By Ryan Rogers
LSU Sports Information
(2/10/00)
Spring is near, and the dirt is being wreaked at Alex Box stadium. That can mean only one thing. LSU baseball is ready to roll into action for the 2000 season. LSU fans will once again get to endure the thrills that Skip Bertman and his Tigers have brought to Baton Rouge. The Tigers hope to bounce back from a sub-par season — by LSU standards — a year ago, and find themselves back in Omaha by season’s end.
One of the players on the Tigers roster whom is looking forward this season is senior catcher Brad Cresse. The bruising hitter has received numerous acclamations for his accomplishments while at LSU.
He was named all-American by Sporting News in 1998, All-Conference by National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association in 1998, national college baseball Player of the Week on two occasions 1998 and SEC player of the week in 1999 for this feats in the Auburn series in which he batted .500, with 6 RBIs and 2 Hrs.
Cresse had an injury-plagued junior season. Last year his fractured his hand, which kept his stats down from the previous year. That year he batted .323 while pounding 29 homers. The 29 homeruns led the SEC.
As a child Cresse grew up with the baseball world all around him. The California native was involved with Los Angeles Dodgers franchise. His father was the bullpen coach for the Dodgers, and Dodger great Tommy Lasorda is his Godfather.
“I use to always go to practice with my Dad,” explained Cresse. “It was incredible growing up. I was a batboy for team as a kid Making friends with big league ballplayers and taking batting practice with the team,” explained Cresse.
“It was just so much fun. When Mike Piazza (former Dodgers catcher) was 16 he stayed over at my parents house for a while. Hes been helping me out to grow with baseball ever since,” he said.
Cresse, along with the other seniors such as Blair Barbier, will be counted on by the Tigers to play leadership roles this season.
“We need to lead by example,” explained Cresse. “We need to show the younger guys what it takes to basically get the job done.”
After falling short last season, Cresse has made both individual and team goals for this season.
“I just want to play hard, hit the ball hard and hopeful that will translate into success,” explained Cresse.
As for as the team goals go he feels the sky is the limit.
“We want to win another national championship.”
Cresse has a lot of respect for the man who has orchestrated the LSU program to four national championships among many College World Series appearances.
“Coach Bertman is the best coach in the nation. Ive learned so much from him, and I will take what hes taught me to the next level hopefully, and any other endeavors I seek in life,” explained Cresse.
After four years in the program of the decade, Cresse looks back on his experience at LSU and knows that it has changed him in a way he will never forget.
“Baseball has changed my life. Coming out of high school I dont think I would have ended up in Louisiana. But LSU is the best place in the country to play baseball. Its just been unbelievable. I definitely made the right decision by coming here,” said Cresse.