JOURNAL STAFF
There’s a lot at stake this week for the NCAA Division I baseball teams of local interest whose seasons culminate in conference tournaments.
Berths in next week’s NCAA Regionals are within reach of LSU, Louisiana Tech, Grambling and even ULM. The season is finished for Northwestern State, eliminated in last week’s bracket play in the Southland Conference Tournament.
Here’s a look at the NCAA prospects for each of the SBJ’s remaining four clubs.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (38-18, 20-10)
Bulldogs fans in general aren’t barking loudly about the 2022 Diamond Dogs, but they should be. It’s not the 2021 team that was undeniably the greatest in school history, but this Tech club has handled business and finished second in Conference USA behind only nationally-ranked Southern Miss.
Does this team have the Midas touch it did a year ago? No. But there’s plenty of punch, solid defense, good frontline pitching, an excellent closer (Kyle Crigger) and superior coaching by Lane Burroughs and his staff.
Taking two at Charlotte last week was impressive since the 49ers entered that series 11-1 in its last four C-USA weekends. Tech has won 10 of its last 13, five of its last six, and looks very capable.
Regional chances: Should be good. But don’t go two-and-cue this week. Winning twice locks it down.
Chance to host: Jump on the bus, Champ.
C-USA Tournament prospects: Hoping to prevail in Hattiesburg is a tall order for any team, but being on the other side of the bracket from host USM is prime position to have a shot. Trouble is, even seventh-seeded Charlotte, Tech’s first-round foe Wednesday, is far from an easy out.
LSU Tigers (37-18, 17-13)
When new coach Jay Johnson took over last summer and added plenty of firepower to an already stout returning roster in Baton Rouge, it wasn’t just Tiger fans who expected LSU would be a lock to return to Omaha as a favorite to win the College World Series. College baseball analysts pegged the Tigers as one of the country’s best.
It hasn’t worked out quite like that. However, just in time, the Tigers looked like that while sweeping Vanderbilt in Nashville last week.
Vandy brought the nation’s No. 3 RPI into the series but the Tigers brought the lumber. The results have greatly upgraded LSU’s postseason profile.
Regional chances: No doubt, they’re in.
Chance to host: Doubtful. D1 Baseball has the Tigers taking the No. 2 seed in the Hattiesburg Regional hosted by Conference USA champion Southern Miss. But a strong showing in Hoover at the SEC Tournament could bring baseball back to Alex Box Stadium once more this spring.
SEC Tournament prospects: LSU’s sweep at Vandy demonstrated these Tigers have the goods. But all season long, they’ve lacked consistency – it was just two weekends ago that Ole Miss limped into Baton Rouge and brought out the brooms. An SEC Tournament crown is far-fetched.
Grambling State Tigers (25-29, 20-10)
The G-Men earned the No. 2 seed in the Western Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. They won 20 – count ’em, 20 – conference games. They’ve got a shot.
Ace Shemar Page can only pitch so often, but he also swings a mean bat. The Tigers can score. The question is, after Page leaves the bump, can they stop the top-flight teams from piling up more runs?
Regional chances: Must win the tournament.
Chance to host: None.
SWAC Tournament prospects: Upsets in the SWAC happen this time of year. Grambling winning would be an upset. But if those bats get crackin’, the Tigers could make a run.
ULM Warhawks (18-34-1, 9-20-1)
The Warhawks are well coached by former USM assistant Michael Federico, who turned around the ULM program quickly in his first four seasons, but this year has been a massive meltdown.
Regional chances: Must win the tournament.
Chance to host: None.
SBC Tournament prospects: Enjoy the time in Montgomery, state capital of Alabama. The Sun Belt will get three teams in the regionals, led by nationally-ranked Texas State, and might sneak a fourth bid if the right squad wins this week. It won’t be ULM, who opens play today.
Photo by TIM SMITH, Louisiana Tech