Colonels send 14 off to summer assignments

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June 14, 2017

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June 14, 2017

The Nicholls State University baseball season won’t play another game until February.

But that’s not stopping the Colonels from seeing lots of live action over the summer.

Colonels coach Seth Thibodeaux announced this week that 14 of his players have earned roster spots on eight different summer ball clubs around the country.

Around the country, several summer leagues are held – each affording collegiate players around the country a chance to stay sharp in their craft while waiting for school to begin again in the fall.

Thibodeaux said the leagues are priceless to college baseball programs – especially for younger guys who don’t often get consistent chances to hit, field or pitch during the grind of the season.

Some of the leagues are in Louisiana. Others are in the Midwest and Northeast – as far as in Massachusetts or even Maine.

“It’s huge for the underclassmen,” Thibodeaux said. “What this does is it allows them to get at-bats every day and learn how to play when you’re really tired and sore and not feeling your best. There’s pitchers from all over the place, so you get to see a bunch of arms. There’s not a lot of coaching that goes on in terms of technique. The coaches there are doing managerial things and managing the games. But it’s a great avenue for our guys to be able to work on the things they work on here, get better and then bring that back to our team.”

The Colonels’ contingent will represent eight leagues across the country, and the players will be spread out throughout the United States.

Returnees Logan Alleman, Austin Bollinger and Ethan Valdez are on the same team – each assigned to the Mankato Moondogs of the Northwoods League.

Other Colonels may even have to face off against one another throughout the summer. Cayden Hatcher, Christian Suk and Bryan Taylor are all in the Coastal Plains League. Hatcher is with the Edenton Steamers, while Suk and Taylor are both competing for the Licking County Settlers.

Thibodeaux said the experience is invaluable and a game changing thing for college baseball.

But there are some instances where players opt out of summer play in favor of getting ready for their next seasons on their own.

Thibodeaux said the Colonels held a few players back intentionally this summer so they can work with the coaches in the program – either in the weight room or on the diamond.

Thibodeaux said live work is preferred but sometimes there are benefits to keeping players at home to develop strength, skill or sometimes to rest their arms after a long, tough season.

“We kept a few guys back,” Thibodeaux said. “There were some guys that we decided we’d keep at home and get them in the weight room to build them up for the next season.”

Nicholls’ summer assignments are below.

Kyle Knauth – Wareham Gateman, Cape Cod League

Cayden Hatcher – Edenton Steamers, Coastal Plains League

Christian Suk – Licking County Settlers, Great Lakes League

Bryan Taylor – Licking County Settlers, Great Lakes League

Zach Autin – Liberal BeeJays, Jayhawk League

Gage Teer – Liberal BeeJays, Jayhawk League

Jackson Crochet – Clarinda A’s, Mink League

Logan Alleman – Mankato Moondogs, Northwoods League

Austin Bollinger – Mankato Moondogs, Northwoods League

Ethan Valdez – Mankato Moondogs, Northwoods League

Brady Bell – Acadiana Canecutters, Texas Collegiate League

Dillon Belle Viel – Covington Lumberjacks, Valley League

Lee Clark – Covington Lumberjacks, Valley League

Jarred Scott – Covington Lumberjacks, Valley League

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THIBODEAUX DOESN’T EXPECT TO LOSE ANYONE TO MLB DRAFT

Thibodeaux said the Colonels are only expected to lose their seniors from the program – not anyone else.

The MLB Draft started on Monday night and it will continue throughout the week.

At press-time, it is not yet known if any Colonels were selected in the draft, but Thibodeaux said he doesn’t expect any underclassman to be picked high enough to leave the team.

He did say that he believes some of the underclassmen do have chances to be picked in the later rounds, however.

“We expect to have everyone back,” he said.

At press-time, Thibodeaux said one Colonel was expected to be picked fairly early in the draft though – senior righty Cole Stapler.

The 6-foot, 5-inch, 240-pound right-hander has impressed scouts throughout the season – enough to earn a place in the middle rounds of some draft boards, according to Thibodeaux.

Stapler started 14 games for the Colonels in 2017, posting a 7-6 record in 96.2 innings with a 3.44 ERA. He struck out 85 batters with only 30 walks, while limiting opponents to a .236 batting average.

“The Dodgers and Marlins really liked him and some other teams did, as well,” Thibodeaux said. “We’re excited for Cole. We think he’s going to be a really, really good pro. We hear some projections that say he can be as high as the seventh round. You hear other things that say he might be as low as the 21st round. You really never know how these things are going to shake out. It’s going to be a crap shoot. Whoever gets him is going to get a young man who works hard and who takes a lot of pride in his craft. He’s a really good pitcher who has room to get stronger and better.” •

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