THIBODAUX, La. – After nearly a year of waiting to get back on the diamond, the Nicholls baseball team opens the 2012 season on Friday with a weekend series against the Southern Miss Golden Eagles in Hattiesburg. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Friday at Pete Taylor Park, as the Colonels look to win an opening series for the first time since 2009.
The Opening Pitch
Nicholls opens the 2012 season taking on the Southern Miss Golden Eagles for the first time since the 2007 season... Since 2003, the Colonels are 5-4 in season openers, and have won three series by clean sweep… The Colonels boast six pitchers and two everyday starters from the 2011 team that won 28 games, adding 13 newcomers to an experienced club.
Following the action
Radio - None
Internet - ThibodauxOnline.com
Live Stats - SouthernMiss.com
Nicholls/Southern Miss Series Notes
The Golden Eagles hold a 24-16 advantage in all-time meetings against Nicholls… Southern Miss won the last meeting between the two teams 13-5 on April 3, 2007… In the only other meeting since 2003, USM also won 5-2 on Feb. 15, 2006.
More on the Golden Eagles
Southern Miss is ranked 29
th by the NCBWA and 30
th by Collegiate Baseball… USM finished the 2011 season 39-19… The Golden Eagles have made nine-straight NCAA postseason appearances which is a program record… USM returns four starters and 14 letterwinners from last year… Southern Miss has won the last two Conference USA regular season championships.
Up Next
Nicholls will host the Southern University Jaguars in the season home opener Tuesday, Feb 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Program on the Upswing
For the first time in nine years the Nicholls baseball team won 28 games in a season last year. The Colonels won 15 games in conference play for the second consecutive year and third time since joining the Southland Conference. Over the last two years, the Colonels have won more games (55) than in the four previous years combined (52).
Rookie (Coach) of the Year
In his first year at the helm of the Colonels baseball program,
Seth Thibodeaux led the team to the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals last year, and in the process won the second most games in an inaugural campaign as skipper. Only T.C. Calmes had a better opening year with 33 wins in 1974.
Webster, Hill Named Preseason First Team All-Conference
Seniors
Seth Webster and
Jeremy Hill were named preseason first team all-conference selections to open the new season, placing two Colonels on the list for the first time in years. Webster was a first-team All-Southland Conference pitcher from a year ago, being the first Colonel to earn first team honors since Bubba Bell in 2005. The redshirt senior from Delville, La. won Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week honors three times, finishing the season ranked third in the NCAA with seven complete game victories He led the team with a 7-3 record and a 2.30 ERA (28 ER/109.1 IP) that was second in the Southland Conference. Hill, the Long Beach, Miss. product, finished his first year in a Colonel uniform starting all 57 games for Nicholls, hitting .302 (68-for-225) with one home run, ten doubles, 38 RBI and 30 runs scored. A second team All-Southland Conference selection as a DH last year to end the season, Hill logged 17 multi-hit games, including four three-hit games and one of only two four-hit games by a Colonel all year. Hill also made six relief appearances out of the Nicholls bullpen, allowing just three earned runs over 9.1 IP for a 2.89 ERA and did not allow an earned run in four of six outings.
Webster the Wizard
Senior pitcher
Seth Webster had one of the strongest seasons a Nicholls pitcher has had in the last decade. Webster's 2.30 ERA is the lowest a Colonels pitcher has tossed since 1997, and one of the lowest in the last 18 years at Nicholls. His 109.1 innings pitched in 2011 is the most for a pitcher since 2003 and he is only the second pitcher to throw over 100 innings in a season in the last 16 years. The seven wins he earned are the most since 2003. He was named first team all conference, putting a Colonel on the first team list for the first time since 2005. In the tournament, he tied a conference record finishing the tournament with a 0.00 ERA among pitchers with ten or more innings pitched.
Battering Blake
Senior
Blake Bergeron led the Colonels last year in RBI's (57), doubles (10), triples (5) and home runs (5). Those numbers placed Bergeron fourth in triples and 11
th in RBI's in the Southland. Bergeron was also first in the conference in being hit by pitches. Bergeron played all 57 games for the Colonels last year and finished the season with a .420 slugging percentage and .984 fielding percentage.
Talk of the Tourney
After needing a walk-off win in the last series of the year, the Colonels baseball team upset host Texas State in the opening game and made it all the way to the semifinals before falling to the Bobcats to end the season. It was the first time in school history that the Colonels made consecutive appearances in the Southland Conference tournament and will look to go for an unprecedented third time in a row in 2012.
Dominating Duo
Pat Shreve and
Seth Webster made for an unwelcoming duo for opposing teams among Southland Pitchers. Shreve finished second in the league in individual pitching with a 4-2 record with 11 appearances on the year. He was also third in fewest hits allowed, walks allowed, and doubles allowed. Webster and Shreve finished second and third in the league in ERA and first and fifth in runs allowed on the year. Shreve had the sixth best opposing batting average in the conference with a .249 average. Webster was also eighth in wins, while along with Shreve and
Mike Wisecarver, tied for fewest home runs allowed with one each.
Webster Named College Sports Madness Southland Preseason Pitcher of the Year, Hill Named To First Team
Nicholls State University baseball player
Seth Webster was named the Collegesportsmadness.com Southland Preseason Pitcher of the Year today, it was announced by the website. It's the first preseason honor for the righty from Deville, La., coming off a 2011 season where the senior was named first team all-conference, first team all-state and second team all-region. The awards didn't stop there, as both Webster and
Jeremy Hill were named to the site's all-conference first team. Webster earned the nod as one of the three pitchers, while Hill was placed as one of the three outfielders.
Wisecarver, Delatte Named To Top Pitching List
Nicholls baseball pitchers
Mike Wisecarver and
Brad Delatte were named two of the top 35 pitchers of the Northwoods League this past summer by collegesummerbaseball.net. Wisecarver was named the second best pitcher in the league after going 6-0 with a 1.91 era in 56.2 innings of work for the Waterloo Bucks. Wisecarver allowed just 46 hits, had 19 walks and struck out 44. He was also rated as the 32nd best prospect in the league. Delatte was 2-1 with a 1.91 era in 28.1 innings over the summer. He went the distance in all three games, striking out 65 batters in the process for the Thunder Bay Border Cats.
Conference Preseason Polls Released
The conference released its preseason polls and the Colonels have been picked to finish 11th by the coaches with 39 points and tied for ninth with McNeese by the sports information directors with 39 points also.
Ray Gets Some Work Done
Thanks to the addition of over 1000 new seats, among other renovations, Colonel fans will be treated to an upgraded Ray E. Didier Field when Nicholls opens the 2012 home schedule against Southern University. The field now boasts an attendance figure in the 3000's, newly sodded infield, palm trees behind the outfield fence and entrance, as well as a deck down the right field line past the covered awning.
First Pitch Banquet Sells Out For First Time
The Nicholls sixth annual first pitch banquet sold out for the first time in history, as guests were treated to a rousing guest speaker in former basketball coach Dale Brown. The silent auction with signed memorabilia, events and other assorted items raised money for the team as fans were able to meet the 2012 team and staff before the start of the season.
Baseball Lands Ten during Early Signing Period
As the baseball season continues to draw near, the Nicholls State University baseball team has landed ten recruits during the early signing period Wednesday, including some state and local players. Justin Sinbaldi, Bo Ockman, Alex Tucker, Jake Valdez, Zach LeBouef, Seth Stevens, Cole Wilson, Jace Cheramie, Cliff Covington and Cody Tillotson round out the class that will become Colonels in the 2012-13 season.
“Coach Prothro has done an amazing job of putting this class together along with Coach Darrow. We have answered our needs with this group and we will continue to recruit not only great baseball players but great students as well,” second-year head coach
Seth Thibodeaux said. Having a solid recruiting base, the coaches were able to land quality local talent, as well as finding some gems along the community college route. “We have a great administration at Nicholls and great things are happening here,” Thibodeaux said. “With this, we can continue to recruit young men like these that will help us achieve our goals of being champions in the classroom and on the field.”
Name Ht Wt Pos School - Hometown
Justin Sinibaldi 6-3 200 RHP/1B Rummel - HS Metarie, La.
Bo Ockman 6-2 180 RHP Thibodaux HS - Thibodaux, La.
Alex Tucker 5-11 175 C Catholic HS - Baton Rouge, La.
Jake Valadez 6-3 170 LHP Stony Point HS - Round Rock, Texas
Zach LeBouef 6-2 190 1B/3B South Terrebonne HS - Montegut, La.
Seth Stevens 5-10 175 INF Central Private HS - Baton Rouge, La.
Cole Wilson 5-10 175 INF Parkview Baptist HS - Baton Rouge, La.
Jace Cheramie 6-3 200 LHP Central Lafourche HS - Raceland, La.
Cliff Covington 6-4 210 INF/OF Alabama Southern CC - Leroy, Ala.
Cody Tillotson 6-5 240 LHP/INF Cisco Junior College - Round Rock, Texas
Colonel Baseball Trio Named Summer League All-Stars
Three Nicholls State University baseball standouts enjoyed stellar summer ball seasons had reason to celebrate as junior outfielder
Mike Barba and senior left handed pitchers
Mike Wisecarver and
Brad Delatte were named summer league all stars this week. Barba was named a reserve to the South Division squad for the Texas Collegiate League's Cricket Wireless All-Star game, while Wisecarver and Delatte have earned spots for the 2011 Northwoods League All-Star Game.
pac)?:e0??? pan> 6-5 240 LHP/INF Cisco Junior College - Round Rock, Texas
Colonel Baseball Trio Named Summer League All-Stars
Three Nicholls State University baseball standouts enjoyed stellar summer ball seasons had reason to celebrate as junior outfielder
Mike Barba and senior left handed pitchers
Mike Wisecarver and
Brad Delatte were named summer league all stars this week. Barba was named a reserve to the South Division squad for the Texas Collegiate League's Cricket Wireless All-Star game, while Wisecarver and Delatte have earned spots for the 2011 Northwoods League All-Star Game.
