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 from Panama City, Panama. Recruited to William Carey in 2019 after a tryout in Panama, he arrived with limited spoken English and adjusted over time. A serious leg injury derailed his junior year; 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 encouraged him; Coach Thib’s interest led him to Cajun baseball. He enjoys Louisiana cuisine—especially jambalaya, which reminds him of home—and plans to try gumbo. He praises the team’s family feel and would call teammate Maddox Mandino for help.
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.
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. A kinesiology graduate, he plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. Tyler is starting to enjoy Louisiana’s food and culture, and values his family’s support despite the 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.