With all eyes focused on the highly anticipated and rapidly approaching football season, LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri is making his own preparations, assembling a squad he hopes will make a run at the 2012 College World Series.
The Tigers were able to hold on to five of the eight signees that were selected to the 2011 MLB Draft this summer, bringing the total to 14 newcomers.
“I had absolutely no surprises [on Signing Day] relative to how it affected LSU. Everything played out exactly how I thought it would play out – even the players that were not drafted,” Mainieri said. “We feel very good about them and think they will be some of the best players in our program as we go him.”
Mainieri also mentioned senior shortstop Austin Nola’s younger brother Aaron as a future star.
Along with getting the opportunity to play with his brother for a year, Mainieri said the right-handed pitcher could make an immediate impact in the rotation.
“Aaron is going to be outstanding,” Mainieri said. “He’s going to be able to help us right from the get-go. He’s a strike-throwing machine. He’s pitched in the big games in high school and he knows what LSU baseball is all fall.”
Ware earned eight hits in 21 games last season, batting .178 on the year.
The Cincinnati native, who may be the starting running back this fall, said he is going to assess his situation when baseball season rolls around.
“It’s football season right now. I can’t be worrying about what’s going on in the spring,” Ware said. “If he can get his team filled with great athletes, then they may not need me. I’m going to see how [playing baseball] goes depending on this year. Depending on how this fall goes, we’ll talk again when the time is