Five national titles and consistent success nationally in the Southeastern Conference does have its perks, especially when you can recruit players from any area of the country.
Freshmen players like Lance Zawadzki, a middle infielder from St. John’s High School in Ashland, Mass. are expected to contribute to the Tigers this season.
“The program, coach Smoke [Laval], [hitting] coach Turtle [Thomas], and their knowledge of the game and what they do with the players [are the reasons why I came],” Zawadzki said. “Just the whole atmosphere of sports. Football in the fall, baseball in the spring.”
A 48th round pick of the Montreal Expos, Zawadzki went into his senior season as Baseball America’s 41st ranked high school baseball prospect.
Zawadzki joins another promising true freshman infielder, Alexandria High School’s Jordan Mayer.
Mayer was named to the All-State team in his junior year in 2002 after hitting .491 with six homers and 23 RBIs. He also starred on the mound with a 7-2 record and 1.43 ERA.
Laval said both will leave their mark at LSU before their careers are over.
“They’ll definitely be able to play here,” Laval said. “All they have to do, like most freshmen, is just make the adjustment. The game’s much faster … the speed of the game. The guys are much bigger and stronger. They’ll constantly see guys throwing in the upper 80’s.”
Laval said Mayer, a 49th round draft pick of the Cincinnati Reds, will probably be just a hitter, although there has been thoughts about giving him a chance on the mound. More than likely, Mayer will help the team in the first base and designated hitter spot.
“I’m going between pitching and first [base] right now,” Mayer said. “I’m not sure exactly where they’re looking at me right now. It doesn’t matter to me where they put me.
“My hitting’s been coming around a lot lately. I struggled a little bit at the beginning [of Fall practice]. I’m starting to show more power than I have [before], hopefully it will keep getting better and better as I go along.”
Zawadzki has been working at second base, shortstop and third base. He said he brings power from both sides of the plate and has a solid arm.
“I felt like I’ve done pretty well,” said Zawadzki of fall practice so far. “It’s been fun, I just need to keep my focus. Overall, I think I’ve done all right. I could have done better in some games and did well in some games.”
Laval said both have done good things so far in fall practice.
“They’re doing a great job,” Laval said. “For instance, Jordan had a homer early and [Sunday] it’s three doubles against some pretty good pitching. Lance we’ve moved from short to second and bounce him back and forth.
“They’re moving along probably better than expected. They’re quality athletes and drafted kids, so obviously they can do some [things]. It would be like Aaron Hill leaving from here to pro ball. The adjustment to the game getting a little faster.”
The only other positional true freshman is outfielder Steven Broschofsky from Jesuit High School and Metairie, La.
On the mound, Laval mentions four true freshmen who have great potential in Michael Bonura from St. Charles Catholic High School and Destrehan, La., Kody Bumpous from Olive Branch, Miss., Will Goodwin of Episcopal High School in Houston and Kyle Perry of Ball High School in Galveston, Texas.
Perry was a 28th round selection of the Atlanta Braves this past year.
Other true freshmen hurlers include Roland Rodriguez from Southridge High School and Miami, Fla. and left-hander Matt Greenwich from Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge, La.
“You’ve got to let them make their mistakes,” Laval said of the freshmen pitchers. “Their arms really work. The only difference is in high school you can hurry up and get two strikes, nibble around and then bury them with a mediocre pitch.
“Here, two strikes just means that you’re two-thirds of the way there and if you make a mistake, even with two strikes, because [the hitters] are bigger, stronger and faster, they can double. That’s what they have to learn. Subconsciously they go ‘boy, I’ve got him where I want, I’ll deliver it.’ Wham-O! Because they miss over the plate.”