Even amid COVID complications, the goal remains the same for LSU baseball – Omaha

The LSU baseball team played just 17 games last season.

It never got a chance to play any SEC games.

Everything this season is subject to change.

That’s all because of concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But one thing remains the same amid the pandemic as it was before the pandemic.

“Obviously we know the end goal is Omaha,” second baseman Cade Doughty said during the Tigers’ virtual media day from Alex Box Stadium on Friday.

LSU, 12-5 in non-conference play a year ago, has its sights set on the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., just as it does every year.

The Tigers have 22 lettermen returning and have added a highly regarded recruiting class of 16 players, including 14 high-school players.

“I’m thrilled with the way the team is looking,” said Paul Mainieri, the winningest active head coach in college baseball. “We have a very veteran pitching staff. Our position players are as young as our pitchers are veteran, but that doesn’t scare me at all because it is such a talented group.”

Junior right-hander Jaden Hill is expected to be the No. 1 starter for the Tigers, who open the season Feb. 19 against the AirForceAcademy in Alex Box.

Mainieri predicted Hill will be able to step in for the departed Cole Henry as “a big-time starting pitcher who will continue to improve.”

Right-handers Landon Marceux and A.J. Labas are expected to complete the weekend rotation.

Mainieri said he likes the depth in the bullpen, but right-hander Devin Fontenot, who’s entering his fourth season, “absolutely is our closer.”

“If you can get the ball to Devin in the eighth or ninth inning,” Hill said, “it’s over.”

The Tigers hitters praised the pitching staff they have seen in the fall and other off-season workouts.

“I think we have one of the best pitching staffs in the nation,” Doughty said. “We have experience, great freshman that will make a big impact. From my perspective, it makes me a whole lot better as a hitter.”

The two freshmen receiving the most praise were Dylan Crews and first baseman Tre’ Morgan of Brother Martin High School.

Mainieri said Crews has an “aura” that reminds him of former LSU standouts DJ LeMahieu, Alex Bregman and Antoine Duplantis.

“He’s one of those kids who arrives at LSU,” Mainieri said, “and you know there’s something different about him.”

Crews said he’s trying to tune out the hype about him and focus on getting ready.

“The game stays the same in between the lines,” Crews said. “At the end of the day, I still have a job to do and a role to play. We’re going to do what we can to win a national championship.

“There have been a lot of great players here, a lot of talented players. I hope to be one of them one day.”

Mainieri said Crews and Morgan will both have “critical spots” in the batting order.

“I’m not going to be afraid to throw them right into the fire,” he said.

Mainieri gushed more about Morgan’s defense than his offense, saying his concerns about the defense on the left side of the infield are lessened by Morgan’s ability to handle tricky throws, saying Morgan is one of the top five defensive first basemen he has coached in 39 years.

“I love this kid,” Mainieri said. “I had no idea he was this good when we recruited him.”

Mainieri, who said the SEC will be even stronger than usual because so many draft-caliber players are returning from the truncated season in 2020, acknowledged the Tigers have to be prepared for the unexpected as COVID disruptions are likely to occur.

When asked if anything was “a silver lining” from the experience of last season Mainieri replied flatly, “No.”

But then he added, “Our players will never take anything for granted again.”