Da Boot Sports
6/29/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. – LSU outfielder Dylan Crews has earned 2022 First-Team All-America recognition from D1 Baseball and from Baseball America.
 
Crews has now received First-Team All-America honors from six different publications and organizations:  Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game, the American Baseball Coaches Association, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, D1 Baseball and Baseball America.
 
Crews, the 2022 SEC Co-Player of the Year, batted .349 this season with 11 doubles, four triples, 22 homers, 72 RBI and 73 runs. The Tigers’ centerfielder was voted a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award and for the Dick Howser National Player of the Year Award.
 
Crews, a Longwood, Fla., native, also received 2022 SEC Community Service Team and SEC All-Defensive Team recognition.
 
He finished this season as the SEC leader in runs scored (73), and he was No. 2 in the league in triples (4), No. 3 in RBI (72), No. 3 in total bases (172), No. 4 in home runs (22), No. 4 in slugging percentage (.691), No. 5 in hits (87), No. 5 in on-base percentage (.463) and No. 8 in walks (42).
 
Crews was voted to the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional All-Tournament team, batting .412 (7-for-15) with two doubles, one homer and four RBI.
 
He was named SEC Co-Player of the Week on May 9 after he led LSU to a series victory at Alabama, batting a remarkable .636 (7-for-11) in the series with one double, three homers, seven RBI and five runs.
 
Crews and LSU first baseman Tre’ Morgan have been invited to join the U.S. Collegiate National Team this summer.
 
The Collegiate National Team Training Camp will feature 48-50 of the premier non-draft eligible college players for a five-game Stars vs. Stripes intrasquad series in North Carolina beginning on Thursday and continuing through July 4.
 
USA Baseball will name a final, 26-man Collegiate National Team roster after Training Camp that will represent the United States at Honkbalweek Haarlem in the Netherlands from July 9–15.
 

Da Boot Sports
6/27/2022
By: David Penn


   BATON ROUGE, LA - Jay Johnson isn’t wasting a moment of his offseason following the Tigers exit from the Hattiesburg Regional. Johnson has landed two premier pitching prospects, two highly touted infielders, and within hours of Ole Miss winning the MCWS, Johnson hired Wes Johnson from the Minnesota Twins to be the new pitching coach at LSU.    
   Wes Johnson has been the pitching coach for the Minnesota Twins since 2018. Currently the Twins have the 11th best pitching staff in the majors. Johnson previously was the pitching coach at Mississippi State where he elevated that staff from worst to first.

   Christian Little, a RHP from Vanderbilt has joined the ranks of the Fighting Tigers. Little appeared in 18 games for
the Commodores tallying 38.2 innings pitched with an ERA of 3.72 and striking out 46 batters.

   Jay Johnson also added two time Big East pitcher of the year Dylan Trebake. Trebake pitched 93 innings this past season with a 2.81 ERA. He is draft eligible and ultimately may end up in the majors, but for now he has signed on to play with LSU.

   Tommy “Tanks” White turned a lot of heads playing first base as a freshman for the NC State Wolfpack, garnering all ACC nods, setting the single season homerun record by a freshman (27), and being declared the Perfect Game Freshman of the Year.
   It was a surprise when White announced his decision to enter the transfer portal, and an even bigger surprise that he
was heading to LSU where first base is locked up by phenom Tre’ Morgan at the moment.

   Also joining LSU via the transfer portal will be shortstop Jack Pineda from Baylor. Pineda batted .300 for the Bears with 7 homeruns, 35 RBIs, an OBP of .392, and a .502 slugging percentage.

   Coach Johnson still has another coaching position to fill and likely isn’t done utilizing the transfer portal. Nine Tigers from the 2022 team have announced their intention to enter the portal including fan favorite Giovanni DiGiacomo.

Da Boot Sports
6/21/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   BATON ROUGE, La. -- Members of LSU's baseball team have departed for destinations throughout the country to play in summer collegiate leagues.
 
Follow the progress of the Tigers this summer by using the links below:
 
U.S. Collegiate National Team

• Dylan Crews, OF
• Tre’ Morgan, 1B

https://www.usabaseball.com/team-usa/collegiate-national-team
 
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox – Cape Cod League

• Jordan Thompson, SS

https://ydredsox.com/
 
Cotuit Kettleers – Cape Cod League

• Josh Pearson, OF

https://www.kettleers.org/
 
Bourne Braves – Cape Cod League

• Garrett Edwards, RHP

https://bournebraves.org/
 
Chatham Anglers – Cape Cod League

• Hayden Travinski, C

http://www.chathamanglers.com/
 
Brewster Whitecaps – Cape Cod League

• Grant Taylor, RHP

https://brewsterwhitecaps.org/
 
La Crosse Loggers – Northwoods League

• Josh Stevenson, OF
• Luke Leto, INF

https://northwoodsleague.com/la-crosse-loggers/
 
Madison Mallards – Northwoods League

• Jack Merrifield, INF

https://northwoodsleague.com/madison-mallards/
 
Acadiana Cane Cutters – Texas League

• Grant Fontenot, RHP

https://www.canecuttersbaseball.com/
 

Da Boot Sports
6/8/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The USA baseball team has announced that they have invited LSU's Dylan Crews and Tre' Morgan to join the U.S. College National Team this summer.

   About 50 non-draft eligible college players will attend the USA Team training camp to compete in a intrasquad five game series (Stars vs. Stripes) in North Carolina from June 30 through July 4. All five games can be viewed on USABaseball.com beginning at 6:00pm CT. 

   A final 26 player roster will be announced at the conclusion of training camp. 

   The team will compete in the Netherlands starting on July 9th, beginning with a contest against Japan before taking on Italy, Cuba, the Netherlands and Curacao. A second round of competition will begin on July 14, before the championship game on July 15th.   

   Ole Miss head coach Mike Bianco will be the 2022 USA National Team manager. 

Da Boot Sports
6/6/2022
LSU Sports Communications
By: William Franques


   HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Third baseman Danny Lynch’s sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning Monday scored the go-ahead run for Southern Miss, and the Eagles held on to post an 8-7 win over LSU in the championship game of the NCAA Hattiesburg Regional at Pete Taylor Park.
 
Southern Miss (47-17) advances to meet Ole Miss in an NCAA Super Regional series this weekend. LSU completed its season with a 40-22 mark under first-year head coach Jay Johnson.
 
Southern Miss reliever Tyler Stuart (4-0) was credited with the win as he worked the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs and no hits with one strikeout.
 
LSU reliever Eric Reyzelman (1-2) was charged with the loss as he gave up one run on three hits in two innings with no walk and one strikeout.
 
With the game tied 7-7 entering the ninth inning, USM first baseman Christopher Sargent and designated hitter Slade Wilks provided back-to-back singles before Lynch from Sargent home from third on a sacrifice fly.
 
Stuart retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.
 
Southern Miss rightfielder Carson Paetow led off the game with a home run, his 16th of the year.
 
The Tigers responded with three runs in the bottom of the first inning as first baseman Tre’ Morgan delivered a two-run single and shortstop Jordan Thompson reached base safely on a bunt, scoring second baseman Cade Doughty from third base.
 
USM reduced the deficit to 4-3 in the fourth as the Eagles scored on a passed ball and on an RBI groundout by centerfielder Gabe Montenegro.
 
The Eagles erupted for four runs in the top of the seventh, benefitting from two walks, a hit batter and an error. The inning was highlighted by Montenegro’s two-run single, an RBI single by Wilks and a sacrifice fly by Sargent.
 
The Tigers narrowed the gap to 7-6 in the bottom of the seventh when Morgan and Thompson delivered back-to-back RBI singles.
 
LSU tied the game in the eighth on a solo homer by designated hitter Gavin Dugas, his fifth dinger of the year.
    

Da Boot Sports
6/5/2022
By: David Penn


   HATTIESBURG, MS - The late inning heroics that punctuated back to back comebacks for LSU in its first two games in the Hattiesburg regional were not present on Sunday night.

   LSU put up four runs early, but the Golden Eagles had answers and the game was tied after three innings.

   USM would keep LSU off the scoreboard for the final six frames with Justin Storm pitching the final five innings earning seven Ks.

   LSU pitched by committee, rolling out seven different Tiger hurlers. Bryce Collins was the most effective, allowing no hits or runs. All six of the other pitchers for LSU gave up at least one run. Sam Dutton and Riley Cooper pitched for the longest stretches with Dutton starting on the mound and pitching the first 2.1 innings and Cooper pulling 2.2 innings of middle relief.

   Cade Doughty started the scoring off with a two run dinger in the first inning that scored Jacob Berry.

   Doughty would score Crews again on a single in the third frame and Josh Pearson would score on a passed ball in the
same inning to finish out the scoring for the Tigers.

   The Tigers and the Eagles will face off Monday at 3:00pm CT to determine the Hattiesburg regional champion. All eyes will be on the bullpens for both clubs with USM playing its fifth game of the regional and LSU now playing its fourth game of the regional.

​   Miami lost to Ole Miss and Arizona, so the winner of the Hattiesburg regional will host a super regional.​

Da Boot Sports
6/4/2022
By: David Penn


   HATTIESBURG, MS - LSU used the same formula in its second game in Hattiesburg with host Southern Miss as it did with Kennesaw State, chasing the starting pitcher with enough time to beat up on the relieving pitchers.

   This time the Tigers worked their magic in the bottom of the ninth. Trailing 6-2, LSU roared back scoring four runs to tie the game, forcing extra innings before winning in walk off fashion in the tenth frame when Josh Pearson hit into a bases-loaded fielder’s choice that scored Jacob Berry.

   Hurston Waldrep pitched the first 6.2 innings for the Golden Eagles and was excellent, but when his pitch count exceeded 100 pitches, the Tigers were able to begin touching him up. Waldrep left the game after firing 119 pitches.     
   
​   Ty Floyd started for the Bayou Bengals and pitched the first six innings, allowing four runs on six hits with no walks and seven Ks. Floyd being able to give LSU six quality innings was huge in that it set up the Tigers’ bullpen to be able to go the distance and limit USM the rest of the way to a pair of runs.

   Jacob Hasty drew the first middle relief assignment, pitching one inning, giving up no hits, one run, while walking two and striking out two.

   Trent Veietmier would pitch the next two innings allowing one run on one hit, walking one and striking out four.

   Paul Gervase again earned the closing assignment, allowing no runs or hits, and striking out one in the tenth inning, retiring the Golden Eagles in order.

   LSU started off the scoring in the first inning when Tre’ Morgan hit an RBI single that scored Dylan Crews.

   Southern Miss answered in the second frame with a two run shot by Will McGillis to give Southern Miss a 2-1 advantage.

   In the home half of the second inning, Tyler McManus blasted his eleventh homerun of the season to tie the game at
2-2. Waldrep then settled in from the third inning on and pitched well for the Golden Eagles.

   USM would score a run in the fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth inning to give the Golden Eagles a 6-2 advantage heading into the ninth inning.

   Dylan Crews would start the ninth inning rally with a solo homerun, his 22nd of the season, cutting the lead to 6-3. Cade Doughty would follow up with a two run blast that brought home Josh Pearson and closed the gap to 6-5. Tre' Morgan would then reach on a single. Coach Jay Johnson would put Drew Bianco in to pinch run for Morgan who stole second on a great read on a passed ball. Jordan Thompson tied the game on an RBI single that scored Drew Bianco. Southern Miss would retire the side on a double play that would send the game into the tenth inning.

   Paul Gervase set the tone in the top of the tenth by retiring the Golden Eagles in quick fashion and the LSU hitters were ready to do the improbable, becoming just the second team since the super regional format to complete two comebacks after being down after seven innings.

   McManus got the Tigers started with a single before Josh Stevenson would take one for the team, being hit by a pitch, to give LSU runners on first and second.  Crews would load the bases up, drawing a walk for the Tigers which would also earn the Tigers a pitching change from USM.  

   Next, Jacob Berry would hit into a fielder’s choice as USM would gun Collier Cranford, who was pinch running for McManus, out at home plate. The bases were still loaded with the game still tied at 6-6.  With one out, LSU's Josh Pearson entered the batter’s box. Pearson uncorked a high hopper that wouldn’t fall in time for USM to make the play at home plate as Stevenson would slide safely to give LSU the 7-6 walk off victory.

   LSU will await the winner of Sunday afternoon's elimination game between Southern Miss and Kennesaw State. The survivor will play the Tigers at 6:00pm CT.

   The road to a Super Regional becomes much easier for LSU. Win one more game and move on. For host Southern Miss and Kennesaw State the challenge is much more daunting as they will now have to win three games to moving on.

   LSU fans will be keeping an eye on the Coral Gables regional to see if host Miami wins or loses. If Miami fails to win its regional, it will set up LSU to host the Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium.

Da Boot Sports
​6/3/2022
By: David Penn


   HATTIESBURG, MS - Are you not entertained? The Cardiac Cats from Baton Rouge pulled off a comeback for the ages when LSU erased a seven run deficit in the eighth inning to beat the Kennesaw State Owls 14-11.

   LSU started the bottom of the eighth facing an 11-4 hole, but ended up tying their largest postseason comeback.

   Jack Myers did not start for Kennesaw State, but threw 5.1 innings for the Owls and held LSU in check until the eighth inning when his pitch count exceeded 100 pitches.

   Ma’Khail Hilliard got the start for LSU and went 2.2 innings for the Tigers. Hilliard allowed five runs on five hits, walked
two batters, and recorded two Ks.

   Riley Cooper came out in relief and pitched the next two innings. Cooper would surrender six runs on five hits, walking one
with two strikeouts.

   Devin Fontenot was brilliant on the mound for the Tigers, whizzing fast balls in for strikes while earning six strikeouts in his 3.1 innings of work. Fontenot entered the game for LSU in the fourth inning, needing a big out that he would get. He then proceeded to shut down the Owls' batters for the next three innings, giving up two hits but allowed no runs.

   Paul Gervase would pitch the final inning for the Bayou Bengals allowing no runs on one hit, while striking out one batter.
    
   The first batter up in the home half of the eighth inning was Josh Stevenson who drew a walk. Dylan Crews was up next
and reached when Myers hit Crews in the elbow. Next, Jacob Berry would single and score Stevenson. Josh Pearson would then single to bring Crews home. Jordan Thompson followed with a double to left field, scoring Berry. At that point Kennesaw State head coach Ryan Coe finally pull Mayers, who had thrown 109 pitches. LSU was trailing at this point 11-7.
    
   Tre’ Morgan would welcome the new Owls pitcher to the game with a two RBI single scoring Pearson and Thompson. Cade Doughty would then single, moving Morgan over to second base. The Owls again called for a pitching change with LSU now trailing 11-9.
    
   Tyler McManus drew a walk that loaded the bases before his fellow Slidellian Brayden Jobert would ground into a fielder’s choice that scored Morgan and move Doughty to third base. McManus was forced out at second and Jobert was safe at first base. The Tigers now only trailed by one, 11-10 with runners on the corners. Stevenson drew his second walk of the inning which again loaded the bases for Dylan Crews to do Dylan Crews things. Crews crushed a two RBI double to give the Tigers the lead 12-11. 
    The Owls would then intentionally walk Berry to have the force at each base, but Pearson again drilled a single that
scored Stevenson and Crews providing the final margin of the game, as the Tigers win in thrilling fashion, 14-11. 
    
   LSU will move on to face the hosting Southern Miss Golden Eagles at 6:00pm CT, while the Kennesaw State Owls will face Army in an elimination game at Noon.

Da Boot Sports
6/2/2022
By: Terrill J. Weil


   HATTIESBURG, MS - All four head coaches met with the media in a pre-tournament press conference on Thursday afternoon. Below is the video footage for your viewing..  GEAUX TIGERS!!