While some LSU students went home for the semester break for rest and relaxation, LSU baseball players were expected to continue working on their strength and baseball skills.
“Working out during the break, between finals and when the first practice starts is very important for the players,” LSU assistant baseball coach Brady Wiederhold said. “You don’t want to lose what you gained throughout the fall. It is very easy to do if you sit around and don’t do anything for three or four weeks.”
The players returned to Baton Rouge and began individual workouts a week before the rest of the student body was scheduled to return to class.
They began with the two-mile drill in which players are expected to run two miles within 14 minutes. LSU head coach Smoke Laval was not satisfied with the players’ results, and he expects conditioning to push back his regular practice schedule four to six days.
“That was a little bit disappointing,” Laval said. “We are physically not ready to play the game.”
Despite Laval’s disappointment in some of the players’ failure to return from the break in playing condition, junior transfer pitcher Brandon Nall was encouraged by what he saw from the team.
“We looked good today,” Nall said. ” I feel really good about our pitching staff and our hitting too.”
With the death of team captain Wally Pontiff and the departure of the entire outfield from last year’s team, the baseball team is left with a void in leadership. This is a big concern for Laval. He feels the team possesses enough talent to answer the call when it comes to hitting, pitching and fielding. For Laval, the big unknown is whether the players have the ability to handle distractions, high expectations and difficult situations.
“We are looking for that big brother-type leadership,” Laval said. “That’s the big concern right now. I think Aaron Hill, J.C. Holt, Blake Gill along with the pitching staff, which are veterans, they can lead.”
The pitching staff returns veteran starters Bo Pettit, Brian Wilson, Jake Tompkins and the injured Lane Mestepey. Mestepey underwent surgery to repair looseness in his shoulder. Mestepey’s injury was a big setback for the Tigers, but the Tigers do possess depth at the position.
“Whenever you lose a two-time All-American, it’s definitely going to be a big chore to overcome that,” Wiederhold said. “But pitching wise we are deeper than on the offensive side.”
Mestepey could return this season and according to the coaching staff he is nearly two weeks ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation. The coaches say not to count him out because his trademark is his competitive spirit. The players also believe Mestepey will contribute to this year’s team.
“If he does make it back, it will be a very quick recovery,” Nall said. “I feel like he will make an impact somehow pitching.”