WEEKEND RELEASE NO. 1 5 NCAA TITLES, 13 CWS APPEARANCES, 13 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS 2006 LSU BASEBALL vs. North Florida Feb. 10-12, 2006 • 6:30 p.m., 2 p.m., 1 p.m. Baton Rouge, La. • Alex Box Stadium (7,760) 2006 Schedule/Results (0-0, 0-0 SEC) Tigers Open 2006 Season Against North Florida Date Opponent Time/Result No. 15 LSU opens its 2006 season with a three-game series against North Florida at Alex Box Stadium. The series begins February (0-0) at 6:30 p.m. Friday and continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. 10 (Fri.) NORTH FLORIDA 6:30 p.m. 11 (Sat.) NORTH FLORIDA 2 p.m. >Broadcast Info 12 (Sun.) NORTH FLORIDA 1 p.m. Games on Friday and Sunday can be heard statewide on the LSU Sports Network (WDGL 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge). Due 14 (Tue.) CENTENARY 6:30 p.m. to the men’s basketball game at Florida, Saturday’s contest will be broadcast in Baton Rouge only (107.3 FM). Charles 17 (Fri.) TENNESSEE TECH 6:30 p.m. Hanagriff will call the action. There will be no television for the three-game series. Live stats are available on 18 (Sat.) TENNESSEE TECH 2 p.m. www.LSUsports.net. 19 (Sun.) TENNESSEE TECH 1 p.m. 21 (Tue.) SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA 6:30 p.m. 24 (Fri.) TEMPLE 6:30 p.m. >Last Time Out 25 (Sat.) TEMPLE Noon LSU was eliminated from its first regional since 1995 after dropping a 5-4 decision to Rice in Game 6 of the NCAA Baton 26 (Sun.) TEMPLE Noon Rouge Regional. The Owls overcame a two-run deficit with a homer in the seventh and a run in the eighth, while the Tigers March (0-0, 0-0 SEC) went quietly in the ninth. LSU finished with a 40-22 overall record, marking the 17th-consecutive time the Tigers have fin- 1 (Wed.) UL-MONROE (COX) 6:30 p.m. ished with 40-plus wins. LSU advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 17th straight year and hosted a regional for the 3 (Fri.) HOUSTON 6:30 p.m. 16th consecutive season. 4 (Sat.) HOUSTON 2 p.m. 5 (Sun.) HOUSTON 1 p.m. 7 (Tue.) TULANE (COX) 6:30 p.m. >Notables 10 (Fri.) STETSON 6:30 p.m. LSU enters the season ranked in the polls for the 17th straight season ... Six LSU players were drafted in 2005, the high- 11 (Sat.) STETSON 2 p.m. est total since 2001 ... The Tigers own a 21-5 mark all-time against Atlantic Sun opponents ... LSU has not lost a season 12 (Sun.) STETSON 1 p.m. opener since 2001 (9-8 vs. Kansas State) ... Smoke Laval has won all four of his season-opening series and is 4-0 in sea- 17 (Fri.) at Kentucky 5:30 p.m. son-opening games ... LSU opens the season with 19 straight home games, the most to start a season in school history 18 (Sat.) at Kentucky (JSN) Noon ... Three true freshmen are expected to be in the starting lineup, a first in school history ... The Tigers are an amazing 117- 19 (Sun.) at Kentucky (JSN) Noon 0 when leading after eight innings the past three seasons ... Head coach Smoke Laval enters his fifth season at LSU and 22 (Wed.) Southeastern Louisiana 7 p.m. $ 24 (Fri.) MISSISSIPPI STATE 6:30 p.m. is 25 wins away from the 200-win plateau here ... Southpaw Clay Dirks has been named to the Wallace Award and 25 (Sat.) MISSISSIPPI STATE 2 p.m. Clemens Award Watch Lists ... LSU was preseason selected second in the SEC West by the leagues’ coaches. 26 (Sun.) MISSISSIPPI STATE 1 p.m. 28 (Tue.) at New Orleans 6:30 p.m. Pitching Matchups 31 (Fri.) SOUTH CAROLINA 6:30 p.m. Game 1 April (0-0, 0-0 SEC) 1 (Sat.) SOUTH CAROLINA 4 p.m. LSU -- Jr. LHP Clay Dirks (10-4, 3.24 ERA, 94.1 IP, 27 BB, 67 SO in 2005) 2 (Sun.) SOUTH CAROLINA 1 p.m. UNF -- Sr. RHP Jacob Dixon (1-0, 1.80 ERA, 5.0 IP, 4 BB, 6 SO) 4 (Tue.) SOUTHERN 6:30 p.m. 7 (Fri.) at Tennessee 6 p.m. Game 2 8 (Sat.) at Tennessee (FSN) 3 p.m. LSU -- Jr. RHP Derik Olvey (2-2, 5.59 ERA, 48.1 IP, 15 BB, 25 SO at Notre Dame in 2005) 9 (Sun.) at Tennessee (JSN) 11:30 a.m. UNF -- TBA 11 (Tue.) NORTHWESTERN STATE 6:30 p.m. 14 (Fri.) ALABAMA 6:30 p.m. 15 (Sat.) ALABAMA 2 p.m. Game 3 16 (Sun.) ALABAMA 1 p.m. LSU -- TBA 18 (Tue.) at Tulane 7 p.m. $ UNF -- TBA 21 (Fri.) at Ole Miss 6:30 p.m. 22 (Sat.) at Ole Miss (JSN) 4 p.m. LSU Probable Position Starters (2005 stats included) 23 (Sun.) at Ole Miss (JSN) 1:30 p.m. 26 (Wed.) NEW ORLEANS (COX) 6:30 p.m.# Pos. Player Cl.-Exp. B/T Avg. HR RBI Notable 28 (Fri.) ARKANSAS (COX) 6:30 p.m. C Matt Liuzza Sr.-3L R/R .251 3 24 Rated No. 31 senior by Baseball America 29 (Sat.) ARKANSAS 2 p.m. 1B Steven Waguespack Jr.-TR L/L .316 0 29 Transfer from Delgado CC in New Orleans 30 (Sun.) ARKANSAS 1 p.m. 2B Jason Ogata Fr.-HS R/R .000 0 0 No. 1 HS prospect in the Northwest and Oregon May (0-0, 0-0 SEC) -or- Buzzy Haydel Fr.-HS R/R .000 0 0 Batted .413 as senior en route to 2005 4A state title 5 (Fri.) at Auburn 7 p.m. 6 (Sat.) at Auburn (JSN) 7 p.m. SS Michael Hollander Fr.-HS R/R .238 1 13 Committed no errors in last 18 games 7 (Sun.) at Auburn (JSN) 1 p.m. 3B Will Harris Sr.-3L R/R .213 4 20 Hit .295 with 2 HRs, 6 RBI in fall intrasquad games 12 (Fri.) VANDERBILT (COX) 6:30 p.m. LF Quinn Stewart Jr.-1L R/R .234 2 11 33 starts in 2005; played summer ball in Alaska 13 (Sat.) VANDERBILT 2 p.m. CF Jarred Bogany Fr.-HS R/R .000 0 0 Five-tool player; 15th round selection of Pittsburgh 14 (Sun.) VANDERBILT 1 p.m. RF Bruce Sprowl Sr.-2L L/R .264 2 13 Did not make an error in 97 putouts in 2005 16 (Tue.) Rice 7 p.m. $ DH J.T. Wise Fr.-HS R/R .000 0 0 2005 Florida State All-Star Game MVP 18 (Thu.) at Florida 5:30 p.m. 19 (Fri.) at Florida 5:30 p.m. 20 (Sat.) at Florida (FSN) Noon LSU North Florida 24-28 SEC Tournament (Hoover, Ala.) Record 0-0 (0-0 SEC) Record 1-1 (0-0 Atlantic Sun) June (0-0, 0-0 SEC) Ranking No. 22 Baseball America Ranking NR Baseball America 2-5 NCAA Regional (sites TBA) No. 17 Collegiate Baseball NR Collegiate Baseball 9-11/10-12 NCAA Super Regional (sites TBA) No. 19 ESPN/Sports Weekly NR ESPN/Sports Weekly 16-26/27 NCAA College World Series (Omaha, Neb.) Coach Smoke Laval Coach Dusty Rhodes Career Record 416-244-1 (.630/12th year) Career Record 1,072-430 (.714/27th year) # - Maestri Field $ - Zephyr Field LSU Record 175-85-1 (.672/fifth year) UNF Record 769-312 (.712/19th year) all times are Central and subject to change Laval vs. UNF First meeting Rhodes vs. LSU First meeting

LSU Sports Information Phone - 225.578.8226 P.O. Box 25095, Baton Rouge, LA 70894 Fax - 225.578.1861 Quick Facts Media Services Location: ...... Baton Rouge, La. Founded: ...... 1860; campus moved to ...... present site in 1926 Interviews with Head Coach Smoke Laval Enrollment: ...... 31,234 Coach Laval is available for phone interviews on weekday mornings (9 a.m. -Noon) during the season. Nickname: ...... Fighting Tigers Please coordinate all requests for personal interviews with Coach Laval through his office. Colors: ...... Purple and Gold Appointments and interviews may be arranged through Virginia Robertson at (225) 578-4148. Coach Conference: ...... Southeastern (Western Laval will talk to reporters approximately 10 minutes after the end of a game in the LSU dugout...... Division) President: ...... Dr. William L. Jenkins Chancellor: ...... Sean O'Keefe Player Interviews Faculty Representative: . .Kenneth E. Carpenter Media members are invited to attend LSU baseball practice sessions. Players are available for inter- Athletics Director: ...... J. Stanley "Skip" Bertman views before each practice at approximately 1 p.m. in Alex Box Stadium. Requests for live player inter- Home Stadium: ...... Alex Box Stadium views on the field prior to a game should be made through Bill Franques in the Sports Information Capacity: ...... 7,760 Office. Post-game player interviews are conducted in front of the LSU dugout at the conclusion of Opened: ...... 1938 a brief team meeting on the field. Dimensions: ...... LF-330; LC-365; CF-405; ...... RC-365; RF-330 Press Box Phone: ...... (225) 578-4149 Mailing Address Head Coach: ...... Smoke Laval LSU Sports Information Record at LSU: ...... 175-85-1 (.672, fifth year) P.O. Box 25095 Overall Record: ...... 416-244-1 (.630, 12th Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5095 ...... year) Baseball Office Phone: . . .(225) 578-4148 Baseball Office Fax: . . . . .(225) 578-4066 Overnight Mail Address Hitting Coach: ...... Henry "Turtle" Thomas Room 501, LSU Athletics Admin. Bldg. Pitching Coach: ...... Brady Wiederhold N. Stadium Dr. at Nicholson Dr. Volunteer Coach: ...... Justin Hill Baton Rouge, LA 70894-5095 Administrative Assistant: .Jeramie Moore Lettermen Returning/Lost: 16/14 Phone Directory Starters Returning/Lost: . .6/4 Pitchers Returning/Lost: . .7/5 Press Box: 225-578-4149 Returning Redshirts: . . . . .10 Sports Information: 225-578-8226 Newcomers: ...... 15 Fax: 225-578-1861 Baseball Office: 225-578-4148 SID Baseball Contact: . . .Bill Franques Fax: 225-578-4066 Direct Office Phone: . . . . .(225) 578-2527 Home Phone: ...... (225) 766-7126 Cell Phone: ...... (225) 241-4359 On the Internet E-mail: ...... [email protected] Updated results, statistics, schedules and game notes are available at www.LSUsports.net. Asst. Contact ...... Bill Martin Media can access high resolution images of the baseball team through http://media.lsusports.net. To gain E-mail: ...... [email protected] access, email Bill Franques. You will be assigned a login and password for media use only.

Bill Franques Bill Martin [email protected] Week 1-2: Feb. 6-19 [email protected] MONDAY 6 TUESDAY 7 WEDNESDAY 8 THURSDAY 9 FRIDAY 10 SATURDAY 11 SUNDAY 12 Player Interviews MEDIA DAY Player Interviews Player Interviews Game 1: vs. Game 2: vs. Game 3: vs. 1 p.m. at Alex Box Lunch is served at 1 p.m. at Alex Box 1 p.m. at Alex Box North Florida North Florida North Florida 11:30 a.m. on 5th Fl. 6:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m. Practice Practice Practice Alex Box Stadium Alex Box Stadium Alex Box Stadium 2 p.m. at Alex Box Smoke Laval 2 p.m. at Alex Box 2 p.m. at Alex Box Noon Radio: LSU Sports Radio: LSU Sports Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network Radio Network Radio Network Player Interviews 1-2 p.m. at Alex Box TV: None TV: None TV: None

MONDAY 13 TUESDAY 14 WEDNESDAY 15 THURSDAY 16 FRIDAY 17 SATURDAY 18 SUNDAY 19 off day Game 4: vs. Player Interviews Player Interviews Game 5: vs. Game 6: vs. Game 7: vs. Centernary 1 p.m. at Alex Box 1 p.m. at Alex Box Tennessee Tech Tennessee Tech Tennessee Tech 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 2 p.m. 1 p.m. Alex Box Stadium Practice Practice Alex Box Stadium Alex Box Stadium Alex Box Stadium 2 p.m. at Alex Box 2 p.m. at Alex Box Radio: LSU Sports Radio: LSU Sports Radio: LSU Sports Radio: LSU Sports Radio Network Radio Network Radio Network Radio Network

TV: None TV: None TV: None TV: None

LSU BASEBALL Statistical Comparison (based on 2005) In The Polls LSU dropped two spots in Baseball America this week to No. 22. The Tigers also fell in the Collegiate Baseball poll, LSU North Florida coming in at No. 17. LSU was ranked No. 20 by Baseball America in the preseason poll, marking the 17th straight .297 BA .314 season the Tigers have appeared in the poll to start the season. The 17 straight seasons is the second-longest streak 133 2B 123 in the nation. Arizona State has appeared in the poll for 20 straight seasons. LSU will play 21 of 56 regular-season 14 3B 18 games against teams ranked in the Baseball America poll. The Tigers came in at No. 15 in the Collegiate Baseball pre- 80 HR 68 season poll released in December and placed 19th in the ESPN/Sports Weekly poll. It is the first time since 1992 that .477 Slugging % .480 LSU is not in the preseason Top 10. But in 1992, LSU finished with a 50-16 record, won the SEC Championship and .379 On-Base % .378 the SEC Tournament Title. That team was led by a trio of true freshmen, second baseman Todd Walker, shorstop Russ 37/49 SB/Att. 101/136 Johnson and pitcher Scott Schultz. 3.86 ERA 3.43 .264 Opponents BA .258 6.9 Batters SO/9 inn. 7.4 Scouting North Florida 2.7 Walks/9 inn. 2.7 North Florida enters its first season at the Division I level as a member of the newly reformed Atlantic Sun Conference. 14 Saves 21 The Ospreys are one of three new teams joining the conference, including East Tennessee State and Kennesaw State. .969 Fielding % .967 Central Florida, Georgia State and Troy all join new conferences in 2006. UNF is coming off a 48-16 season in which the Ospreys captured the Peach Belt conference championship and finished as the Division II national runner-up. In Series History only its first season at the Division I level, UNF is preseason slated to finish third in the conference as selected by the Atlantic's Sun's coaches and media. The Ospreys are coached by Dusty Rhodes in his 19th season at UNF and his First meeting between the two teams. 27th year overall. Rhodes has compiled a768-311 record in 18 seasons at the Florida school. The school features three returning position starters and six returning pitchers. Senior DH Brennan Grogan (.339, 4 HR, 33 RBI) leads a squad that batted .314 last season. UNF's top three returning starting pitchers compiled an 18-9 record last season, led by Jacob Dixon (8-3, 3.61) and Ryan Amason (7-3, 3.45). The Ospreys also feature pitchers Josh and Jeremy Papelbon, brothers who were born in Baton Rouge. Their older brother Jonathan was a standout pitcher at Mississippi State from 2002-03 and is now a member of the Boston Red Sox. UNF opened the season with a split this weekend at Georgia Southern (7-2, 3-11).

A Recap of 2005 LSU earned its 17th consecutive final Top 20 ranking in 2005, as the Tigers finished the season No. 18 in both the Baseball America poll and the ESPN/Sports Weekly rankings. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 17th straight season, recording a 40-22 final overall record. LSU played host to an NCAA Regional tournament for the 16th straight year, competing as a No. 1 seed for the 14th time in 16 seasons. LSU reached the 40-win mark for the 17th consecutive season. Six LSU players were selected in the 2005 Major League Draft, the highest total since eight Tigers were drafted in 2001. The drafted players included a pair of all-Americans -- outfielder Ryan Patterson (fourth round, Toronto) and pitcher Greg Smith (sixth round, Arizona). Nick Stavinoha (St. Louis), Clay Harris (Philadelphia), Matt Liuzza (Chicago) and Jason Determann (Boston) were also selected.

Purple Defeats Gold In Alumni Game Catcher Matt Liuzza's game-winning, walk-off single capped a furious four-run ninth inning rally Saturday as the Gold team defeated the Purple team, 5-4, in the annual Alumni Game at Alex Box Stadium. Liuzza, who was 3-for-5 on the day, connected on a J.T. Wise pitch into right field, scoring Buzzy Haydel with the game-winning run. The Gold team entered the ninth trailing 4-1. Three consecutive hits, including a RBI triple by Bruce Sprowl closed the gap to a run. Haydel then connected with a triple of his own into the left field gap to knot the score at four apiece. Wise suffered the loss, surrendering five hits and four runs in 0.1 inning pitched. Fellow freshman Darryl Shaffer earned the win despite allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits in four innings. The teams engaged in a pitcher's duel for the first five innings as freshman Louis Coleman of the Gold team tossed four outstanding innings of no-run, two-hit ball.

LSU vs. Atlantic Sun Opponents LSU is 21-5 all-time against Atlantic Sun Conference opponents with its last series coming at Central Florida to open the 2004 campaign. The Tigers took two out of three against the Golden Knights, who move to Conference USA in 2006. North Florida is one of two opponents from the conference who visit Alex Box this season. Stetson, the pre- season favorite in the Atlantic Sun, faces the Tigers, March 10-12. Including LSU's 11-3 all-time mark against Central Florida, the Tigers are 9-0 versus Mercer and 1-2 versus Jacksonville.

LSU in Season-Opening Series LSU has not lost a season opener since Kansas State defeated the Tigers, 9-8 in 2001. The Tigers have not lost a season-opening series since 1999 when Texas took two of three from LSU at Alex Box Stadium. Since Skip Bertman took over the program in 1984, the Tigers have won 18 out of 20 season-opening series, which includes two Winn- Dixie Challenges and two ABCA Hall of Fame Tournaments. Smoke Laval has won all four of his season-opening series, including sweeps over Birmingham Southern (2002), Northwestern State (2003) and Nicholls State (2005). Laval is 4-0 in season-opening games. All-time, LSU is 66-43 in season openers dating back to the Tigers' first game in 1893.

19 In A Row Alex Box Stadium will become a familiar site to LSU before it takes to the road for the first time this season. The Tigers play their first 19 games at home before traveling to Kentucky for their first road series, March 17-19. The 19 con- secutive home games are the most to open a season in school history. In 1980, LSU played 18 straight home games before traveling to Alabama for its first road series. This season, LSU does not play any road non-conference series, the first time that has occurred since 1999. Though, the Tigers did play in the Winn-Dixie Showdown in New Orleans against three opponents. LSU's first non-conference game away from Alex Box Stadium is against Southeastern Louisiana on March 22 at Zephyr Field in Metairie.

LSU BASEBALL Freshmen Impact LSU by the Numbers in 2006 For the first time in the LSU baseball modern day era (since 1984), the Tigers will have three true freshmen in the starting lineup on opening day. Jarred Bogany is expected to start in centerfield, and J.T. Wise will get the nod at Home ...... 0-0 designated hitter. Jason Ogata or Buzzy Haydel will occupy second base. LSU did have three freshmen starting at Away...... 0-0 times in 2002. True freshmen J.C. Holt and Jonathan Zeringue earned starting spots, as did redshirt freshman Rocky Neutral Sites ...... 0-0 Scelfo. Perhaps, the Tigers' most notable freshmen duo was that of shortstop Russ Johnson and second baseman Day...... 0-0 Todd Walker in 1992. Night...... 0-0 TV Games ...... 0-0 After Eight, It's Over On Jumbo Sports ...... 0-0 On Cox Sports ...... 0-0 The trend has been that when LSU holds a lead entering the ninth, the game is virtually over. In the past three sea- On SEC-TV ...... 0-0 sons, LSU has a remarkable 117-0 record when leading after eight innings. That number includes a 42-0 record in Vs. SEC...... 0-0 2003, a 38-0 record in 2004 and a 37-0 record in 2005. During Smoke Laval's tenure, the Tigers are 155-2 when Vs. SEC West ...... 0-0 leading after eight innings. LSU last blew a ninth-inning lead on Feb. 24, 2002. On that date, Houston scored three Vs. SEC East ...... 0-0 runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the Tigers to a 12-11 loss. LSU has not blown a save situation since the 2003 Non-SEC Games ...... 0-0 College World Series. LSU held a 10-8 advantage over South Carolina before surrendering three runs to the Vs. Louisiana opponents ...... 0-0 Gamecocks in the eighth inning. The Tigers went quietly in the ninth and were eliminated with the 11-10 loss. Vs. Ranked opponents...... 0-0 Vs. C-USA...... 0-0 Injury Report Vs. Mid-Continent ...... 0-0 Projected starting first baseman Jordan Mayer broke his left thumb on Jan. 20 and is sidelined for another three to Vs. Pac-10 ...... 0-0 five weeks. Mayer should be ready for a return when SEC play begins at Kentucky on March 17. Two key returning Vs. Southland ...... 0-0 players will miss the entire 2006 season due to season-ending injuries. All-SEC freshman infielder Chris Jackson Vs. Sun Belt ...... 0-0 underwent elbow surgery at the beginning of February. Jackson, who is also the football team's punter, needed to Vs. SWAC ...... 0-0 repair an injury he sustained in the game versus Vanderbilt on Oct. 8. Jackson will be limited in football spring prac- Vs. WAC ...... 0-0 tice, which begins in March. Sophomore pitcher Eric English underwent Tommy John surgery in the offseason and Doubleheaders ...... 0-0 will be missed for the entire 2006 season. English should be healthy for a return in 2007. Trey Simon has been suf- Game 1 of weekend series ...... 0-0 fering from lower back trouble and is out indefinitely. Four players are returning from injuries that sidelined them in Game 2 of weekend series ...... 0-0 2004. Pitchers Michael Bonura and Nolan Cain return from Tommy John surgeries, while outfielder Steven Game 3 of weekend series ...... 0-0 Broschofsky and left-hander Daniel Forrer are back after shoulder injuries. Sunday ...... 0-0 Tuesday ...... 0-0 Player Injury Status Wednesday ...... 0-0 RHP Eric English Elbow Offseason Tommy John (out for season) Friday ...... 0-0 INF Chris Jackson Elbow Tommy John Surgery on Jan. 12 (out for season) Saturday ...... 0-0 1B Jordan Mayer Broken Thumb Surgery during week of Jan. 26 (out for 3-5 weeks) One-run games ...... 0-0 OF Trey Simon Lower Back Stress Fracture (out indefinitely) Extra inning games ...... 0-0 Shutouts ...... 0-0 Laval Enters His Fifth Season Number of Losing Streaks ...... 0 Longest Losing Streak ...... 0 Head coach Smoke Laval begins his fifth season with LSU in 2006. In four years, Laval has compiled a 175-85-1 Games in which LSU scores first...... 0-0 (.672) record and is 25 wins away from the 200-win plateau at LSU. Laval owns a 416-244-1 (.630) career record Games in which opponent scores first...... 0-0 as he enters his 12 overall season as a head coach. Laval has guided the Tigers to the best SEC-regular season record When LSU scores 10+...... 0-0 in the past four seasons, posting a 75-43-1 (.634) mark. South Carolina has the second-best league record, while When LSU scores <5...... 0-0 Florida is third. LSU has finished no lower than second in the SEC West and no lower than fourth in the overall league When opponent scores 10+ ...... 0-0 race during Laval's four seasons as head coach. When opponent scores <5 ...... 0-0 When LSU leads after 6 innings...... 0-0 Dirks Named To Wallace Watch List When LSU trails after 6 innings ...... 0-0 Clay Dirks has been named to the 2006 Wallace Award Watch List released by the College Baseball Foundation in When tied after 6 innings...... 0-0 Lubbock, Texas. The Brooks Wallace Award is presented annually to the national college baseball player of the year. When LSU leads after 7 innings...... 0-0 Dirks, a junior left-hander from Hernando, Miss., was a 2005 second-team all-SEC selection as he posted a 10-4 When LSU trails after 7 innings ...... 0-0 record and a 3.24 ERA with 67 strikeouts and 27 walks in 94.1 innings. The Wallace Watch will be trimmed to 12 When tied after 7 innings...... 0-0 semifinalists by late May. The selection committee will then narrow the list to three finalists following the NCAA Super When LSU leads after 8 innings...... 0-0 Regionals at a press conference in Omaha, Neb. The finalists, their head coaches, and their parents will be invited to When LSU trails after 8 innings ...... 0-0 Lubbock for a schedule of special events tied to the award banquet, which will be nationally televised by Fox Sports. When tied after 8 innings...... 0-0 When LSU has 10+ hits ...... 0-0 When LSU has <6 hits ...... 0-0 Dirks Named to Clemens Award Watch List When opponent has 10+ hits ...... 0-0 Clay Dirks continues to garner national preseason recognition as he was named to the 40-man Roger Clemens Award When opponent has <6 hits ...... 0-0 Watch List on Jan. 20. The third Clemens Award will be presented to the nation's top college pitcher at the conclusion When LSU has more hits...... 0-0 of a gala dinner in Houston in July. All Division I head baseball coaches will take part in the voting for the honor, in When LSU has fewer hits ...... 0-0 addition to a selected panel of national media and all past winners of the Rotary Smith Award, which was retired after Equal hits ...... 0-0 the 2003 dinner by the committee that is sponsoring the Clemens Award. The list is comprised of all Division I pitch- When LSU hits 3 or more home runs...... 0-0 ers who were named as pre-season All-Americans by either Baseball America, Collegiate Baseball or the National When LSU hits no home runs ...... 0-0 College Baseball Writers Association. When opponent hits 3+ home runs ...... 0-0 When opponent hits no home runs ...... 0-0 Four Tigers Among Baseball America Top 50 Prospects By Class Games won on final at-bat ...... 0 Games lost on final at-bat...... 0 Four Tigers are listed on Baseball America's Fab 50 College Prospects by Class in the publication's preseason issue. Come-from-behind wins ...... 0 Headlining the list are freshmen Jarred Bogany and Jason Ogata. Bogany, a native of Houston, Texas, enters his first Losses when LSU led previously ...... 0 season at LSU tabbed as the No. 22 freshman prospect. Ogata, a native of Portland, Ore., is 31st on the list of 50. Blown saves...... 0 Seniors Matt Liuzza (No. 31) and Quinn Stewart (No. 38) also made the list. Longest game...... 0 Shortest game(9 or more innings) ...... 0 Hill Back At His Alma Mater As An Assistant Justin Hill, a former Tiger pitcher in 2001, returns to his alma mater this season to serve as a volunteer assistant coach -- a capacity he has served the past two seasons at Northwestern State. A 2002 LSU graduate, Hill appeared in 19 games, tossing 19 innings while compiling a 1-1 record with two saves. Hill also had 27 strikeouts before a shoulder injury cut short his year. The West Monroe, La. native, will serve as LSU's first base coach this season.

LSU BASEBALL 2006 Honors Alex Box Stadium ... It's In The Game Alex Box Stadium is one of 19 featured college baseball stadiums on the first-ever college baseball video game, MVP 2006 NCAA Baseball presented by EA Sports. The stadium depiction displays all of the familiar features of The Box, including "The Intimidator" billboard in right field, the national championship flags in centerfield and the campus apart- ments just beyond the left field wall. The game launched on Jan. 19 with 128 teams from 14 conferences.

SEC Coaches Tab LSU Second in SEC West The Southeastern Conference baseball coaches voted LSU to finish second in the SEC Western Division according to the league's 2006 preseason poll released on Jan. 31. LSU was selected to finish behind Mississippi State, which was voted the No. 1 team in the West. The Tigers, however, were predicted to win the overall league championship by three of the coaches. LSU has won 13 overall league titles and 13 division championships in its history. The Tigers have captured four SEC West titles and one overall SEC championship this decade.

Eastern Division Western Division Team Pts. Team Pts. 1. Florida (11) 66 1. Miss. State (5) 54 2. South Carolina (1) 55 2. LSU (3) 51 3. Tennessee 46 3. Arkansas (3) 49 4. Vanderbilt 30 4. Alabama (1) 41 5. Georgia 29 5. Ole Miss 34 6. Kentucky 17 6. Auburn 17 ( ) - First Place Votes SEC Champion: Florida (8); LSU (3); Arkansas (1) 2006 SEC Standings (Feb. 8) Eastern Division Former Tiger Naccarata on Italy Roster For World Baseball Classic Team SEC Pct. Overall Former LSU infielder Ivan Naccarata has been named to the provisional roster of Italy for the World Baseball Classic. Tennessee 0-0 .000 2-1 Naccarata, a member of the New York Mets organization, lettered at LSU from 2003-04. From March 3-20, 16 interna- Florida 0-0 .000 0-0 tional teams and over 400 professional players will participate for their home countries and territories in this first Georgia 0-0 .000 0-0 unprecedented baseball event. The tournament features four rounds and culminates with a world champion. Kentucky 0-0 .000 0-0 South Carolina 0-0 .000 0-0 Vanderbilt 0-0 .000 0-0 Western Division Team SEC Pct. Overall Auburn 0-0 .000 1-2 Alabama 0-0 .000 0-0 Arkansas 0-0 .000 0-0 LSU 0-0 .000 0-0 Ole Miss 0-0 .000 0-0 Miss. State 0-0 .000 0-0

This Weekend in the SEC (Feb. 10-12) (All times are Central) Friday, Feb. 10 Winthrop at Alabama • 6:30 p.m. Arkansas vs. George Mason • 2:30 p.m. Florida State at Auburn • 4 p.m. Cincinnati at Florida • 5:30 p.m North Florida at LSU • 6:30 p.m. Elon at South Carolina • 2 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Tennessee • 7 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 11 Winthrop at Alabama • 4 p.m. Arkansas vs. Oklahoma State • 4:30 p.m. Florida State at Auburn • 4 p.m. Cincinnati at Florida • 2 p.m. North Florida at LSU • 2 p.m. Elon at South Carolina • 12:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Tennessee • 7 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 12 Winthrop at Alabama • 2 p.m. Arkansas at South Alabama • 2:30 p.m. Florida State at Auburn • 1 p.m. Cincinnati at Florida • Noon North Florida at LSU • 1 p.m. Elon at South Carolina • 12:30 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Tennessee • 12:30 p.m.

LSU BASEBALL National Polls February 6, 2006

Tracking The Tigers Baseball America Collegiate Baseball ESPN/Sports Weekly Week BA CB ESPN/SW 1. Clemson (0-0) 1. Florida (0-0) 1. Texas (34) (56-16) Preseason 20 15 19 2. Florida (0-0) 2. Oregon St. (0-0) 2. Florida (1) (48-23) Feb. 6 22 17 19 3. Georgia Tech (0-0) 3. Nebraska (0-0) 3. Clemson (43-23) 4. North Carolina (0-0) 4. Rice (1-0) 4. Rice (45-19) 5. Rice (1-0) 5. Clemson (0-0) 5. Cal State Fullerton (46-18) 6. Oregon State (0-0) 6. North Carolina (0-0) 6. Oregon State (1) (46-12) 7. Texas (0-3) 7. Florida State 7. Georgia Tech (45-19) 8. Tennessee (2-1) 8. Stanford (3-0) 8. North Carolina (41-19-1) 9. Cal State Fullerton (0-3) 9. Georgia Tech. (0-0) 9. Florida State (53-20) 10. Missouri (0-0) 10. Arizona St. (5-1) 10. Nebraska (57-15) 11. Pepperdine (2-1) 11. Pepperdine (2-1) 11. Arizona State (42-25) 12. Tulane (0-0) 12. Long Beach State (3-0) 12. Tennessee (46-21) 13. Mississippi State (0-0) 13. San Diego (3-0) 13. Missouri (40-23) 14. South Carolina (0-0) 14. Texas (0-3) 14. Pepperdine (41-23) 15. Florida State (3-0) 15. Cal State Fullerton (0-3) 15. Tulane (56-12) 16. Arizona State (5-1) 16. Missouri (0-0) 16. Miami (Fla.) (41-19-1) 17. Long Beach State (3-0) 17. LSU (0-0) 17. South Carolina (41-23) 18. San Diego (3-0) 18. South Carolina (0-0) 18. Southern Cal (41-22) 19. Stanford (3-0) 19. Tennessee (2-1) 19. LSU (40-22) 20. Arkansas (0-0) 20. Florida Atlantic (1-2) 20. Long Beach State (37-22) 21. TCU (0-0) 21. Miami (Fla.) (3-2) 21. Mississippi State (42-22) 22. LSU (0-0) 22. Ole Miss (0-0) 22. Ole Miss (48-20) 23. Ole Miss (0-0) 23. Notre Dame (0-0) 23. Arkansas (39-22) 24. North Carolina State (3-0) 24. Baylor (0-0) 24. TCU (41-20) 25. Cal Poly (5-1) 25. Tulane (0-0) 25. Baylor (46-24)

The Last Time LSU ...

LSU BASEBALL Smoke Laval HEAD COACH • FIFTH YEAR

Raymond "Smoke" Laval continues to enhance his reputation as one of the country's top college baseball coaches, as, in four seasons at the helm of the LSU program, he has guided the Tigers to two College World Series berths, two NCAA Super Regional titles, three NCAA Regional championships, one SEC title, two SEC division championships and two Top 10 finishes. Laval, the 2003 SEC Coach of the Year, has directed LSU to the best SEC regular-season record in the past four seasons, posting a 75-43-1 (.634) mark. South Carolina has the second-best league record (73-46, .613), and Florida is third (70-49- 1, .588). LSU earned its 17th consecutive final Top 20 ranking in 2005, as the Tigers finished the season No. 18 in both the Baseball America poll and the Sports Weekly/ESPN rankings. The Tigers advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the 17th straight sea- son, recording a 40-22 final overall record. LSU played host to an NCAA Regional tournament for the 16th straight year, com- peting as a No. 1 seed for the 14th time in 16 seasons. LSU reached the 40-win mark for the 17th consecutive season. Laval directed the Tigers to the 2005 SEC Western Division championship with an 18-12 conference mark. LSU won 13 of its final 17 league games to claim the division title, which was the 13th in school history and the fourth for LSU this decade. LSU has finished no lower than second in the SEC West and no lower than fourth in the overall league race during Laval's four seasons as head coach. Six LSU players were selected in the 2005 Major League Draft, the highest total since eight Tigers were drafted in 2001. The drafted players included a pair of all-Americans - outfielder Ryan Patterson (fourth round, Toronto) and pitcher Greg Smith (sixth round, Arizona). Laval guided LSU to its second consecutive final Top 10 ranking in 2004, as the Tigers finished No. 7 in the Baseball America poll and No. 8 in the Collegiate Baseball poll. The final rankings culminated a magnificent 2004 season that also fea- tured record-breaking marks for academic achievements and attendance figures. The 2004 Tigers advanced to the College World Series for the second straight season, recording a 46-19 overall record, LSU's best mark since the 2000 club finished 52-17. The 2004 Tigers had the best offensive club in the SEC, completing the year with a .333 team batting average, the second-highest in school history. The Tigers were led by two first-team all-SEC players - right fielder Jon Zeringue, the 2004 SEC Co-Player of the Year and a first-team all-America selection, and center fielder J.C. Holt, a third-team all-America choice. Laval led the 2003 Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title -- LSU's first since 1997 -- and a berth in the College World Series. He was voted the 2003 SEC Coach of the Year, directing LSU to a 45-22-1 overall record and a 20-9-1 conference The Laval File mark, as the Tigers finished No. 5 in the final Baseball America rankings. Full Name: Raymond Peter Laval Laval, who served seven seasons (1994-2000) as the head coach at the University of Louisiana-Monroe, assumed con- Born: December 20, 1955 trol of the LSU program from Bertman. Laval worked as Bertman's top assistant coach for 10 seasons (1984-93), helping Hometown: McDonald, Pa. lead LSU to its first two NCAA titles in 1991 and 1993. During Laval's 10 years as assistant coach, LSU posted a 483-182- Wife: Pam Lewis of Reserve, La. 1 record, won five SEC titles, appeared in six College World Series and captured two national championships. Laval was Children: Jamie and Brandon known at LSU as one of the nation's best recruiters and brightest assistant coaches, as the Tigers reached the College World Series in only the third season (1986) of the Bertman-Laval regime. LSU followed the '86 CWS appearance with Omaha berths in 1987, 1989 and 1990 before the Tigers claimed the school's first baseball national title in 1991. After LSU captured Coaching Experience its second NCAA crown in 1993, Laval departed Baton Rouge to become the head coach at Northeast Louisiana (now 1977 Assistant Coach Jacksonville Louisiana-Monroe). 1978 Assistant Coach Wolfson HS Laval compiled a 241-159 (.603) mark as the head coach at ULM, guiding the Indians to NCAA Regional appearances in (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1995, 1999 and 2000. The 2000 club posted a 41-22 mark en route to the Southland Conference title, tying the ULM record 1979 Graduate Assistant LSU for wins. Laval, the 1999 SLC Coach of the Year, also led the Indians to the 1999 regular-season title and to the 1995 con- 1980-81 Assistant Coach Gulf Coast CC ference tournament crown. He was voted the 1995 Louisiana Coach of the Year by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association. 1982-83 Assistant Coach Florida Laval began his coaching career in 1977 as an assistant at Jacksonville University before moving to Wolfson High School 1984-93 Assistant Coach LSU in Jacksonville as a baseball and football coach. He served as a graduate assistant at LSU in 1979 under former Tiger head 1994-00 Head Coach UL-Monroe coach Jack Lamabe before working two years as an assistant at Gulf Coast Community College in Panama City, Fla. Laval 2001 Administrative Asst. LSU served as an assistant coach at Florida for two seasons (1982-83) before returning to LSU to work under Bertman. Laval holds a bachelor's degree (1977) from Jacksonville in physical education and a master's degree (1979) from LSU 2002- Head Coach LSU in administration. The McDonald, Pa., native played two seasons at Gulf Coast Community College, where he lettered as a catcher. He completed his playing career at Jacksonville, where he led the ninth-ranked Dolphins in hitting at the 1976 NCAA Education South Regional. High School: South Fayette(McDonald, Pa.), 1973 College: Jacksonville, 1977 (physical education) Laval Year-By-Year Masters: LSU, 1979 (administration)

Year W-L School Highlights 1994 20-33 UL-Monroe Defeated Three NCAA Tournament Teams 1995 37-20 UL-Monroe SLC Tournament Champions; NCAA Regional Participants Playing Experience 1996 41-19 UL-Monroe School-Record 41 Wins; SLC Louisiana Division Champions 1997 33-21 UL-Monroe Became Fourth Coach in ULM History To Record 100 Wins 1970-73: Catcher, South Fayette High School 1998 33-22 UL-Monroe Led SLC In Hitting For Third Straight Season 1974-75: Catcher, Gulf Coast CC 1999 36-22 UL-Monroe SLC Champions; NCAA Regional Participants 1976-77: Catcher, Jacksonville University 2000 41-22 UL-Monroe SLC Champions; NCAA Regional Participants 2002 44-22 LSU NCAA Regional Champions; NCAA Super Regional Participants The Nickname “Smoke” 2003 45-22-1 LSU SEC Champions; College World Series Participants As a native of Western Pennsylvania, Raymond 2004 46-19 LSU NCAA Regional/Super Regional Champions; CWS Participants Peter Laval grew up as a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. 2005 40-22 LSU SEC West Champions 2006 0-0 LSU He received the name “Smoke” in the late 1970s Career Record (11th year): 416-244-1 (.630) from his Gulf Coast Community College team- LSU Record (5th year): 175-85-1 (.672) mates, who derived the moniker from Smokey COACHING HONORS Burgess, a catcher for the Pirates in the 1960s. 1995 Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year 1999 Southland Conference Coach of the Year 2002 Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year 2003 SEC Coach of the Year; Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year 2004 Louisiana Sportswriters Association Coach of the Year

LSU BASEBALL Alex Box Stadium Home of College Baseball’s Greatest Fans

Stadium Quick Facts Seating Capacity: 7,760 Playing Field Distances: Foul Lines 330 ft. Power Alleys 365 ft. Center 405 ft. Height of Fence 10 ft. In center field 15 ft.

Playing Surface natural grass

Tournaments Hosted NCAA Regional Tournaments (17): 1986, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Alex Box Stadium, the home of the LSU Fighting Tigers, has a storied history which spans several decades. NCAA Super Regional Series (3): 2000, 2003, Always known as an excellent facility, recent efforts to upgrade the stadium have made it comparable to that 2004 of many professional minor-league clubs. SEC Tournaments (4): 1985, 1986, 1991, 1993 Last season, the Tigers drew 270,300 fans to Alex Box Stadium as LSU finished first in the nation in total attendance for the 10th straight year. The Tigers set an NCAA record in 2004 for average attendance with 7,898 Top 10 Attendance Figures per contest. LSU established an NCAA total attendance mark in 2003 as 291,676 fans purchased tickets for “Baseball at the Box.” Att. Opponent Date Score LSU has been among the nation's attendance leaders for the past 15 seasons, finishing No. 5 in 1991, No. 1. 8683 Houston 3/6/04 UH, 10-5 6 in 1992, No. 4 in 1993, No. 3 in 1994 and 1995, and No. 1 from 1996-2005. 2. 8622 UL-Lafayette 4/11/00 LSU, 8-2 Over the past 22 seasons, the Tigers have attracted over three million fans to Alex Box Stadium. A total of 3. 8521 Miss. State 3/26/04 MSU, 7-3 3,704,952 patrons have watched the Tigers play at "The Box" since 1984. 4. 8512 Auburn 5/9/03 LSU, 6-5 The stadium is recognized both for its old-fashioned charm and for its modern renovations. Since 1985, it 5. 8510 Arkansas 4/27/02 LSU, 8-0 has been the site of four SEC tournaments, 17 NCAA regional tournaments, three NCAA super regional series 6. 8440 Alabama 5/19/02 LSU, 5-1 and one ABCA Hall of Fame tournament. “The Box” has undergone several facility-improvement projects 7. 8437 Auburn 5/10/03 LSU, 20-3 designed to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of LSU baseball fans. 8. 8413 Ole Miss 4/13/01 LSU, 15-2 Prior to the 1999 season, the stadium scoreboard was moved from left-center field to right-center field. 9. 8360 Texas State 2/28/04 LSU, 2-1 Bleachers were then installed in left-center field, increasing seating capacity to 7,760. 10. 8310 Tennessee 4/26/03 LSU, 10-6 Visitors to Alex Box Stadium in 1998 had for the first time the opportunity to enjoy a concessions/picnic area behind the right-field bleachers, complementing a similar facility behind the left-field bleachers. Quotable A major renovation project was completed at Alex Box Stadium in 1997, as two of the facility's light towers "I want to commend what I truly believe may be were moved behind the seating areas in order to give all fans an unobstructed view of the playing field. The pro- the premiere crowd in all of college baseball ... ject began in April, 1996, when two of the four light towers were moved. The remaining two towers were moved that is a special, special crowd out there. I want in February, 1997. to say that the way the fans have responded all The “Intimidator” billboard depicting LSU’s NCAA titles was unveiled in Alex Box Stadium prior to the ‘97 weekend to just excellence and outstanding play season. It stands above the right field wall as a testament to LSU’s baseball excellence. Some of the other addi- leads me to believe that they truly do appreciate tions to the stadium in the past decade include a players' meeting room and a "Home Run Village" parking area the difficulty of playing this game. I'm glad to behind the outfield fence which allows fans to tailgate before and during games. A new outfield fence was have our players play in front of a crowd that I installed in 1995 with a 15-foot hitters' backdrop in center field. truly believe appreciated their performance." In 1994, "The Box" featured a freshly renovated and expanded players' locker room and lounge, along with -- Baylor head coach Steve Smith after the 2003 additional chair-back seats in the grandstand. In 1993, an advanced outfield drainage system was installed along NCAA Super Regional in Alex Box Stadium with additional bleacher seating behind first base. In 1992, the stadium featured the installation of expanded chair-back gold seats, an umpires' dressing room, terrace-level seating above the third-base dugout and bleachers behind the left-field wall. Renovations for the 1991 season included the installation of a new grandstand roof and the construction of a playground/picnic area "The fans here are great. It was a pleasure behind the left-field bleachers. playing ball here today. Great battle, great The stadium began to resemble its present form with the arrival in 1983 of coach Skip Bertman. In 1985, fans, great atmosphere out here in Baton the Tigers' locker room was given a facelift, and a fully-equipped training room, a coaches' dressing room and a Rouge and like (first baseman) Matt Wright players' lounge were installed. said, go LSU." Larger dugouts were constructed in 1986 along with a new outfield fence. The press box was expanded, -- UNC-Wilmington outfielder Chip Grawey after and the stadium's right field fence was moved to make room for additional bleachers. In 1987, the stadium's his team took a congratulatory lap around the restroom facilities were enlarged, and a new concessions stand was built beneath the grandstand. field following LSU’s 2003 NCAA Regional win Originally a 2,500-seat facility, the concrete and steel grandstand of Alex Box Stadium was completed in 1938. Funding came from the Works Progress Administration, a federally sponsored agency which constructed public athletic facilities, among other such projects. In its first two years, Alex Box Stadium was the site of spring training for the New York Giants. Such leg- endary baseball figures as Mel Ott, Carl Hubbell, Bill Terry and Dick Bartell trained at “The Box.”

LSU BASEBALL