by Chad Vignes
LSU Sports Information
Many LSU fans will remember senior Buzzy Haydel as the last Tiger to homer in the old Alex Box Stadium; a feat he accomplished as a pinch hitter in a 21-7 victory over UC-Irvine in the 2008 Baton Rouge Super Regional. But Haydel says that milestone isn’t representative of the mark he hopes to leave on the LSU program.
“Seeing guys like Blair Barbier and Brad Cresse and Jason Williams play, you think maybe one day you can do something special like they’ve done,” Haydel said. “But hopefully people remember me as a good guy and hard worker and hopefully I’m someone kids can look up to as a role model, not only on the field, but off the field.”
In his four years at LSU, Haydel has seen game action as a first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, designated hitter and pinch runner. While he normally serves as a utility player in situational roles, his main role on the team is anything but situational. His best role, he says, is serving as motivational speaker and mentor in the Tiger dugout.
“I try to be a vocal guy,” said Haydel. “We can’t have a dead dugout because you can’t play this game quiet or shy or scared. You have to be vocal and go out there and play the game with a little fire.”
“I like being that high-energy guy that sparks the team or gets the team going if we’re in a funk or keeps that positive energy in the dugout. Hopefully the guys filter towards that and feed off of it and have a good team because of it.”
His teammates appreciate the always-positive attitude Haydel brings to the team, namely junior first baseman and catcher Sean Ochinko, who’s been Haydel’s teammate for the past three seasons.
“Buzzy is always positive,” Ochinko said. “He’s a big part of the team, just the way he acts and the energy and enthusiasm he brings always keeps the guys loose. You can’t play the game tight and he’s a good icebreaker.”
Haydel’s experience in big-game situations, as well as in day-to-day player duties in his four years with the program makes him a great leader and mentor on the team, a role Haydel embraces wholeheartedly.
“I want the guys to feel like they can come talk to me whenever,” Haydel said. “As a senior, I’ve been here four years and have had my share of playing time so I want the guys to come to me with any questions they have about the game. I want them to know I’m a personable guy and I’ll treat them with respect.”
“He knows what the pressure is going to be like and he’s always able to loosen the guys up,” Ochinko said. “He gets serious when he has to, but he knows when to cut up and how to loosen the guys up. Last year in Omaha he did a good job of that and he’s what kept our nerves down and helped us with all the pressure.”
Last year during the Tigers’ trip to the College World Series, Haydel shot several short clips of the team’s experience in Omaha that were broadcast on www.lsusports.net. “The Buzz from Omaha” covered everything from team batting practices to community hospital visits. Haydel viewed the experience as another way to help the team.
“It was a great experience to get to do the ?Buzz from Omaha,’” Haydel said. “It was a cool deal to let loose and get away from the actual games and give the fans a good perspective of what we do away from the field.”
Haydel’s leadership and role on the team does not go unnoticed by head coach Paul Mainieri, who enjoys having Buzzy’s personality on the team.
“I see a lot of good leadership skills in Buzzy,” Mainieri said. “He’s certainly one of those guys who’s not shy about sharing his thoughts on the game with other players and I mean that in a very positive way. He’s been a real joy to have in the program.”
Mainieri also said Haydel has the ability to perform well in any role he’s asked to be in and there’s another role that Haydel could also flourish in.
“I think he’d make a heck of a coach someday,” Mainieri said. “He understands the game and he’s a very smart player. Sometimes someone will make a mistake and I’ll make my way down the dugout to make the correction and I see Buzzy already making the correction with the player. I appreciate that and enjoy that when he does it.”
Whether it be as a utility player on the field, vocal leader in the dugout or friend to a teammate, Haydel has always put the LSU program in front of his personal goals of stardom and playing time. Growing up in nearby Gonzales, La. as a Tiger fan, Haydel said just to be a part of LSU baseball has been a dream come true.
“I always watched LSU growing up,” Haydel said. “For me, just being able to come here and play and be a contributor here and there has been an awesome experience and everything I’d imagined. I’m really excited that I can be a part of this team.”
“You can hit .330 or hit 20 homers or whatever and I’d give anything to do that,” Haydel said. “But I want people to say ?he went out there and gave it his all for this program, for LSU baseball.’”
So while his home run in the Super Regional is memorable and his attitude is admirable, there’s something deeper Buzzy Haydel wants attached to his memory.
“I want people to remember me, not as a pretty good ball player, but as a good person. I know you hear that all the time, but it’s true. I want people just to know I was a good person and would do anything for anybody.”