After the final out of the 2014 SEC Tournament, Kyle Bouman and Brady Domangue were celebrating the victory in a dogpile, wearing a jersey for a Division I program that neither ever expected to be.
Out of high school, Bouman signed at Wichita State and played there his freshman season, while Domangue had to redshirt his freshman season at Southeastern Louisiana after suffering an injury. Both left after their first seasons.
“No one goes to their first school expecting to go to two other schools after that,” Bouman said.
However, it was in the cards for both he and Domangue. Both ended up at junior colleges, waiting on an opportunity to prove they were capable of playing baseball in the SEC.
Bouman, a left-hander from Ferguson, Mo., was playing summer ball in the Northwoods League, waiting for a school to give him a chance after finishing his sophomore season at Jefferson County Community College, posting a 5-3 record with a 1.70 ERA.
A couple weeks after watching LSU play in the 2013 College World Series, Bouman never dreamed that he would be getting a call from LSU.
“When you get recruited from a school like LSU for baseball, it’s a no-brainer,” Bouman said. “You are going to take the offer.”
Bouman served as the No. 2 starter for LSU through the first weekend of SEC play his junior season but was sidelined for a couple of weeks after an ankle injury.
He earned his first SEC victory at Auburn in 2014 after pitching five innings, surrendering one run on four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
“Kyle has played a vital role on our staff for two seasons,” LSU pitching coach Alan Dunn said. “He brings experience and the ability to serve in different roles, starting pitcher and reliever. Kyle will be a valuable asset as we continue to make our run this season.”
Bouman is not only an asset on the mound, but he is a key component in the locker room. He’s always smiling and goofing around, brightening up the mood, according to Domangue.
“I remember my dad told me once your time with any sport is done, the biggest thing you are going to miss is the locker room,” Bouman said. “Those guys become your brothers. You work as hard as you can for the guys next to you, and we are all a family.”
Houma, La., native Brady Domangue experienced that this fall, waking up at 5:30 a.m. and pushing himself for the success of the team.
“My best time was this past fall from day one to that last day where we ran 35 levee runs and jumped in a pond when it was 35 degrees outside,” said Domangue. “That unity when you are exhausted, and you look on the side of you and your buddy’s tired, but you are feeding off of each other—that’s a connection and a bond that you will have for a lifetime, and that’s probably the biggest thing I will miss when my career is over with, the camaraderie with your teammates.”
Domangue came to LSU for his junior season after an All-American year, breaking the records at LSU-Eunice for strikeouts and ERA in 2013 after fanning 118 batters with a 1.34 ERA. He knew he had pressure to succeed at LSU after such a season.
“Whenever I came to LSU, I knew I had high expectations coming off of an All-American year. I came to LSU my junior year, and I was supposed to be the closer,” Domangue said. “I was supposed to be the guy.”
Domangue suffered a knee injury and was not able to come back to his full potential his junior season. He worked his way back during the fall of 2014, but two weeks before the 2015 season started, Domangue injured his back.
“The true character of a man gets tested whenever he faces adversity,” Domange said.
Unable to pitch, Domangue runs down to protect the bullpen when a pitcher is warming up because he says he is going to do whatever he can to help the team succeed.
“Brady has been such a leader on our pitching staff for two years. Unfortunately, due to health issues, he has missed much of his senior season,” said Dunn. “However, he has made a huge impact on our pitching staff and our team with his energy and passion in keeping our team chemistry at the forefront of this season.”
Domangue pitched on February 21 against Boston College, recording two outs in three pitches in his lone appearance this season.
“I was at least blessed to go out there one last time, so I got to end my LSU career on a positive note, if that is my last note,” said Domangue.