⚾️ UL Diamond Club ⚾️

I am sorry for the poor audio quality, but I felt it was important to capture his first response.Thank you for listening, and Geaux Cajuns.

Andrew Herrmann sits down with Craig and discusses his time at UL.

Murphy Brooks, a student from Bridgeland High School in Cypress, Texas, talks about his hometown. Murphy shared his earliest memory of baseball from playing T-ball in Washington, discussed the significance of jersey numbers, and more.

Will Taylor, a baseball player from St. Thomas More High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, discusses his excitement for the upcoming season, his experience playing multiple sports in high school, and his connection to the local community.

Parker Smith, a right-handed pitcher from Lake Creek High School in Montgomery, Texas, discusses his baseball career and personal life. They discussed Parker's transition from a multi-position player to focusing primarily on pitching, his adjustment to college life as a sophomore, and his personal routine for game-day preparation.

Mark Collins shared his family background of 12 siblings, his academic success in school, and his transition from playing multiple sports in high school to focusing on baseball at UL. They discussed Mark's hobbies of hunting and fishing, his music preferences, and his experience wearing jersey number 6.

New Cajuns' Pitching Coach Taylor Sandefur joins the Diamond Club Podcast and discusses his journey to Louisiana.

Jayce LaCava discusses his journey from Marrero, Louisiana, to playing junior college baseball at Nunez Community College, where he excelled despite facing tough competition. They discussed Jayce's experience with early morning practices, his roommates, and his recruiting process.

Colt Brown, a student from Navarro High School in Seguin, Texas, for the Diamond Club Podcast. Colt explains that while his legal name is Colton, he goes by Colt and has been known as "Colt 45" since his coach gave him that nickname at age 10.

Bryce Wilson discussed his approach to pitching in a stadium with 4,000 fans, emphasizing the importance of staying focused by clearing his head and maintaining calmness. He noted that upperclassmen like Jose, as a catcher, have been helpful in providing immediate feedback during bullpen sessions, which he appreciates.

Hayden Pearson is an incoming freshman from Ascension Episcopal HS in Lafayette. He discusses with Craig his recruitment process and that once offered by UL, there was no other place he wanted to play. They talk about how he sees his role on this year's team as primarily a reliever, but he will do whatever it takes to help the team from the mound. The early morning practices required a little adjustment to his wake-up schedule. When not playing baseball, he enjoys deer hunting with a love for deer chili.

Landon Victorian was born in Kinder, LA, and later moved to Lake Charles. He comments on playing in Little League and in High School with UL standout Kyle Debarge. He was recruited to play for Oklahoma but was injured and pitched in only one game. Among his musical interests is Bob Marley, but he likes to listen to rap music while driving. In his free time, when not playing baseball, he likes to play video games, watch movies, and hang out with his teammates.To listen

Josh Lim explains that he chose the number 44 because his father and brother both wore number 4, and he discusses his early exposure to baseball through his father, who played for legendary coach Skip Bertman at LSU. Josh recalls his travel ball days at age 7U.

Noah Lewis discussed his early exposure to baseball, starting at age four in Texas before moving to Louisiana at five. He revealed that his jersey number 42, which he has worn since childhood, is a tribute to Jackie Robinson.

Cole Flanagan discusses his early experiences with baseball, including his mother's role in teaching him to throw and his dual-sport background, which involved playing both football and baseball. Cole prefers bass fishing at Toledo Bend and enjoys the solitude of fishing without distractions from music or technology.

Sawyer Pruitt discussed his athletic background, including playing quarterback in high school and transitioning to baseball, where he preferred playing third base over pitching. He noted that focusing solely on pitching led to improved performance. He briefly touched on Sawyer's recruiting process, noting that he had initially committed to Ole Miss.

Blaze Rodriguez discussed his personal motivation, explaining that his sister is his primary reason for striving to be his best self. He described how staying close to home was important to him, particularly for his sister's well-being, despite the challenges of moving away. His family dynamics and plans, as well as his potential pursuit of a career in the baseball industry after his playing career, rather than following his major in criminal justice.

Cowan Alfonso shared his early experiences with baseball, starting at age four on his father's t-ball team, and discussed his transition from second base to pitching during his college years. He described his childhood memories of playing neighborhood games and dealing with worn-out balls, while expressing interest in potentially returning to batting as a two-way player under Coach Decks' system.

Ty Roman discussed his college baseball experience, highlighting San Jacinto College's strong history of producing professional players, including multiple Cy Young Award winners. Ty discussed his approach to baseball, mentioning his reliance on God and his focus on doing the right thing on the field.

Steven Spalitta discusses his baseball background, including his high school experience in Louisiana and his college journey through Texas A&M, Tulane, and ultimately Mississippi State, where he played as a catcher and infielder. The conversation concluded with discussions about Steven's family life as one of three triplets, his transition to playing at UL, and his personal preferences regarding food and exercise routines.

Garret Carter, a pitcher for Tyler Junior College, shared his experience of a knee injury sustained during a bullpen session and discussed his background, including his high school and educational experiences. The conversation covered Garrett’s college baseball career, geographical moves, and culinary experiences across different regions, with particular focus on barbecue preferences.

Donovan LaSalle, a Lake Charles native and Barbe HS alumnus, is majoring in Sports Management and wants to become a sports agent and stay involved in baseball. While his jersey number is #2 for the Cajuns, he wore #5 in high school and #19 and #3 at Oklahoma. St. so he’s not superstitious about Jersey numbers. His uncle is Dusty Baker, and he has fond memories of being a batboy with the Reds and Astros. Players like Joey Votto, Bryce Harper, and Aroldis Chapman are some of his favorite players. His favorite dish is his mom’s Vietnamese Pho, which is a beef or chicken noodle soup. His dad played baseball at College of the Canyons, and Donovan credits his baseball knowledge to him. He likes the brotherhood already established at UL, especially with the number of new players, and thinks the funniest guy on this year’s team is Cody Brasch.

Right-handed pitcher Cody Brash is from Haslet, TX, and is a transfer from Tyler JC and has recovered from Tommy John surgery. He discusses dorm life, Mike Carter Field, and the strange traffic in Tyler during his stay there. His favorite thing about Louisiana is the cuisine. He enjoys gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish, boudin, and king cake. However, Angelo’s BBQ in Fort Worth is his favorite! A Rangers fan, he wears #15 in honor of Ian Kinsler and is looking forward to playing Dallas Baptist so his parents can easily attend the game. His favorite thing about the Cajuns is team-first chemistry. While he loves to keep things light, he has embraced the 5 am practices and is an intense competitor on the mound. He sees himself as one of the older players on the team, as being a leader by example.

Senior infielder Rigo Hernandez is from Panama City, Panama. Recruited to William Carey in 2019 after a tryout in Panama, he arrived with limited spoken English and has improved greatly. A serious leg injury derailed his junior year, but disciplined rehab led to a 2024 All-American season, batting .363, highlighted by a March 15 game in which he went 5-7, scored six runs, and drove in seven RBIs. Teammate and compatriot Jose Torres, along with Coach Thib’s interest, led him to Cajun baseball. He enjoys Louisiana food, especially jambalaya, which is reminiscent of home, and plans to try gumbo soon. He praises the team’s family feel and would call teammate Maddox Mandino, if he ever needed help in an emergency.Please consider donating to the Diamond Club. One hundred percent of the money stays with the baseball team to help supplement the budget and provide support. ⁠Give to the Diamond Club Online

Tyler Pappenbrock, a senior left-handed pitcher from Leo, Indiana, discusses his journey from Huntington University to Louisiana after posting his stats online and connecting with Coach Thib. He credits experience and coaching for his improved control and relies on his slider as his primary pitch. A kinesiology graduate, he plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. Tyler is starting to enjoy Louisiana’s food and culture. He values his family’s support despite the travel distance. Joining a close-knit new team, he embodies leadership through experience and camaraderie, expressing excitement for the upcoming season and gratitude for this opportunity.  Please consider donating to the Diamond Club. One hundred percent of the money stays with the baseball team to help supplement the budget and provide support. Give to the Diamond Club Online