Nicholls Baseball: A team on the rise

Nicholls Baseball is a team on the rise. With a strong group of returning players and some talented newcomers, the Colonels are poised for a big season. Follow along as we chronicle their journey.

Introduction

Nicholls State University’s baseball team is one of the nation’s premier Division I programs. The Colonels have made 14 NCAA tournament appearances, won 10 conference championships and produced 50 Major League Baseball draft picks

The team’s success is due in large part to its Coaching Staff led by Head Coach Mitch Gaspard. Gaspard has been at the helm of the Colonels since 2013, and under his leadership the team has achieved new heights. In 2015, Nicholls made its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2005 and went on to win the Southland conference tournament for the first time in program history.

With a wealth of talent on the roster and a proven track record of success, the Nicholls Baseball Team is poised for continued success in the years to come.

History

The Nicholls baseball team has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. The team has seen many ups and downs over the years, but they have always persevered. In recent years the team has seen a resurgence and they are now one of the top teams in the country. The team is led by head coach Seth Thibodeaux and they play their home games at Ray E. Didier Field.

The team today

The Nicholls baseball team has seen a lot of success in recent years The team has won back-to-back conference championships and made it to the NCAA tournament in 2019. The team is currently ranked No. 23 in the nation and is looking to make another run at the conference championship

The coaching staff

The Nicholls Baseball coaching staff is led by Head Coach Seth Thibodeaux, who is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Colonels program. Thibodeaux has compiled a 132-158 (.455) record during his time at Nicholls, which includes two seasons with a .500-or-better mark, and led the team to its first Southland Conference Tournament appearance in 2017.

Assistant coach Lane Burroughs is in his fifth season with the Colonels and serves as the team’s pitching coach. Burroughs has helped Nicholls’ pitchers post a 3.77 ERA over the last four years, which is the lowest mark in program history.

Rounding out the staff are assistant coaches Chase Fontenot and Jeremy Wells. Fontenot, who joined the staff prior to the 2018 season, works with the team’s infielders and hitters while Wells oversees the Colonels’ outfielders and serves as Nicholls’ recruiting coordinator.

The players

Nicholls baseball is a team on the rise. The Colonels have made the conference tournament four times in the last five years, and they are coming off a season in which they set a school record for wins.

The players on this team are a big reason for their success. They are a close-knit group that is always working to get better.

“We have a lot of guys that have been here for four or five years, so we’re kind of like a family,” said senior infielder Jake Edison. “We’re always pushing each other to be better.”

This team has a lot of talent, and they are only going to get better. They are a group that Colonels fans should be excited about.

The fans

The fans are the lifeblood of any Baseball Team and the Nicholls Baseball team is no different. The fans come out to support the team, whether they’re home or away, and they provide the energy and enthusiasm that helps spur the team on to victory.

The stadium

Situated on the edge of campus, John L. Guidry Stadium is the home of Nicholls baseball. The stadium, which opened in 1984, has a capacity of 1,500 and features a synthetic Turf Field The stadium underwent a $3 million renovation in 2000 that included the addition of a press box, new bleachers, and a lighting system. The stadium is named for former Nicholls president John L. Guidry, who was instrumental in the construction of the facility.

The schedule

The Nicholls baseball team is looking to build on last year’s success. The team finished the season with a record of .500, and is looking to make the jump to the next level.

The schedule for the upcoming season is as follows:

February:
2/16 – vs. University of New Orleans
2/17 – vs. University of New Orleans
2/23 – at Sam Houston State University
2/24 – at Sam Houston State University
March:
3/1 – vs. Mcneese State University
3/2 – vs. McNeese State University

The rivals

The rise of Nicholls baseball has been well-documented. The team has improved its win total in each of the last five seasons, culminating in a Southland Conference championship and an appearance in the NCAA regional last year.

But with success comes increased expectations, and the Colonels will have to contend with some new challenges this season.

One is that they are no longer flying under the radar. Nicholls was picked to finish second in the Southland Conference preseason poll, behind only reigning conference champion Sam Houston State

Another challenge is that the Colonels will have a target on their backs as they attempt to defend their conference title It’s something that coach Seth Thibodeaux has been preaching to his team since the start of fall practice.

“We’re not sneaking up on anybody,” Thibodeaux said. “Everybody’s going to give us their best shot, so we have to be ready for that.”

The Colonels will also have to contend with some new rivals this season. With Sam Houston State moving to the Western Athletic Conference and Oral Roberts joining the Southland, Nicholls will have two new teams to battle for conference supremacy.

The future

As the new season approaches, Nicholls baseball is poised to make some noise in the Southland Conference After a disappointing 2018 campaign, the team is motivated to prove themselves and return to the top of the conference.

The Colonels have a lot of talent on the roster, including some experienced seniors who are looking to end their careers on a high note. They also have a strong group of younger players who are eager to make an impact. With a mix of youth and experience, Nicholls is a team to watch out for in 2019.

Coach Eric Maaske has high expectations for his team, and they are determined to meet those expectations. With hard work and dedication, the Colonels are poised to have a successful season and return to the top of the Southland Conference.