Well, this is what you stuck around for. If you’re Kramer Robertson, Greg Deichmann, Jared Poché, and Cole Freeman, this is why you came back to LSU even though you were drafted to the Majors last year. A chance at Omaha and most importantly, a chance at redemption. One year ago the LSU Tigers were stunned by the eventual College World Series Champions (of the World). That loss proved to be the most pivotal moment in any of these four players careers. Watching the Chanticleers dog pile on his position upset team leader Kramer Robertson so much that not shortly after the loss sunk in, he along with his three other high profile teammates all declined entering MLB even though they were drafted. Robertson, Deichmann, Freem, and Poché wanted that moment that was stolen from them back. Now they are back at the scene of the crime ready to fix and take everything.
The final opponent standing between LSU and Omaha this time around is probably their most familiar one, Mississippi State. Led by a coach who used to be on their staff, the Bulldogs will bring the big fight after proving that they are willing to do things the hard way by carrying a loss through the Hattiesburg Regional as a 2 seed. The field will be littered with All-American talent, including Mississippi State’s First Team All-American slugger Brent Rooker and LSU’s Greg Deichmann. Surefire first round pick Alex Lange will be there too. The lights will be bright as Omaha is up for grabs and the MLB Draft looms in the back of all of these young players’ minds.
Although, if you ask any of LSU’s players who are likely to get drafted, they will tell you it is hardly in their minds because they have had tunnel vision since last year. This series might even end on Draft night if it goes to three games and that is of little concern to the likes of Robertson and Deichmann. The motivational speech for this weekend was given to these players exactly one year ago; if at all. I highly doubt Paul Mainieri has to say anything to the four big names who stuck around or anyone else in purple and gold for that matter. It’s always been about this weekend. Every bullpen session, every shagged fly ball, every dip of Big League Chew has been in preparation for fixing what happened last year at this time.
With 14 wins in a row and counting, the LSU Tigers Baseball team is perhaps the hottest team going into Super Regionals in the entire country. However, that is not as impressive as the fact that they also are the most motivated team in the country. Motivated by the best virtue you can have in athletic competition; the will to win. For so many young men who have bright lights flashing in their faces; the women, the cars, the money, the fame; for so many young men to see all that and collectively decide they will wait for it all after they settle unfinished business, that is something you just do not see these days.