Ellender’s Talbot moves from La. Tech to UNO
May 13, 2014‘Cinderella’ Vandebilt bounced in Class 4A Quarterfinals
May 13, 2014
LSU pitcher Brady Domangue isn’t one to back away from a challenge.
Always wanting to test himself and see what he’s made of, the former Vandebilt Catholic standout was looking for a new challenge after putting together two standout seasons at the JUCO level with LSU-Eunice in 2012 and 2013.
So the right-hander threw at a tournament at Alex Box Stadium in the fall of 2013 and impressed LSU coaches so much that they offered him a spot on the Tigers’ roster.
Domangue enrolled at LSU in the early signing period last year and has been with the school since.
“He was recommended very highly by his junior college coach and we have a great relationship with them,” recalled LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “We had a junior college tournament on our field in the fall of his sophomore year, so he pitched on our field and we loved the way he pitched. Then he went out and had a tremendous spring season where he was an All-American. But we recruited him in the fall after we saw him pitch here in that little tournament, and we loved him.”
The journey to LSU has been a long and somewhat unusual one for Domangue.
Coming out of high school, Domangue stood all of 5 feet 10 inches and weighed 147 pounds. For someone his size, just being on the mound can be its own challenge sometimes.
“When I was in high school, I always thought I was a good ballplayer,” says Domangue, officially listed at 6-feet, 160 now. “The thing was, I thought I was going to get looked over because of my size, but I’ve always had a good work ethic. I’ve always believed that the man upstairs has a plan for me.”
After finishing his prep career, Domangue signed with Southeastern University and initially planned to spend his college career in the Southland Conference before a back injury forced him to take a redshirt.
By the time he was healthy and ready to face live batters again, Domangue felt it was time to move on. The ex-Terrier never pitched in a single game for the Lions.
“I just decided in my heart to leave,” he recalls. “I left on good terms. After my back injury, I wasn’t as strong. I wanted to go the JUCO route and get back on my feet.”
It didn’t take long for Domangue to make a name for himself at the JUCO level. With LSU-Eunice, he was one of the most successful pitchers at the entire NJCAA level, helping the program to a National Championship in 2012 and posting 14 wins with a 1.34 ERA the following year.
Still, Domangue wanted more, and when the opportunity arose to pitch in front of coaches from one of the most successful programs in the country, he made the most of the opportunity.
“I always had a dream to play for LSU, and I went back for the fall and committed,” Domangue said. “I signed in the early signing period and it was crazy how it all went down. They saw me throw three innings on a Saturday and after the game they said, ‘We want you.’”
The Tigers still want him, though Domangue has experienced some first-season struggles on the NCAA circuit. In 18 appearances this season, he has a 4.19 ERA in 19 1/3 innings.
He’s taken his lumps and struggled with mechanics, walking as many batters (11) as he has struck out, and he admits there have been times when he’s gotten down on himself amid the frustration.
“This year has been a rough year for me, especially after the past two years that I’ve had,” Domangue says. “In baseball, you’re going to go through rough times, and my rough time just so happened to be this year.”
Some recent adjustments have LSU coaches encouraged and Domangue believing he is coming around, however.
“Me and (pitching coach Alan Dunn) have been working and one thing I will never do is give up,” said Domangue. “I’m a fighter. I got in a slump, got out of tune with some things and it’s been a struggle for me, especially in the beginning of the year, but I feel good now.”
Mainieri said he still has high hopes for Domangue going forward and that he’d like to see the pitcher become more deceptive against opposing batters.
“He throws 90, 91 mph and he’s got a pretty good breaking ball, but for some reason, the hitters seem to feel comfortable against him,” Mainieri said. “I’d like to find something that gives him just a little bit of deception because his stuff is too good for him to be getting hit.”
If Domangue’s turnaround doesn’t happen this season, he still has an entire senior season ahead of him to right the ship.
“He has such pride, he works hard, and he cares about the right things,” said Mainieri. “You just don’t give up on people like that.”
LSU junior pitcher and Houma native Brady Domangue fires a pitch during a game this season. After signing with Southeastern Louisiana and transferring to LSU-Eunice, Domangue is now at LSU and is trying to find his groove in the SEC level.
