Plenty of reason for optimism as LSU baseball season kicks off

Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers players celebrate after runner Alex Bregman (8) scored against the TCU Horned Frogs in the third inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2015; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers players celebrate after runner Alex Bregman (8) scored against the TCU Horned Frogs in the third inning in the 2015 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. TCU won 8-4. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LSU baseball season officially kicked off on Friday with a Tigers preseason practice.  And there’s plenty of reason for optimism this year.

The team will be vying for the National Championship title once more this season, hoping for a much better outcome than last year’s heart breaker.  Expectations are sky-high for the program, considering the Tigers were ranked No. 2 in the Collegiate Baseball preseason poll.

Rather than coming into the season with a fresh squad, LSU will have a large number of returning experienced talent on the field.

Three of LSU’s star players in infielders Cole Freeman and Kramer Robertson as well as left-handed pitcher Jared Poché all passed on the MLB to play one last season with the Tigers.

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LSU’s strength runs deep, with a junior class nearly as solid as its senior class.  These players include outfielder Greg Deichmann, right-handed starter Alex Lange and first-team All-SEC hitter Bryce Jordan.

Like many others, head coach Paul Mainieri is hopeful the Tigers will be able to pull off something special this year.

“Obviously there’s a lot of optimism,” he said. “We’ve been pretty unanimous in the top five in all those preseason polls, although those preseason polls don’t mean a thing. But it does signify that there other people out there that also believe we have a chance to have a pretty good year.”

LSU baseball season officially begins on Feb. 17 at Alex Box Stadium versus Air Force.