Talent leads the Bengal catchers, infield

There is a tradition of excellent catchers to play for the LSU Eunice Bengal baseball team.
Last season LSU transfer Evan Powell (.224 BA, 31 RBI) was on the Bengal team that finished as national runners-up and performed well behind the plate.
Stuart Turner helped led the Bengals to the 2012 NJCAA national championship and was named the Easton Defensive Player of the Year, a Rawlings Gold Glove winner and an Academic All-America selection.
Jacob Fisher was the starting catcher for 2010 NJCAA national championship team, was named Easton NJCAA Division II Defensive Player of the Year and received the Rawlings Gold Glove Award.
With Jordan Romero (Catholic-Baton Rouge), the Class 5-A Player of the Year, rehabbing from surgery - that opens the door for a former high school catcher to prove he can add his name to the Bengal catcher legacy.
“Jordan was the best catcher in the state last year on the 5-A state championship team,” the coach said. “He would have been our number one catcher without a doubt.”
Sophomore Stefan Trosclair, from Sulphur, (.358 BA, 58 RBI, 32BB in 2013) caught in high school and freshman Mason Nickens (Dutchtown) caught his sophomore year in high school.
“I have confidence in the guys we have back there, but there are some question marks because they haven’t caught in multiple years,” Willis said. “We are going to have to live with some growing pains early on.”
Willis said he is concerned with moving his top returning hitter behind the plate and how that could affect his hitting.
“Stefan can hold his own with any catchers we have ever had and that is saying a lot,” Willis said. “But do we want to take our best hitter, put him back there and he gets the wear and tear on him early in the year and he can’t keep his legs under him.”
Willis said they will have to decide which way to go before Jordan will return from labrum surgery after a collision at the plate in a fall game.
The coach said they are going need help as a bullpen catcher and possibly taking a red shirt off a player to fill that role.
“We have never gone into spring with a bigger question mark behind than we where we are right now behind the dish,” the coach said. “There is no question of their ability, it is the transition to a new position.”
While the catcher position may be in flux, the Bengal infield seems to be solid heading into Friday’s season opener against North Lake.
Sophomore from Flower Mound, Kyle St. Pierre (.342 BA), is set to play at first base, while sophomore Ray Veit from Archbishop Rummel (.258 BA) offers skills at second base.
“Kyle was our best defensive first baseman last year in the line-up some,” the coach said. “He came back from the summer determined to play every day and he had one of the best falls of any of our players.”
Trosclair could play first base where he played last year, second base or third base when not behind the plate.
“He will hit in the three hole for us so he has to play somewhere,” the coach said.
Veit played third base last season and is expected to perform well at second base.
“He has all the skills and all the potential to be a really good player for us,” Willis said.
Freshman Brennan Bozeman (Parkview Baptist) has performed well at shortstop, according to the coach.
“Garrett Deschamp had a tremendous career at shortstop and Brennan is from the same high school,” Willis said. “We have been impressed with him the whole fall.
Bozeman was the Class 3-A MVP in leading Parkview to the football state champoinship.
“He has a football player’s mentality and has leadership skills,” the coach continued.
Willis said others like freshmen Gabe Roberts (Iowa) and Ben Chauvin (Family Christian Academy), Juan Pablo Soriano (Puerto Rico), Sam Walley (Taylorsville, Miss) along with sophomore Trey Caswell (St. Edmund) can contribute in the infield.
“Trey had a very good fall and he has been voted a team captain,” Willis said. “He will be a utility guy for us as he can play all over the place.
“I am very confident in infield and their ability to field the ball,” Willis said. “That will help our pitching staff as they get on the mound and know there are guys behind them that will play defense.”