January 2013

Optimism Sets Tone for Media Day (Hear from Paul Mainieri)

By Cade Voisin   Fri, Jan 25, 2013

LSU Baseball coach Paul Mainieri adrdressed members of the media just after noon Friday to welcome in the 2013 season.

The 2012 tigers finished 47-18 over and 19-11 in SEC play, but were eliminated from the postseason after falling in the best of three NCAA Super Regional series to Stony Brook. 

"I got a lot of optimism, I feel great about this year's ballclub," Mainieri said about his outlook for the upcoming season. 

Mainieri enters his seventh season as head coach of the tigers and says he bases his optimism on many returning starters on the mound and at the plate. 

The tigers return the SEC player of the year in Raph Rhymes and Mason Katz, who with 13 home runs has the most by any returning player in the conference. 

On the mound sophmore Aaron Nola and junior Ryan Eades will look to fill the shoes left vacant by last year's ace Kevin Gausman. Gausman was a first round draft selection by the Baltmore Orioles in the 2012 MLB Darft. "We're not going to decide that  until probably two weeks from today," coach Mainieri said when discussing the third or Sunday starter for the rotation.

The tigers open the 2013 season Friday February 15th when they host Maryland at Alex Box Stadium. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be heard on Eagle 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge.