Tom Dodge
While their classmates may be enjoying the holiday break, the LSU Eunice baseball team has been busy preparing for the upcoming 2017 season.
“They all had exit meetings with the coaches at the conclusion of the fall season,” head baseball coach Jeff Willis said. “We discussed where they stood with the team, what their strengths and weaknesses are as well as a grade given by their teammates.”
The players underwent workouts each day of their break in preparation of their return on Jan. 10.
“You can tell who did what they were supposed to and those who didn’t,” Willis said. “The truth is very evident when they return.
“They are hurting themselves and their baseball futures if they slack off and don’t do what is asked of them.”
Willis said his players are motivated to be a part of the winning legacy that has been established with five national championships.
“The team had a 3.16 GPA,” the coach said. “We had 32 players who were above a 3.0 – that is a very good thing.
“They have to win in all facets including the classroom, the weight room and conditiong as well as at practice,” Willis said. “If they do all that, then they will win on game day.
“But if they don’t win in one of those areas, then it can be a flip of the coin to see if they are going to win.
“Our goal is to win that last game so we have to get the personel to help us acheive that like we have in the past.”
Willis said the first month of practice is spent working any new transfers into the Bengal family and starting to build team chemistry as the season begins on Jan. 27.
“We will spend 17 days getting as many reps in as we can to get ready for the games.
“If we get to the season and we aren’t ready, then it is too late.”