The second-ranked LSU baseball team began its “spring training” Tuesday afternoon at Alex Box Stadium in preparations for the upcoming season and its goal of returning to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.
The Tigers do not open the season until Feb. 13 when they play Central Florida in Orlando, Fla., but third-year coach Smoke Laval said these weeks leading up to the season are important in terms of getting back into playing shape.
“We’re trying to get the muscle-memory back,” Laval said. “We’re swinging the bat, working ground balls and getting used to the speed of the game. We’re not working on anything specific.”
Laval used examples of not riding a bike and not roller-skating for a long time and instantly trying to regain the skill when describing the Tigers getting their muscle-memory back. He said it does not take long to get it back, but it is not something you can just jump into.
“It’s kind of like getting your feet wet,” he said.
The Tigers return nine position players and seven pitchers with significant experience from last season’s 45-22-1 club and defending Southeastern Conference Champions. The Tigers hold their annual exhibition against LSU Alumni on Friday Jan. 30 in Alex Box Stadium.
“It’s great,” said second baseman Blake Gill, who hit .304 with five home runs and 54 RBIs in 2003. “I’m losing sleep already waiting for the season to start. It’s good to be back out here around all the guys again. You just get anxious. I lie in bed at night thinking of that first game and the season to start. The adrenaline starts pumping. I can’t wait for it to get here.”
Outfielder Jon Zeringue also is excited. He said it has been amusing to watch the new players on the team adjust to the life of an LSU baseball player.
“They don’t know what to expect,” said Zeringue, who hit .339 with 13 home runs and 45 RBIs. “Every day in the locker room before practice they’re like, ‘What do we got to do today? Do we have to run again today?'”
Gill said it’s important for the younger players to understand the importance of the preseason and its relevance to the team’s goals. He said the team’s goal should be to win the national championship and not just settle for an appearance in the College World Series.
“I think that might have been one of our problems last year,” he said. “Our goal was Omaha, not the national championship. We got there and realized losing the first two games wasn’t as cracked up as it’s supposed to be. I think there is a different attitude around here as opposed to last year.
“I think last year we went there and it was just exciting to see everything. Hearing all the stories and everything, it was just fun to get there. Once we get there this year, it’s going to be a different story. We’re here for a reason and that’s to win a national championship ring.”
And Gill said the frigid practices of January are where the road back to Omaha begins. The team seems to be getting the message.
“A lot of people went out and worked really hard and have come back looking in pretty good shape,” Zeringue said. “The team’s looking good. A lot of guys from last year are really stepping up into a leadership role, and that’s what we need to go all the way.”
Laval has been pleased with the show of leadership thus far, although it was no surprise to him.
“They showed me they can do that in the fall,” he said. “What’s nice here is we don’t have one guy [being a leader]. They all take the responsibility, and they all feel good about one another. They all feel they can talk to one another. And they should.”