Don’t Say You Weren’t Told – From the Bird’s Nest
Got your summer vacation planned yet?
Well, if you're a Cajun baseball fan you might want to take that vacation in July or August.
Or, you might want to change the destination.
Because if the season unfolds the way Matt Deggs and his ball club are planning, June will be reserved for Omaha.
Deggs, along with senior outfielder Brennan Breaux, senior pitcher Caleb Armstrong and junior shortstop Hayden Cantrelle, spoke to the media Tuesday in the first press conference of the season.
And, they made it clear.
Their goal is to play 70 games this year. And, there's only one way that can happen. They have to end the season at TD Ameritrade Park.
Deggs, who is readying for his first game as the Cajuns' head coach, talked about his love for the University, the Cajun people and the city in his address to the media. "I'm so freaking happy to be a Cajun," he said.
And then, he echoed what the players who spoke before him said.
Seventy games. Not 56.
And, Deggs said that while admitting the only thing that was sure about the competition for playing time was that Breaux would be in center field and Cantrelle would be at shortstop.
Seventeen days before opening night against Southeastern Louisiana and the competition continues.
But that doesn't dissuade Deggs or his players. He talked about chemistry that this team has developed. He talked about their conviction. He talked about the respect they have earned in competing during the fall and spring.
And, he talked of the goal.
Now, the Cajuns have only been ranked in the preseason by one publication (Collegiate Baseball.) D1 Baseball projects the Cajuns' season will end after the conference tournament. And, remember, this program was 28-31 last year.
But Matt Deggs is like John Locke. Fans of the television series "Lost" remember that name. His favorite line was "Don't tell me what I can't do." And, his players have adopted the same mantra.
So, you've been forewarned.
Just to be safe, make sure all of your vacation deposits are refundable. You're not going to want to miss this.