The LSU baseball team will look to bounce back from lastseason’s disappointing ending at the College World Serieswith fall practice set to begin this Monday.
After going 0-2 in the College World Series for the secondstraight year, senior-transfer Nick Stavinoha said it makes theupcoming season even more important.
“I think [losing in Omaha] was a disappointment for us,but that gives us more to work for,” Stavinoha said.”Nobody’s happy about it, but it gives us more of asense of urgency.”
After losing three starters, as well as a starting pitcher froma 2003 squad that went 46-19, coach Smoke Laval said this team hasa few question marks.
“Is Mestepey going to be healthy or are the new guys goingto come in and do it?” Laval said. “I don’t knowyet. We just have to line up and play.”
After receiving a medical redshirt in 2003 because of a shoulderinjury, Mestepey returned for 2004, going 7-4 with a 3.51 ERA with42 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched.
After losing only Nate Bumstead from last season’spitching staff, Laval said he’s got some new talent comingin.
“We lost one and brought in five,” Laval said.”We’ve still got the mainstay back.”
LSU’s new pitchers consist of three freshman and twotransfers, including freshman Eric English, who earned 2004 FloridaClass 6A Player of the Year honors with an 11-0 record and 117strikeouts.
Junior college transfer Daniel Forrer, a 17th-round pick of theLos Angeles Dodgers in the 2004 Major League Baseball draft, couldalso make a contribution barring any injuries.
“If he’s healthy, he’s a top two or threeround draft pick,” Laval said.
Forrer was expected to see a doctor this week, although an exactinjury has not yet been discovered.
“They thought it was tendonitis,” Laval said.”But obviously it’s something else.”
Also returning from last season’s pitching staff arejunior Justin Meier and senior Jordon Faircloth, both of whom sawsignificant playing time last season.
In the outfield, LSU will only be returning one starter, seniorRyan Patterson, who finished fourth on the team in batting lastseason with a .341 average.
Patterson will most likely move from left field to right,replacing last season’s second leading hitter JonZeringue.
Zeringue was drafted in the second round by the ArizonaDiamondbacks in last season’s draft.
Replacing last season’s lead-off hitter and center fielderJ.C. Holt will most likely be Bruce Sprowl, who received a redshirtlast season.
Sprowl is coming off a successful summer in the Valley BaseballLeague, hitting .340 with 13 doubles and 21 stolen bases.
“Bruce Sprowl is just as good as anybody,” Lavalsaid. “He had a great summer.”
Also coming off a redshirt season and off-season surgery isjunior Quinn Stewart, who will likely start in left field thisseason.
After spending time in the Valley Baseball League, Stewart saidhe is looking forward to getting back out on the field.
“It was a little rough getting back out there for thefirst time,” Stewart said. “But it won’t be toobad.”
Perhaps the strongest part of LSU’s team will be theinfield, having to replace only second baseman Ivan Naccarata forthe upcoming season.
Junior Will Harris will remain at first, with his brother Claymost likely to remain at third.
Leading the infield will be senior shortstop Blake Gill, whofinished the 2004 season with a .341 batting average and fourtriples.
Rounding out the infield will be catcher Matt Liuzza, in histhird season at LSU.
With fall practice set to begin on Monday and lasting aboutthree weeks, Stavinoha said it is a matter of picking up on thingsfrom last season.
“In the fall, it’s a lot of individual needs thatneed to be worked on,” Stavinoha said. “And trying tokeep that team chemistry that we do so well on.”