McNeese State University - Log Yearbook (Lake Charles, LA)

Page 199 text:

(23 48 ¢ VISITOR | Powerful packaging ast season, the 31 member McNeese baseball team pulled to- gether to capture a winning sea- son and claim its first Conference Championship under the direction of head coach Tony Robichaux, who him- self is only in his second year at McNeese. The team began play on February 13 with a bit of a struggle through the first month of the season. By M arch, the team had fallen to a 4-13 record; but things began a steady upward turn. The Pokes ended the season with a 30-29 winning record, defeating Stephen F. Austin 13-5 to capture the conference title. : Coach Robichaux commented, ‘‘I’m proud of the way our guys didn’t just quit. We accomplished our goals of win- ning 30 games and winning conference ... We’re the league champions!” By chalking up such a winning sea- son, the Pokes also earned an automatic bid in the NCAA Division | playoffs as a result of their conference title. Throughout the course of the season, several Cowboys set new school records. First baseman Chip Stratton broke the career home run record in April with 28 homers; he ended his sea- son with a record-breaking total of 16 season home runs. He also broke the school RBI record, totaling 51 for the season. Mark Bowling broke the school record by pitching 9 wins during the season. Charlie Phillips tied the school record in April with 11 doubles; Steven Boulet was hitting .400 entering the conference series, the first player to do so since 1959. Designated hitter Jason Morvat broke another record earlier in the season by safely hitting 13 staight games. This young team, holding only five seniors, stuck together and performed and played as a unit. Its strategy paid off as they began winning more and more games midseason, eventually gaining the championship. Senior Roger Champagne stated, “This was a tough conference, a well- balanced conference, and we won it.” The Pokes have much to be proud of since they are the only athletic team besides the tennis team to win a con- ference title since 1980. This year, the coaching staff was also undergoing subtle changes with the ac- quisition of an administrative head coach, Hubert Boales, as well as the on- field head coach , Tony Robichaux. The team was also guided by three assistant coaches: Himmy Ricklefsen, Burke Broussard and Kip Derouen. Boales has served as head coach for the football, golf and baseball teams in his 22 years at McNeese while Robichaux, in his second season, has served as a coach in the Riyina Valley Baseball League. Ricklefsen is in his sec- ond season while Broussard and Der- ouen are experiencing their first. McNEESE BASEBALL PITCHER Ricky Bolmarcich does not hesitate to give his opponents all he’s got. PITCHER STEVE FERGUSON lets loose a fast ball in a game against Sam Houston. FIRST BASEMAN Chip Stratton just misses a Maverick out on the McNeese diamond. @) Baseball 195

Page 198 text:

194 Baseball

Page 200 text:

JAY RENOBATO, 32, coaches first base as the Cow- boys play LSd. SHON SHELTON scores a successful bunt in the game against LSU on the McNeese diamond. HEAD COACH ROBICHAUX keeps an active eye on all baseball activities as the players in the dugout find ac- tivity on the diamond most interesting. PER Tek) Ni 3 196 Baseball