NEW ORLEANS – With three weeks remaining until the start of the 2019 Season, The University of New Orleans took a big step in its search for a Southland Conference Championship by holding its first practice of the year at Maestri Field on Friday.
The 2019 squad will 13 players from the 2018 team and will feature 23 fresh faces. Let's go position by position to see who is back and who is new.
BEHIND THE PLATE
Returning for his junior year is second team All-Conference
Beau Bratton. Bratton finished the 2018 campaign with a .315 batting average with 12 doubles, five triples, two homers, and 41 RBI, also he brings a 32-game reach base safely streak into 2019.
Helping Bratton with the catching duties this season is junior transfer
Robert Fabelo, and freshmen
Jorge Tejeda and
Dallen Leach.
PATROLLING THE INFIELD
The Privateers have a pair of infielders returning from last years team.
Scott Crabtree returns for his final season on the Lakefront. Crabtree finished the 2018 season with a .218 clip with two doubles, a homer, nine ribbies, and 18 walks (second on the team).
Darren Willis is also back, finishing 2018 with a .277 batting average with four doubles, a triple, and 21 runs batted in.
Highlighting the new guys is freshman
Antonio Gauthier Jr. The Lake Charles native hit .398 with 10 HR, 16 doubles, and six triples in his senior season at Barbe High School.
ROAMING THE OUTFIELD
Pearce Howard is the lone outfielder returning from last year. Howard was impressive in his freshman campaign hitting .288 (fourth on the team), 11 double, one triple, seven homers, and 38 runs driven in.
Luther Woullard and
Tresten Kennard are the pairs of new guys fans should look for to join Howard in the Outfield. Woullard joins the Privateers after two seasons with Jones County JC where in his sophomore season he hit .425 with five bombs, four triples, 26 doubles, 51 runs scored and 54 RBI. Kennard joins UNO via Odessa JC where he finished last year with a .394 batting average, 15 homers, seven triples, 22 doubles, and 74 ribbies.
UTILITY MEN
New Orleans has a pair of utility players on its roster. Redshirt Senior
Collin Morrill is back after finishing with a .292 batting average, 13 doubles, two triples, and a homer after seeing time at first and second base and time at the designated hitter spot last year.
Freshman and New Orleans native
Cristian Poche should see some playing time as well.
MEN ON THE MOUND
The Privateers return eight arms from last year's squad. Senior
Brayson Smith is the lone starter from last year to come back after losing
Brian Warzek (MLB Draft – LA Dodgers) and
Kyle Arjona (Sign Free Agent Deal – Philadelphia Phillies). Smith went 2-4 last year with a 4.58 ERA in 53.0 innings pitched while striking out 52 and allowing 35 earned runs.
The one-two punch of
John Barr and
Reeves Martin will back again this year. Barr finished 6-3 with a 2.04 ERA in 66.1 innings of work and 68 punchouts. Martin went 2-4 with a 3.40 earned run average, 55 strikeouts and nine saves (Second in the Southland).
Season Opener
The Privateers open up 2019 at Maestri Fields on Friday, February 15 when they face Michigan State in a three-game set. Friday's first pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m., Saturday is at 1 p.m., and Sunday is set for a 12 p.m. start.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow
@Privateers_BSB on Twitter,
@Privateers_BSB on Instagram, like
/PrivateersBSB on Facebook and subscribe to the
PrivateerAthletics YouTube channel.
