By Joey Papania
LSUsports.net
The LSU Tiger baseball program was voted the Team of the ’90s. This year brings a new decade and a new Tiger team with the same ultimate goal, a trip to Omaha and another National Championship.
The Tiger baseball team said good-bye to three prominent pitchers from last year’s squad, ace Kurt Ainsworth, Brandon Bowe, and Bryan Grace. Collectively, they posted a record of 27-12 and accounted for almost half of the staff’s innings pitched. A major factor for the success of the 2000 Tigers will be the growth, both mentally and physically, of the returning pitching staff.
LSU assistant coach and pitching coach Dan Canevari feels the biggest surprise coming into the start of the season was the number of players who have progressed and are able to be in the mix to pitch. Junior Brian Tallet has emerged in the early part of the season as the Friday starter.
“Tallet improved in two areas from last year. First, he smoothed out his motion, so he’s around the plate more with all his pitches,” said Canevari. “Secondly, he’s improved his change-up tremendously which gives him a third pitch, so he has another option besides the fastball or curveball. Plus, he’s grown up a lot. Maturity is a big thing.”
Tallet registered his first career complete game in the opener against Virginia. The 6-7 southpaw allowed only three hits and held UVA scoreless. Tallet appeared in 19 games last season posting a record of 3-4 and a 5.01 ERA in 59.1 innings of work. In SEC play, Tallet’s ERA dropped to 4.50 in nine appearances.
The Tigers will also look to freshman Bo Pettit as a possible weekend starter. Pettit saw action in three early games in 1999, but was then red-shirted for the remainder of the season. He got the first start of his collegiate career in the second game Saturday against UVA. The right-hander was outstanding allowing only two hits in six innings of shut-out work. Pettit has been labeled a strikeout type pitcher. He showed tremendous command of his fastball and curveball against Virginia and has been a pleasant surprise to the Tiger coaching staff.
Also vying for a start in the weekend rotation is sophomore Billy Brian. After red-shirting his true freshman season in 1998, the 6-5 right-hander saw limited but productive action last year. Brian appeared in six games in 1999, posting no decisions and a 0.96 ERA in 9.1 innings of work. In the 1999 fall intra-squad games, Brian registered a team-high 25 strikeouts and 14 walks.
Providing the experience to this year’s pitching staff will be senior Hunter Gomez and junior Tim Nugent.
“Nugent and Gomez have been in the fire before, you pretty much know what you’re going to get from them,” explained Canevari. “Nugent has improved his control and his motion a little, so we expect him to throw more strikes. He gives you that lefty and Gomez of course gives you the righty. He can throw the curveball and the change-up for a strike, and he can move his fastball around the strikezone.”
Gomez returns as the Tiger’s top reliever from a year ago where he made a team-high 31 appearances. He recorded a 4-3 mark with a 4.38 ERA, seven saves, and his 90 strikeouts were second on the team. In the SEC, Gomez led the Tiger staff with a 3.86 ERA and registered five saves.
Nugent is in his third season as a Tiger. As a true freshman, the southpaw saw action in 11 games, five of those as a starter. He posted a 3-0 record and a 2.87 ERA in 31.1 innings of work. Last year, Nugent was moved strictly to a relief role. His 29 appearances in 1999 were second on the team behind Gomez.
The Tigers also hope to see production from senior Trey Hodges. A talented prospect, Hodges struggled last season after being projected as a possible weekend starter. The right-hander had off-season surgery to remove bone spurs from his throwing shoulder.
“Trey had an unbelievable batting average against last year. It was just a bizarre year for him,” Canevari explained. “And then we found out he had the injury. He’s really not 100 percent, so we want to bring him along slowly. We don’t want to put him out there if he’s not 100 percent.”
Coach Canevari also has a number of pitchers with little or no experience. As the season progresses, these talented prospects will be given the opportunity to develop in game situations with the possibility of competing for a spot in the regular rotation.
“We have some guys that don’t have a lot of experience, like Shane Youman, Jeremy Loftice, and possibly Sam Tully. Loftice doesn’t have allot of experience but he has some,” Canevari said. “Hopefully we can also work Guidry in as a closer and see what he can do. Plus we have two JUCO transfers, Heath McMurray and Jason Scobie.”
The road to Omaha is never an easy one, but it is a road all too familiar for the LSU Tiger baseball program. The Tiger’s are off to a great start. But the journey for their fifth National Title has only just begun.