Colonels release 2019 schedule

The Nicholls State University baseball team will enjoy the comforts of home a lot in the 2019 season.

The Colonels released their 2019 schedule this past week — a slate glistened with far more home non-conference games than in the past.

Coach Seth Thibodeaux said earlier in the offseason that he believes in the team’s returning players, adding that he thinks the Colonels have a foundation capable of challenging the Southland Conference powers in late-season play.

The Colonels made the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals last year.

“Our guys are very hungry,” Thibodeaux said. “We peaked at the right time last year and played some good baseball late in the year. We have to replace some key guys in some key places, but we like the guys we return and think that some of the pieces that we have coming in through our recruiting will help us, as well. The guys are eager to put in the time and begin the journey and we think it’s going to set up nicely to be a very solid year.”

That’s good news for fans because a lot of that journey will be played out in Thibodaux.

The Colonels will actually play two fall-ball games in the coming weeks — the first on Oct. 13 against UL-Monroe and the second at Southern Miss on Oct. 28.

When the actual season starts in the spring, Nicholls will take on a team from the North with a three-game slate against Southern Illinois from Feb. 15-17 at The Did.

The Colonels then roll through most-all of non-conference play without a single road game, hosting Alcorn State (two games), Grambling (three games) and Tulane (one game) — all before a road game.

In the first weekend of March, Nicholls will travel to Lake Charles and will play four games in three days — two against McNeese State and the others against Holy Cross.

The games against McNeese will be a matchup of Southland opponents, but they will not count in the league standings, as the two teams will not play in the conference schedule this year, per the schedule rotation.

After the date at Lake Charles, the Colonels will host UL-Lafayette, then will travel and play South Alabama before opening up league play from March 8-10 against UNO. The series is a home one for the Colonels, but the Sunday game will be played at UNO, per tradition in the rivalry.

After the start of Southland play, the Colonels also play notable a notable date at LSU on March 20, then also a neutral-site game against Southern Miss on March 26, which will be played at The Shrine on Airline in Metairie.

During a conference bye week, Nicholls will host a team from out-West, hosting San Jose State from April 26-28 in Thibodaux.

The Colonels wrap up the regular season on the road at Abilene Christian from May 16-18, before hopefully, taking the field in the Southland Conference Tournament the week after.

“We’re excited already,” Thibodeaux said as last season ended. “We wanted to play a little bit more last season, but we came up a little bit short. We had a lot of injuries last year that limited us, but we think that we can get healthy and play at a high level and have a very good season. We look forward to that.”

COLONELS HIRE CLARK AS STUDENT COACH

Nicholls State University baseball coach Seth Thibodeaux announced this week that he’s hired a former player to his staff for the 2019 season.

Former player Lee Clark was officially hired as the team’s student assistant coach this coming season – a role that Thibodeaux said will help Nicholls both on and off the field in the upcoming season.

“Lee Clark is a great addition to our staff,” Thibodeaux said. “He had a great career here and will be a huge help for our hitters and outfielders. His personality is infectious and his work ethic is second to none.”

Clark was a two-year Colonel and he was a solid performer for Nicholls. He hit .274 this past season with 27 extra base hits and 49 RBI. He helped Nicholls make it to the Southland Conference Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2011.

Clark will assist in coordinating camps in his new role. He will also work with the team’s hitters, teaching them fundamentals of playing the outfield and also baserunning.

Seth Thibodeaux

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