LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri has announced the starting pitching rotation for the Tigers’ opening series against Villanova on Feb. 20.LSU senior Louis Coleman will take the mound for LSU in its first game in the new Alex Box Stadium. “He’s pitched with the brightest lights,” Mainieri said. “He’s pitched in Omaha, and he’s been in front of 8,000 people many times, and I think he’ll have the most poise and not be distracted by all the pomp and circumstance.”LSU sophomores Anthony Ranaudo and Austin Ross will start the next two games of the weekend’s series.Mainieri said Ranaudo is going to move into the role as the usual Friday starter as the season progresses.”I like to think we have a pretty good lineup, and he has pretty much dominated our lineup,” Mainieri said.  Mainieri said Ross was on the bubble for a spot in the weekend rotation, but in a recent scrimmage, he was impressed with Ross’ pitches.Mainieri said he expected most of the Tigers’ pitching staff to play in the series against the Wildcats. Mainieri also addressed the status of sophomore outfielder Chad Jones.”Chad has played great,” Mainieri said. “He’s got to prove to me for one more week that he’s really reliable, and we can count on him, but so far he’s been a model citizen.”Jones’ teammates have also noticed a change.”It’s almost like he came out here, and he’s a changed player,” said junior outfielder Jared Mitchell. “He’s having fun. That’s the biggest part when you can come out here and relax and play.”Mainieri outlined a projected starting lineup for the Tigers on opening day. Sophomore outfielder Leon  Landry would lead off for the Tigers, followed by junior second baseman Ryan Schimpf and junior outfielder Blake Dean with sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs batting cleanup. Sophomore shortstop DJ LeMahieu, Mitchell and junior first baseman Sean Ochinko would be next. The eighth spot could be filled by Jones and senior outfielder Derek Helenihi would finish the lineup.Mainieri said LSU’s pitchers have “dominated” its hitters through the early work outs. “That’s a very comforting thing,” he said. “Because I know what these experienced position players can do. It encourages me.”Gibbs said the pitching staff is what will bring the team “over the top.”Later in the evening LSU honored the 2000 national championship team at the LSU Baseball First Pitch Banquet in the PMAC. Fans, former players, former coaches and alumni joined the 2009 LSU Tigers to honor the team that gave LSU its fifth national championship in 10 years.Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry also spoke at the event.——Contact Amos Morale at [email protected]