Cajuns looking to leave The Tigue in style
Some, like senior second baseman Brenn Conrad, know this weekend seems bound to be their last playing baseball for the Ragin’ Cajuns on M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.
Others, like draft-worthy junior pitcher Gunner Leger, realize it could be the same for them too.
With the clock ticking, in fact, Leger took extra time before his start and win last Friday night against Georgia Southern to soak it all in.
He could very well do the same before, and maybe even after, pitching Friday night against Texas State in UL’s final three-game Sun Belt Conference home series of the 2017 season.
“I was actually walking around the bullpen before the game (last week), and while I was stretching I walked out to center and just looked,” said Leger, a bona fide pro prospect who – depending on just how high he is selected in next month’s Major League Baseball Draft – could skip his senior season to chase the dream.
Conrad is one of nine outgoing seniors on the Cajun roster who’ll be recognized before Saturday night’s game, a list that also includes starting first baseman Alex Pinero, starting shortstop Brad Antchak, fifth-year senior and starting third baseman Joe Robbins and injured starting centerfielder Ishmael Edwards.
UL also has four senior pitchers, all relievers: Jevin Huval, Chris Charpentier, Trent Cormier and injured Colton Lee.
With coach Tony Robichaux’s 30-19-1 Cajuns fighting to claim a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance, but not currently in line to host a Regional based on their current No. 49 RPI, the thought of playing at The Tigue for a final few games hits Conrad particularly hard.
“It’s going to be a very emotional weekend,” the Lafayette High product said after a 4-1 non-conference win over McNeese State that followed Tuesday night’s 3-1 non-conference win over Louisiana Tech.
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“Last home series, last games at UL playing in front of these awesome fans. I’m kind of getting choked up right now, just even thinking about it.”
For Leger, the sentimental side prompts him to ponder all that’s happened since he arrived at UL from Barbe High in Lake Charles.
A Regional in Houston and a Super Regional at Baton Rouge in 2015, when he Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors. A Regional hosted by UL in 2016. Back-to-back Sun Belt Tournament titles in 2015 and ’16. At least 30 wins, and a chance for 40-plus, all three seasons. And who-knows-what-else in 2017.
And that’s not to mention major renovation and expansion of UL’s home stadium.
“It’s just crazy how this (The Tigue) has changed, and how much I’ve changed, how much he (Robichaux) has changed me,” Leger said.
Along with fellow pitchers Wyatt Marks, Colten Schmidt and Evan Guillory and right fielder/designated hitter Steven Sensley, the lefty is one five Cajun juniors who’ve been getting particular attention from scouts this season and who could perhaps leave UL early.
Leger isn’t totally certain what his future holds, but there’s no denying the possibility that for him turning pro indeed could happen sooner rather than later.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said, “but it’s been fun.”
For now, though, UL’s ace is serious about trying to not think about what’s down the road.
But doing so isn’t easy.
“My thing is I can only control it so much,” said Leger, who is 9-2 with a 1.47 ERA this season.
“I mean, my play can control it to a certain point. But I’m not making the decision where (in which round) I go, or any of that,” he added. “My job is to play and give the team a chance to win, so that’s what I try to do.”
Whatever does happen, Robichaux can’t say enough about how Leger has done just that over the last three seasons.
“You can see what Gunner means to us on Friday night,” the Cajun coach said.
“He gives you every opportunity to win, and he basically gives you two games to win one the rest of the weekend to try to win the series.”
Because taking this series in particular is so critical to UL’s postseason chances, the Cajuns – even with Leger on the mound Friday night, Schmidt starting Saturday night and sophomore Hogan Harris starting Sunday – can’t afford to let surrounding circumstances get in the way of the task at hand.
“We’ve just got to stay focused,” Conrad said. “Of course it’s gonna be emotional, but you’ve got to win a ballgame – three of them.”
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RAGIN’ CAJUNS BASEBALL
WHO: UL (30-19-1, 14-9-1 Sun Belt) at Texas State (24-25, 10-14)
WHERE: Bobcat Ballpark; San Marcos, Texas
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
RADIO: KPEL 96.5 FM with Jay Walker and Jeff Schneider
TV: None
UL PITCHERS
Friday night: LHP Gunner Leger (9-2, 1.47 ERA)
Saturday night: LHP Colten Schmidt (1-1, 3.21)
Sunday: LHP Hogan Harris (3-2, 2.62)
ABOUT THE OPPONENT: Texas State has lost 10 of its last 12, including 2-of-3 against Georgia Southern last weekend. … The Bobcats are 6-13 on the road this season. … Leading hitters: Jonathan Ortega (.337), Theodore Hoffman (.335, 13 homers, 44 RBI), Luke Sherley (.324)
ABOUT THE CAJUNS: UL has won two straight and 3-of-5, including back-to-back non-conference wins over Louisiana Tech and McNeese State. … Leading hitter: Steven Sensley (.324, nine homers, 38 RBI)