After finishing last in the Southland Conference and only winning 13 out of 53 games in 2006, the Colonels baseball team looks to make improvements to be more competitive in the upcoming season. As coach Chip Durham enters his second season as head coach, he said he has high expectations of his team.
He said the team is made up of players who have diligence and a high level of motivation to win games.
“This team will never let up, and we are going to play hard in every game this season, ” Durham said.
The Colonels will face many opponents as underdogs this season. The team will go on the road to take on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the University of Louisiana at Monroe, Louisiana State University, Tulane University and the University of Southern Mississippi.
The team’s toughest competition will come when they travel to Stillwater, Ok. to play in a three game series against Big-12 powerhouse Oklahoma State University who was ranked second in the Big-12 pre-season poll.
Durham said the team has a difficult schedule but will enter the road games with confidence and a positive attitude.
“I will put our schedule up against anyone in the country,” Durham said. “Our schedule is tough, and we need to work hard to be prepared for these teams.”
Leading the pitching staff for the Colonels is the experienced junior left-hander Justin Breaux. In 2006, Breaux played in 73.2 innings and led the pitching staff with a 4.89 ERA and 45 strikeouts.
Two other players returning to the mound are seniors Michael Bartek and Brian Sparks.
Incoming junior catchers T.J. Menerey and Zac Bone make their debut behind the plate for the Colonels.
The Colonels infield is also filled with newcomers.
Brett Hoeflich, a junior transfer from Southern Miss, is the probable starter at the first base position. Juniors Patrick Thompson and Brandt Boudreaux will also see action on first base this year.
The second base position appears to be solid for the Colonels. Senior Quinton Corley and freshman Keith Kulbeth battled it out for the position this fall. Corley is the presumed starter because has more experience at the position. The senior played in 31 of 53 games for the Colonels last year.
Newcomer Ryan Bledsoe will be starting at shortstop for the Colonels this season. As a sophomore at Florrissant Valley Community College, Bledsoe hit .391 and had eight homeruns, 42 RBI, 40 runs and 25 stolen bases.
Sophomore Whitney Dawes and junior Anthony Wray will share the third base position.
Senior Thomas Bourne adds some much needed experience to the outfield. Bourne finished the 2006 season hitting .245 with 38 hits, six doubles, two triples, 18 RBI and 16 runs. Junior transfers Walter Jones and Shane Barksdale will fill the other outfield positions.
Despite being picked last in the 2007 pre-season poll, Durham said he and his club remain dedicated to working hard and finishing the season with a bid to the conference tournament.
“My goal is to turn this club around and restore the program back to where it used to be in the 80s and 90s,” Durham said.
The Colonels have not been to the Southland Conference Tournament since 2000. The team will open the season when they face ULL Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m in Lafayette.
