Baseball returns to action in October

The Nicholls State University baseball team gets back to the diamond this October as they face the University of Louisiana at Monroe Warhawks at home on Oct. 13 and travel to take on the University of Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles on Oct. 28.

For the first time, the NCAA has allowed college baseball teams to play two fall games.

Head coach Seth Thibodeaux said the October games prepare the team for February.

“It gives us a chance to play at home and play a game on the road, which is big because if you are waiting to February to do that, that is different,” Thibodeaux said. “We get to prepare on the road, probably, and get to prepare at home, probably. It’s perfect timing. We have one [game] early, and we have one a little bit later, so we get to see progression in our game.”

Thibodeaux said the fall allows the team to figure out its player depth.

“[In the fall we are] solidifying our plan, working to see who can help us. Solidifying roles for our players, only 9 guys are playing, and we have 35, so understanding that some guys are starters on the mount, some guys relievers. [All] the guys [need] to buy into that plan. We are trying not to look too far ahead, but there has to be progression in our fall schedule,” Thibodeaux said.

Sophomore pitcher Brandon Andrews said that fall is a time where the team can work on the game’s fundamentals.

“Fall is more lenient,” Andrews said. “You’re able to try different things; like from a pitcher standpoint, I can try different ways how to grip the ball. I can try different ways to spin a curveball. Just different things, little things here and there.”

Andrews said the team focuses on execution as well.

“[The main focus in the fall] is to just be able to pay attention to detail, and what I mean by that is basically you just don’t mess up,” Andrews said. “We are given a practice schedule every single day, we follow that and, basically, you don’t mess up. You don’t really have time for errors. Also, it’s just being there for your teammates and making sure they get better.”

Andrews said the Colonels have high expectations for the upcoming 2019 season.

“For the spring, I think we look really, really good. Our coaches are excited about this season. I am feeling my teammates are going to do really well.; we have a really good team chemistry,” Andrews said.

The Colonels will attempt to return to the postseason after making the tournament as the seventh seed in 2018.