Nicholls baseball prepares to open 2018 season at home

With a four-game series scheduled for this weekend, the Nicholls State University baseball team anticipates the opening weekend and the first games of its 2018 season.

The team will play Friday, Feb. 16, through Monday, Feb. 19, at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field against the Stony Brook University Seawolves.

After being ousted from Southland Conference tournament contention last May when they lost at the University of Central Arkansas, the Colonels were left with a 29-27 overall record (15-15 SLC) and a vengeance to qualify for the playoffs this season.

With the addition of nine new freshmen and seven transfers, the team is now comprised of a mix of new and veteran athletes from six different states, who all share the same desire to succeed this spring.

COLONEL CHEMISTRY
While the senior class is almost evenly matched in number with the freshman class, having a unique team chemistry and a variety of talents among teammates has provided a steady level of confidence going into the season, according to senior left-handed pitcher Alex Ernestine.

“I feel really good going into the season because we have a lot of veterans on the team that have been through the ups and downs and know what it takes to make it to the conference tournament and compete for a championship,” said Ernestine. “The team feels very confident; we are as prepared as it gets, and the chemistry we have as a whole is on another level right now.”

In a previous interview, Head Coach Seth Thibodeaux said fostering a mix of new and old athletes creates an environment for success.

“When you throw all these guys that have been here three, four, and even five years in with the guys that are new, they have no choice but to play the right way,” said Thibodeaux. “The key is that your senior class has to be able to show them the way
right away and set a standard.”

MIGHTY ON THE MOUND
Ernestine said some specific preparations that were made for this season included an emphasis on strength and conditioning, and working on different pitching techniques.

“Some things that we have been working on this off-season is getting stronger in the weight room and working on our secondary pitches. We’re really focusing on throwing more off-speed for strikes,” Ernestine said. “As a collective group, our staff is great and we have a bunch of guys who can compete and fight for Nicholls.”

The pitching staff mentioned will include Ernestine, as well as other major contributors form last year’s rotation such as junior Adam Tarver, redshirt sophomore Austin Bollinger, and senior Jarred Scott.

According to pitching coach Zach Butler, the adjustment of senior Cayden Hatcher and the addition of freshman Cycle Clayton to the back of the bullpen rotation will also be significant.

ALUMNI REFLECTION
Each spring before the start of the season, the Nicholls baseball program hosts its annual Alumni Game. This year, the game took place on Feb. 3, and one Colonel graduate from the class of 2017, Daniel Goff, reflected afterwards about his experience.

“Playing in the alumni game was an experience I’ll never forget,” said Goff. “You don’t realize how much you loved playing until you are back in that atmosphere and see everyone again.”

After looking back at his time as a pitcher on the baseball team, Goff expressed his hopes for the future of the program as it embarks on another new season.

“I am hoping this program becomes a program that wins consistently year after year, and not just winning anything, but winning championships,” said Goff.

Tune in to Cox Sports TV or support the Colonels at Ben Meyer Diamond at Ray E. Didier Field starting this Friday at 7:05 p.m. for the start of their first home series.