Despite change, veteran infield key to Lions’ high expectations

HAMMOND, La. – With only one position around the diamond to replace heading into 2019, it figured to be a fairly uneventful offseason for Southeastern Louisiana head baseball coach Matt Riser.

That did not prove to be the case. With some experimentation, Riser hit upon a new double-play combination he likes.

“There are two big things that we’ve shaken up this season,” Riser said. “We flip-flopped a pair of seniors up the middle and added a third baseman.”

A three-year starter for the Lions at shortstop, Brennan Breaud shifts to the other side of the keystone while keeping Cody Grosse, a preseason All-Southland selection, as his partner up the middle.

“Brennan played at second all fall and really got familiar with it. Cody is back strong, looking good at short. Eli Johnson has absolutely solidified the job at third, defensively and offensively. He’s done a good job moving the ball around and will have an opportunity to hit in the middle of the order.”

Johnson, a right-handed hitting junior from Chehalis, Washington, transferred in from Tacoma (Wash.) CC over the summer. A contact hitter with good speed, he joins a senior-laden crew in the infield.

Across the diamond from Johnson, a position battle rages on between a pair of seniors.

“It’s still a battle at first to start out the season,” Riser said. “Kyle Schimpf is heating up the last couple of days. He had a rough spring to start out. Scottie Sanders started out really hot but has cooled off a bit. If they both get hot, we can slide one into the DH slot.”

Even with the power bat of Preston Faulkner shifting to the outfield, Riser has a couple options to mix things up around the infield when the situation arises.

“Cade Pipoly has a bat that could shake some things up,” Riser said. “I wouldn’t be shocked to see him earn some time as the DH and Trey Harrington’s defense will earn him some starts to go along with more playing time just like last season.”

Behind the dish, the Lions are as deep as they have ever been, counting a pair of seniors in Evan Pace and Louisiana Tech transfer Jonathan Parker among their options.

“Pace will be our No. 1 catcher with his leadership and how he emerged at the end of last season for us,” Riser said. “I think he’s primed to have a big senior season, not only defensively but at the plate. He’s made some adjustments and been more consistent. It’ll be a matter of keeping him fresh.”

Splitting time last season with senior Daniel Wasinger, a 31st-round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Pace stole 16 bases. The total is a record for Lion catchers and ranked second nationally among backstops.

“Parker will be a change of pace for us,” Riser said. “He’s the more offensive option behind the dish and he’s come on strong this last week. He’s another guy that will vie for time as the DH or be a key right-handed bat off the bench.”

During his sophomore season, the native of New Orleans, Louisiana, helped lead Jones County (Miss.) JC to a national title. Parker hit .384 with 40 RBI, walking more often than he struck out in 2017.

Lending a helping hand at the grueling position will be sophomore Greg Thompson and redshirt freshman Connor Manola.

“Connor will be our more defensive option when we want to mix it up,” Riser said. “He does such a good job of running the staff, knows his pitchers so well and does a fantastic job defensively. He’s come along offensively and knows his game, doing a good job of moving the ball around at the plate.”

Southeastern opens the 2019 season Friday at 7 p.m., hosting Louisiana Tech in the opening game of three-game series at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field.

SEASON TICKETS
A 27-game home slate at Pat Kenelly Diamond at Alumni Field in 2019 includes home series against Southland regular-season champion Sam Houston State and conference tournament champ Northwestern State. Key non-conference games include home matchups with South Alabama, Tulane and UL Lafayette.

Season ticket packages are still available, including general admission seats ($103) and a family plan that includes two adult and two youth (ages 3-12) general admission tickets ($206).

For more information, or to purchase season tickets, fans can contact the Southeastern Athletic Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466. Season ticket packages are also available for purchase online at www.LionSports.net/Tickets.

DIAMOND CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the baseball program are encouraged to join the Diamond Club. Lion baseball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.

All membership fees and donations to both the Diamond Club and S Club (baseball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern baseball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.

CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events, effective with the start of the 2018 fall semester. The policy mirrors safety precautions taken upon entrance to professional and collegiate sporting venues throughout the country. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/Clear.

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Lions Baseball, follow @LionUpBaseball or @MattRiser17 on Twitter, @LionUpBaseball on Instagram and Facebook, and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.

SOUTHEASTERN INFIELDERS / CATCHERS
# Player Pos B/T Ht Wt Cl. Hometown Last School
1 Eli Johnson IF R/R 5-10 195 Jr. Chehalis, Wash. Tacoma CC
2 Trey Harrington IF R/R 6-2 176 So. Lakeland, Tenn. Briarcrest Christian School
5 Connor Manola C R/R 6-0 180 R-Fr. Port Allen, La. Brusly HS
6 Cody Grosse IF L/R 5-8 160 Sr. Plainfield, Ill. John A. Logan College
13 Brennan Breaud IF L/R 5-10 160 Sr. Norco, La. Destrehan HS
14 Cade Pipoly UT R/R 6-0 180 So. Medina, Ohio Medina HS
16 Kyle Schimpf IF L/R 6-2 210 Sr. Covington, La. Hinds CC
22 Preston Faulkner UT R/R 6-1 230 So. Denham Springs, La. Live Oak HS
23 Evan Pace C R/R 6-1 187 Sr. Zachary, La. Zachary HS
26 Greg Thompson C R/R 5-11 205 So. Zachary, La. Zachary HS
27 Scottie Sanders IF R/R 6-3 225 R-Sr. Thibodaux, La. E.D. White HS
37 Jonathan Parker C R/R 6-0 205 Sr. New Orleans, La. Louisiana Tech