I’m sure that the other three teams involved aren’t too thrilled about having to play their regional in Baton Rouge, as the Tigers come in to the NCAA Tournament as the hottest team in the country. Winners of 13 of their last 15, LSU carries plenty of momentum into the regional with the Rally Possum on their back. It is going to be difficult for Rice, Southeastern Louisiana or Utah Valley to upset the Bayou Bengals.
Players to Watch:
Alex Lange, SP, LSU
Lange’s sophomore season got off to a rough start, as his ERA rose to above 6.00 a few weeks into the campaign. This was shocking, especially after going 12-0 in his stellar freshman campaign. But Lange has rebounded and has gone back to his old ways, lowering his ERA to 3.56, and finishing the regular season 7-3. He recently won a pitching duel with likely No. 1 MLB draft pick A.J. Puk, and will be looking to continue his domination in the Regional.
Kramer Robertson, SS, LSU
Robertson had some big shoes to fill as Alex Bregman’s replacement, but he has stepped up to the task. Like Bregman, Robertson plays with so much adrenalin, and has come through when needed the most. He has come up with multiple clutch hits, including a walk off in the SEC Tournament against Tennessee. He has even been called “Mr. Clutch” by LSU play-by-play voice Chris Blair. Look for Robertson and his .316 average to be leading the way for the Tigers.
Jameson Fisher, 1B, Southeastern Louisiana
The best hitter in this whole regional belongs to not LSU, but Southeastern. Jameson Fisher carries a whopping .437 average into the NCAA Tournament, with 11 homers and 66 RBI’s. He is a nightmare for pitchers, even for a guy like Alex Lange. I think the best strategy for opposing teams would be to just intentionally walk him.
Charlie Warren, OF, Rice
Warren doesn’t have any home runs, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hit the baseball. The junior has produced with his .346 average and his .418 OBP. Look for him to be the main contributor to the Owl’s offense.
Craig Brinkerhoff, OF, Utah Valley
In my opinion, the second best hitter in this tournament behind Jameson Fisher is Craig Brinkerhoff. His .328 average and 11 homers lead the way for the Wolverines, and could pose some trouble for whomever LSU throws on Friday.
Team That Could Surprise: Southeastern Louisiana
The Lions have a solid club. They have a .289 batting average as a team, and two great starting pitchers in Domenick Carlini and Mac Sceroler. I expect them to beat Rice to start the regional, and I believe they are the biggest threat to knock of LSU. Could they do it twice? I don’t think so.
Regional Champion: LSU
If I didn’t answer clearly enough in my last paragraph, yes, I’m picking LSU to move on. They are just too hot right now to pick against them. They have an outstanding team all-around team, and I fully expect them, and the Rally Possum, to go 3-0 in the regional and advance.
