pissed Iguess,” Gibbs said. “You … think ‘Oh, he struck me out,’ and it kind ofgets you fired up,”
Gibbs emphasized the importance of a new start but cautioned againstcalling the tournament a completely clean slate.
“I think it’s huge for us just to wipe out everything that’s happenedso far,” Gibbs said. “But I wouldn’t say it’s a clean slate just yet,because we don’t have an NCAA berth yet.”
Making a good showing in the tournament is important for the Tigers tocontrol their destiny, said the Pflugerville, Texas, native. If they don’tplay well, their postseason fate will rest in the hands of the NCAAinstead of their own.
An integral part of the winning equation is confidence. Sophomore outfielder Mikie Mahtook said the Tigers have a renewed sense of it after winning a series against Mississippi State.
The Tigers’ pitching and hitting came together in game two of theseries, which they won, 17-2.
“The Friday night game was probably the best game we’ve played allyear,” Mahtook said. “We hit well and we pitched well.”
Perhaps more than anyone else on the team, sophomore pitcher Matty Ottand junior pitcher Anthony Ranaudo are hoping for a fresh startagainst Florida. Ott said he believes 100 percent that the tournament willsee him back at his regular form.
“Me and Anthony have talked throughout this whole time,” Ott said. “Itseems we’ve been struggling together. Everybody goes through it andyou just have to keep battling through it every day.”
Pitching wins championships, and no time is more important for a goodshowing than the postseason, Ott said.
“Whether you’re a No. 8 seed or a No. 1 seed, it doesn’t matter onceyou get to the tournament,” Ott said. “It would be nice to get a freshstart and that’s what I’ve been working for, but this is what reallycounts. If you make a run in the postseason, nobody cares what youdid in the regular season.”
Mainieri said he had a private meeting with Ott and showed him apicture from a media session last year where the coach said he told the media he wasn’t at all concerned about Ott.
“I believe in that kid,” Mainieri said. “When he does the things he’sdone for you … it’s not blind faith. … You don’t give up on kids likethat.”
LSU will face Florida at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. They will play eitherNo. 4 seeded Arkansas or No. 5 seeded Vanderbilt on Thursday.
On the eve of the SEC tournament, the league office also announced that three Tigers received postseason honors.
Gibbs earned first team All-SEC and all-defensive honors, while sophomore shortstop Austin Nola and senior designated hitter Matt Gaudet earned second team All-SEC.
—-Contact Katherine Terrell at [email protected].