Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Related News

New Faces of ULM Baseball Bring Excitement to ‘The Lou’

New Faces of ULM Baseball Bring Excitement to ‘The Lou’

Baseball Feb 05
By ULMWarhawks.com Online Columnist Paul Letlow

ULM baseball fans better have their new roster handy when they head out to Lou St. Amant Field this season. With several mainstay seniors, including top hitter Mason Holt, cycling out of the program, ULM head coach Michael Federico needed to reload. As a result, newcomers are in abundance out at The Lou. "It wasn't really ideal with what we wanted to do with the turnover," Federico said. "But we did have a lot of seniors. With the transfer portal, some of it was unexpected and some of it was just attrition.

"I am really excited about the opportunities that we have in front of us and the guys we were able to bring in." Players seem energized by the infusion of new talent. "It's been easy," said junior pitcher Carson Orton, who led ULM with 25 appearances in 2022. "Guys showed up and meshed well." The Warhawks were 20-35-1 overall and 9-20-1 in the Sun Belt Conference a year ago. As the No. 10 seed, ULM beat Georgia State in the first round of the Sun Belt Tournament before a loss to Texas State ended the season. "We're hungry," Federico said. "We were disappointed with what happened last year. We got into the tournament, which was single-elimination, and played really well in that first game against Georgia State and led going into the sixth inning in the quarterfinals against Texas State. We're close, but we've got to figure out how to win late. A lot of times last year, we played seven innings really well and then we had two innings that we kind of gave away. We've got to learn how to finish." In retooling for his sixth season at ULM, Federico had a game plan. "I think the biggest thing is, we wanted to get a little more physical," Federico said. "The last couple of years, we've been a little smaller and more of a running team. We're going to look good getting off the bus. We've got the ability to drive some balls in the gap and hit some balls out of the ballpark." "I like the direction we're headed," ULM pitcher Nicholas Judice said. "Obviously last year, we had a lot of smaller guys and contact hitters. Coach really wanted to get in some physical guys and he did that. I'm excited for this year." Size didn't matter much with Holt, who hit 16 of ULM's 50 home runs. In finding reinforcements, ULM sought more players who could rattle the fences. "It's not like we don't want some smaller guys," Federico said. "But Mason was one of those who could put a ball in the gap and hit it out of the ballpark. You're starting to see that more often in college baseball and we've got some guys that have the potential to do that." Most of ULM's turnover took place among position players. "From a position player standpoint, there's not a lot players returning," Federico said. "There are a lot of new faces and a lot of question marks to see who will win the jobs." First baseman Michelle Artzberger, who started 44 games and ranked sixth on the team last season with a .265 batting average is returning. Other experienced returnees are the versatile Chase DeJean (.259, 3 HR) and infielder Carson Jones (.212, 4 HR). "I think what's got me most excited is all the new faces," Artzberger said. "Guys came from all over, so it's like a brand new team. It's a fresh start that we all have. We're all in the same locker room now, so our chemistry is better. For me that's the biggest part, because if we can mesh and come together off the field, then the on-field stuff will follow." Outfielder Chenar Brown, a highly-decorated transfer from Jackson State, is one of those newcomers to watch. The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2021 along with first-team All-Southwestern Conference and SWAC Freshman of the Year. "He's loaded with tools," Federico said. "He missed most of last season with knee surgery. He's still kind of young and needs maturity with the bat, but he's super athletic. The sky's the limit for Chenar. He should be a draft pick at some point. He's somebody Warhawk Nation is really going to enjoy watching play." Brown should be a fixture in right field alongside Shawn Dalton Weatherbee in center. The 5-10, 220-pound Weatherbee hit .297 and belted nine home runs for Northeast Mississippi Community College prior to joining the Warhawks. Former Sterlington standout Jarrett McDonald, who comes to ULM after stops at LSU-Eunice and Dallas Baptist, is the top contender to start in left field. Federico said that senior Travis Washburn and highly-regarded freshman Cardell Thibodeaux should also factor into the outfield mix. Whether it's matchups or just booming bats, Federico expects ULM to do a lot of lineup shuffling. The defense and offensive lineup will be subject to frequent changes. "There could be some revolving doors," Federico said. "We've got a nice mix of lefty-righty." At second base, red-shirt freshman Kade Dupont , Jones and Mississippi State transfer Davis Meche are "guys who have a chance to play," Federico said. Auburn transfer Seaver Sheets, another Sterlington product and the son of ULM legend Ben Sheets, was limited in the fall after surgery but is working back into form. Competition at shortstop includes Tallahassee Community College transfer Jayson Zmejkoski, Jones and DeJean. Third base options include DeJean and freshman Jake Haggard, a youngster the staff is high on. Matt Abshire, a pickup from Pensacola State College, and Riley Davis from Itawamba Community College are the top contenders to catch for the Warhawks. "So far, we've been coming together pretty well," Abshire said.  "We continue to do that, we should be good to go." There's a more familiar feel with the ULM pitching staff, which welcomes back weekend starters Cam Barlow (2-7, 5.14) and Cole Cressend (3-6, 7.08), along with Nicholas Judice, Henry Shuffler, Carson Orton, Steve Owings and Trey Lindsay. "A lot of the returning guys have been here on the mound," Federico said. "Maturity wise, we're probably a little bit ahead there with some guys who have grown and developed in our program." Added to that core  is Louisiana Lafayette transfer Chipper Menard, a left-hander expected to occupy one of the primetime weekend rotation slots. "He understands the league, he understands the state, he understands everything this program is about," Federico said. "Even though he's new, I kind of consider him a returner because he knows the league and they'll know him." As a sophomore at ULL in 2022, Menard made 26 appearances with a 5-1 record , three saves and 4.48 ERA Menard said the transition has been easy for the newcomers. "Coming to this team this year, I've felt acceptance from the returners and built relationships with the other transfers that came in," Menard said. "I can tell there's a special connection on this team similar to what I had last year at Lafayette.

"If we all get going in the same direction for the same goal and everyone knows their role, we can go as far as we want to go." Another notable addition, Federico hired Ryan McClaran as his pitching coach in the offseason. McClaran, who coached at Maine last season, is a Texas native with a stint in the Army on his resume. "I love his background," Federico said. "He's very disciplined and our guys really relate to him. He's brought an element of toughness to us from his military background. It's freed me up and allowed me to be more of a part of everything." ULM has 31 home games scheduled for 2023, beginning with the season-opening series against Bradley on Feb. 17-19. Old Dominion visits ULM to open Sun Belt Conference play on March 17-19. "I like where we're at right now," Federico said. "Athletically from the position players, we've got some depth. We've got some guys that can do some different things. We're versatile and can move people around if we need to.

"On the mound, we're older and mature." To go: Warhawk baseball season tickets are on sale now at the ULM Ticket Office in Fant-Ewing Coliseum, by calling 318-342-HAWK or going online at ULMWarhawks.com. Click here to order season tickets online.
 
 
Print Friendly Version