Bengals begin season with home series

Some years, the freshmen have a chance to sit back and learn how the college game is played.
That may not be the case for LSU Eunice as Bengals open the season at 6 p.m. Friday night against North Lake College.
“We knew we had a lot of guys back who played big roles last year but we will need our freshmen to step up because we don’t have a sophomore at every position,” Bengal head baseball coach Jeff Willis said.
“The freshmen had a learning curve and some growing pains during the first part of the fall season but now you can’t really tell who is a freshman and who is a sophomore.”
“Nick Coomes (Catholic-Baton Rouge) will provide quality depth at catcher,” Willis said. “Jordan Romero (Catholic-Baton Rouge) is coming off knee surgery so he won’t catch every game.”
Willis said Coomes can also play third base and Romero could see time at first base as neither is locked into playing just one position.
“Jordan hit in our four-hole last year and Nick has the ability to hit right there too,” Willis added. “Both of those guys are going to play huge roles in our success.”
Joe Trahan (Northside Christian) transferred at mid-term from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
“He is able to hit with power and can play both first and third base,” the coach said. “He is a great addition and we are trying to see how he fits into the puzzle.”
Outfielder Zach LaFleur (Teurlings Catholic) is the fastest runner on the team according to Willis and will be a great base-stealing threat.
“If he can just get to first base, he will turn that into a triple,” the coach said. “He has to factor in some way.”
Infielder Mark Fontenot (Oberlin) red-shirted last season and will factor in as a deginated hitter after a strong fall season.
Turner Francis (Minden High School) had a good fall hitting and can also help the team.
Former Eunice High star Trenon Trosclair transferred from Southeastern Louisiana after giving up football and was selected as one of the team captains.
The other captains are sophomores Sam Walley, Ben Braymer, Brennan Bozeman, Madison Nickens and Trey Caswell.
“There will be a lot of competition early but we need to get our line-up set,” Willis said. ‘Any of the freshmen could be important because even if they are a back-up they are an injury away from being the everyday guy.”
Right-handed pitchers Clay Moffitt (Catholic High-Baton Rouge), Landon Presnall (Davidson - Mobile), Evan Richardson (Dutchtown) will also contribute heavily this season.
Other freshmen on the team this season are infielder Janson Bourque (Teurlings Catholic) along with pitchers Travis Cliburn (RHP- Zachary), Evan Kissinger (LHP- Parkview Baptist), Erin Baldwin (RHP - Barbe), Jacob Barton (RHP - Caldwell Parish), Wesley Fontenot (RHP - Sacred Heart) and Nick Duthu (LHP - Berwick).
“This group is a team,” Willis said. “Both the sophomores and freshmen have the mind-set that the team comes first.”