by Jesse Delerno
LSU Sports Information
The aura of LSU baseball has convinced a number of athletes over the years to make the long trek from California to Baton Rouge to continue their baseball careers.
Former All-Americans Brad Cresse and Aaron Hill and last year’s NCAA co-leader in home runs, Matt Clark, are just a few of the names who left the Golden State to don the purple and gold.
And when it came time for LSU senior Derek Helenihi to move on to a high-level Division I baseball program, the decision was no different. A product of Livermore, Calif., Helenihi was drawn to the tradition of the program even before his high school years.
“When I was 12 years old, I played in a baseball tournament down here in Baton Rouge,” Helenihi said. “We took pictures of the old Alex Box Stadium. I just remember seeing the stadium and it being so much different than the ones at schools in California. They’re not as big, and there aren’t as many fans back home.
“Just getting away from home and being able to see what goes on here that doesn’t go on back in California was one of the big things that attracted me to LSU.”
However, following a prolific high school career in which he received all-state honors, Helenihi didn’t make the jump to big-time Division I college baseball initially. Instead, he went the junior college route, enrolling at Ohlone College.
“When I came out of high school, I was probably too immature and not ready to go straight to a four-year school,” Helenihi said. “I think it was a big help for me to go to JUCO before I moved on.”
Helenihi led the Renegades with a .371 batting average in 2007, earning a spot on the All-Northern California team, and his stellar play caught the eye of several Division I college coaches, including former LSU associate head coach Terry Rooney and former hitting coach Cliff Godwin.
“The coach I played for at the time was friends with Coach Rooney and talked with Coach Rooney about me,” Helenihi said. “But, it was Coach Godwin who gave me a call and said that they were interested. He came over and watched one of my games, and it went from there.”
Helenihi transferred to LSU in 2007 with only two years of collegiate eligibility remaining, but with DJ LeMahieu winning the starting job at shortstop as a freshman and former Tiger Michael Hollander firmly entrenched at third base, he would have to move out of the infield altogether in order to receive considerable playing time as a junior.
The coaching staff thought he would be a good fit at right field because of his athleticism and cannon of an arm, and even though he had never played in the outfield before, the junior welcomed the move.
“I naturally picked up the ball well off the bat, and it was a lot slower of a game out there than it is in the infield.”
Helenihi started 41 games in right field last year but proved to be one of the Tigers’ most versatile players, making starts at third base, second base, designated hitter and in center field. Furthermore, the junior batted .295 and utilized his athleticism to emerge as one of team leaders in triples and stolen bases.
As a senior this season, Helenihi has again played at both third base and in right field and continues to show off his athleticism as witnessed by his inside-the-park home run against Grambling State on April 8, 2009, a rare feat most players don’t get a chance to accomplish during their careers.
“When I hit it, I actually thought I popped it up,” Helenihi said. “I didn’t think it was going to go that far, but when I saw it kick off the wall, I was thinking triple all the way. I didn’t think anything of it, but I saw Javi (Sanchez) wave me around third. My eyes lit up, and I was kind of shocked.
“When I slid home and was safe, I looked up and everybody in the dugout had their hands up because it doesn’t happen very often.”
Helenihi has fully embraced his versatile role and will continue to do his part to get the team ready for the stretch run and postseason.
“When I get my opportunities, I’m going to continue to play the game hard and do what I can to help the team. I’d love to do what we did last year and more — go on and get to the final goal of winning the national championship.”