Special time for Louisiana players

LSU’s baseball team is just one day away from making another appearance in the College World Series – No. 18 in school history.

The Tigers’ first trip to the CWS in Omaha was 31 years ago when coach Skip Bertman’s third team won one of three games. Four years later in 1991, LSU won the first of six national championships. The Tigers have been a huge player on the college baseball stage for 30-plus seasons.

For many Louisiana kids, playing baseball for LSU is an obvious goal. When the Tigers play Florida State in a first-round CWS game at TD Ameritrade Stadium on Saturday (7 p.m. Central/ESPN), all but three starters are Louisiana natives.

Freshman third baseman Josh Smith and junior designated hitter Beau Jordan are two of these individuals representing their state’s flagship university. Both players went to high schools with great baseball traditions – Baton Rouge Catholic for Smith and Lake Charles Barbe for Jordan.

Getting an opportunity to play for LSU in the College World Series is a tremendous honor for them.

“Being a Baton Rouge kid, absolutely this is special,” Smith said. “It’s cool to have people I am around all the time watch me and support me. The feeling is unbelievable. I never thought I would be here at this point.”

Jordan was a freshman on the Tigers’ 2015 team which participated in the College World Series. The situation is different this time for Jordan, who is now a starter.

“It’s a dream come true,” Jordan said. “I was here a couple of years ago, but I didn’t get to play then. We had a veteran team then. I am really excited for all the guys to get to experience Omaha. We finally get to go back there. This year, we are going for it.”

This year has been challenging for Jordan. Last year, Jordan was the Tigers’ starting leftfielder. He batted .286 with four homers and 39 RBIs. A couple of weeks into the current season, Jordan lost his job when Zach Watson was inserted in centerfield and Antoine Duplantis was moved to leftfield.

There was a stretch of about three weeks where Jordan sat the bench. Then, Jordan was given an opportunity to be the designated hitter – a role he still holds. Jordan, who has started 41 games this year, is hitting .277 with three homers and 25 RBIs.

“I try not to have low points,” Jordan said. “There are a lot worse things than not starting on a baseball team. You have to earn your position. Nothing is given to you. I try not to get high or low. It is still a team game. I love winning more than anything. I think that’s what coach (Paul Mainieri) likes about me.”

Smith was expected to be a starter as soon as he hit the LSU campus. That scenario has occurred. Smith, a shortstop at Catholic, has been the starting third baseman. Smith, who will be the Tigers’ shortstop in 2018, is batting .289 with four homers and 43 RBIs.

“It’s awesome being a starter for LSU at the College World Series,” Smith said. “Playing in Omaha is a dream-come-true. I have been thinking about this happening since I committed to LSU. I remember going to regionals and super-regionals as a little kid.

“I remember the games against Virginia and Texas when they won the championship in 2009. When somebody hit a home run, I remember running around the house and freaking out. Hopefully, we’ll win it this year. We don’t just want to go (to Omaha).”

The other five Louisiana natives in the Tigers starting lineup are Duplantis (Lafayette), Watson (West Monroe West Ouachita), Greg Deichmann (New Orleans Brother Martin), second baseman Cole Freeman (Mandeville Lakeshore) and first baseman Jake Slaughter (Monroe Ouachita Christian).

There is one Louisiana player who is very close to Jordan who will not be in Omaha – his twin brother Bryce, who suffered a knee injury prior to the start of the season. Bryce Jordan, who batted .293 with three homers and 33 RBIs last season, was going to be LSU’s designated hitter.

“My brother is not going to be in Omaha,” Beau Jordan said. “He is in summer school and he can’t miss school. Bryce is a little emotional. It affected him not being down there Sunday night when we won (super regional). But, he’ll be back for a couple of more years.”