Jan. 29, 2010
RUSTON--Following an exciting late season run that resulted in a second place finish in the WAC, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will look to carry that momentum into the 2010 campaign as the team officially begins practice this weekend.
Although Tech lost a chunk of the team's offensive contributors from a year ago due to graduation, the Bulldogs are hoping to avoid a rebuilding season and instead just reload. Tech returns a number of young and talented contributors from last year as well as a core of experienced seniors which includes All-American outfielder Devon Dageford.
In his first season as a Bulldog Dageford earned first team All-WAC, first team all-state and second team All-American honors. He also set a new single season home run record for the Bulldogs with 23.
"We have a good mix of experience and young talent on this year's team," said Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux. "With that combination in place, the team and the coaching staff are excited and we have a good feeling about our chances in the WAC."
The 2010 slate features 26 home games, highlighted by a three game series with 2009 College World Series participant Southern Mississippi on March 19-21. The Bulldogs will also host four-game series with WAC foes San Jose State, Hawaii and Sacramento State.
Tech will open the home schedule on Feb. 19 against Alcorn State. Also making the trip to Ruston this year will be in-state foe McNeese State, Texas-Wesleyan and Central Arkansas.
"I think this has been our best fall as far as pitching in my eight years at Tech," Simoneaux said. "Throughout our Fall World Series they held a good hitting line-up down and we are really looking forward to seeing the progress of our pitchers because of the fall that they had. Once we combine the two lineups that we had in the Fall World Series we should be a pretty exciting team offensively as well."
Pitchers
The Bulldogs return a plethora of pitchers from last year's staff with the lone loss being starter Dylan Moseley due to graduation. Returning as the likely starting rotation will be senior Jamey Bradshaw and two talented sophomores in Mike Jefferson and Jeb Stefan. Bradshaw gives a young pitching staff leadership and experience that will come in handy in leading two young fellow starters. As a redshirt freshman last season, Jefferson appeared in a team-high 25 games, including three starts while limiting opponents to a league-low .223 batting average during WAC play. The Cincinnati, Ohio native had an outstanding summer in 2009 as he was named the number three overall prospect in the Great Lakes Summer League. Stefan recorded a 4-5 record last season while recording a team-high 66 strikeouts as a true freshman. The Lafayette native totaled double-digit strikeouts twice last season with 10 vs. Fresno State and a career high 12 against Hawaii. Simoneaux will take his pick between true freshman Trevor Petersen, junior Casey Jones or Mike LeBreton as a fourth starter when needed. Petersen was selected in the 23rd round (709th overall) of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Relievers
What was once an inexperienced bullpen that was forced to grow up fast last year is now seasoned and full of options. Tech returns all of their relievers from 2009 and has also added some new faces through recruiting. Top candidates for the middle reliever position will be true freshman Caleb Dudley, out of Texas High School, McLennan Community College transfer Josh Barrett, sophomore pitcher/ outfielder Kyle Roliard and Lebreton. Roliard registered a 4-0 record in 17 appearances for the Bulldogs last year, while LeBreton made seven appearances out of the bullpen as sophomore in 2009.
Simoneaux believes he has three players who are not locked into the role, but could possibly come in and be the team's closer. Senior John Anderson led the team in saves last year. Anderson began the season as a starter before being moved to a reliever role in order to add experience and leadership to a very young bullpen.
The Shreveport native was solid for the Bulldogs going 7-3 in 19 appearances while ranking second on the team with 50 strikeouts. Joining Anderson as possible closers are Graham Meyers and Benn Fairbanks. Meyers was second on the team in appearances with 22, totaling a 1-2 record and a 5.19 ERA, while Fairbanks' freshman season was cut short due to an injury last year. Cody Watts and Jamelle Clements will also see time as relievers in 2010.
Catchers
Starting behind the plate for Tech will be junior Clint Ewing. Ewing started 29 games at catcher for the Bulldogs while seeing action in 36. The former Captain Shreve High School standout batted .288 last season with eight homeruns and 29 RBI. Even after a strong 2009 season, Simoneaux says Ewing is one of the most improved players on the team and is hungry for a big 2010 season.
In 36 games played Ewing committed only one error for a .995 fielding percentage. Backing up Ewing will be senior Drew Thomas, who received a redshirt last season due to injury. In 2008 Thomas appeared in 24 games and started 13, all at the catcher position. Frank Phillips Junior College transfer Larry Broussard will add depth behind the plate for the Bulldogs.
Corner Infielders
Returning as corner infielders for LA Tech will be two young talented players on the rise in sophomores Alex Williams at first and Mark Threlkeld at third base. The two youngsters finished the 2009 season as the starters at their positions as true freshmen. Williams started all but one game for Tech as he recorded a .265 average with seven homeruns and 30 RBI. Williams was no slouch in the field either as he ended the year with a .980 fielding percentage.
Two other Bulldogs that will see time at first base while also vying for designated hitting duties will be true freshman Philip Menou and senior Jonathan Mire. Menou is a 6'6, lanky first baseman who earned 4A first team All-Louisiana as a senior in high school last year. Mire is a utility player who will play wherever the coaches ask him to. In 27 games last year he recorded eight RBI and one homerun.
Threlkeld started 27 games at the hot corner for the Bulldogs while seeing action in 40. The Sterlington High School product batted an impressive .307 last year, launching five homeruns and knocking in 21 runs. Behind Threlkeld will likely be Sam Houston State transfer, Will Alvis. The Jasper, Texas native was part of two Southland Conference Championship teams while at SHSU before transferring to LA Tech and sitting out last season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Middle Infielders
Tech loses the majority of its offense from the middle infielders who departed from last year's team. Gone now are third basemen/ shortstop Chris Kersten, shortstop/ centerfielder Nick Grunenwald and second baseman Kevin Winn.
These three combined last year to hit 30 homeruns and 152 RBI. Likely starter at shortstop for 2010 will be sophomore Ashton Hughes. Hughes, who was used mainly for his glove last season, saw action in 32 games for Tech while starting 15. This year the former Neville High star will be asked to perform more at the plate as he had his moments with the stick last year totaling three home runs and six RBI. Backing up Hughes at short will be true freshman Taylor Terrasas. The Santa Fe, Texas native has tons of potential and was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 33rd round (995th overall) of the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft this past summer. Terrasas will also be vying for time at second base.
According to Simoneaux there will be a four player battle at second base with junior utility man Joey Ford being the front-runner. Also battling for the starting role will be redshirt freshmen Dan Breazeale and Austin Hedges as well as Terrasas. Ford can play anywhere on the field as he is also competing for a possible starting role in left field. The junior appeared in 14 games last year before his season ended early due to injury.
Outfield
The outfield will arguably be the strength of this year's team as the Bulldogs return all starters and backups from 2009 including first team All-WAC, 2009 second team All-American honoree and preseason first team All-American selection Devon Dageford. As the team's right fielder last season, Dageford was the team's triple crown winner and set the new Tech single season homerun record with 23.
In addition to his 23 homeruns he also added a team-high 68 RBI and a .385 average. Due to the loss of offense from last season's infield due to graduation, Dageford will be relied on heavily to produce at the plate again in 2010.
Returning in center field will be redshirt sophomore Justin Gordey and speedy senior Clint Stubbs. Gordey appeared in 20 games in a reserve role last year as a redshirt freshman. Simoneaux believes Gordey is the team's most improved player from last year after a solid summer which saw the former Airline high school standout earn first team All-Jayhawk League and National Baseball Congress World Series All American Team. In 38 games last year Stubbs recorded a .304 batting average and was second on the team in stolen bases with 15.
Three Bulldogs will be competing for time in left field in 2010. Roliard, Clay Alexander and Ford all saw time in left field last year and will be hungry to earn the starting spot this season. Roliard will likely be the opening day starter after putting up solid numbers as a freshman in 2009. The Spring, Texas native appeared in 27 games for Tech while starting seven, and totaled an impressive .429 average in 49 appearances at the plate. The only senior of the three, Alexander, is a homegrown product out of Cedar Creek High School in Ruston with good power who saw action in 20 games last season. Alexander will also be up for the DH role in the lineup. Before being injured, Ford was frequently used as a defensive replacement in left in 2009 while totaling a .250 batting average in 12 plate appearances.
Coach's Take
With a daunting schedule and a young squad, Simoneaux believes it will come down to pitching on whether or not this year's team will be successful.
"It all starts with Pitching," Simoneaux said. "If everyone stays healthy and some young guys progress as expected it could be the strength of our team. Offensively, we feel that our lineup will be balanced throughout with speed, power and toughness."
"This is one of the most challenging schedules we've had since I've been here," Simoneaux said. "We have tough road trips to the Metrodome in Minnesota and to Albuquerque against New Mexico on our schedule as well as three World Series teams from last year (Arkansas, Southern Miss. and Texas). Not to mention two games on the road vs. a good Baylor team. So we have our work cut out for us and this young team is very excited about the challenge."
