LAFAYETTE – A group of 16 members from the 2012 Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team has begun to scatter across the country as the wooden-bat collegiate summer leagues get underway in the coming days.

Louisiana’s contingent will play in eight different leagues this summer, ranging from the Cape Cod League in Massachusetts to the Alaska Collegiate League.

Cajuns are also scheduled to play in the states of Iowa, North Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas plus British Columbia, Canada.

“Summer baseball gives all college players the opportunity to see what minor league baseball is all about,” head coach Tony Robichaux said. “It gives players the opportunity to see parts of the country, make new friends and play with the wooden bat.

“It’s a great process for getting extra at bats and extra innings before they return to college baseball next fall.”

Fans will have the opportunity to catch a handful of the Cajuns in action as six players are participating in the Texas Collegiate League which is the home to Lafayette’s own Acadiana Cane Cutters.

Almann Snowden is the Cajuns representative on the Cane Cutters’ roster. The Cane Cutters begin their 2012 season on Friday, June 1 at Fabacher Field hosting the Alexandria Aces.

Joining Snowden in the Texas Collegiate League – and making stops in Lafayette over the summer – is Ben Frith and Kyle Neely (Alexandria Aces), Tyler Girouard and Logan Preston (East Texas PumpJacks) and Jordan Harrison (Victoria Generals).

To track the progress of all Ragin’ Cajuns participating in the TCL this summer, visit the league’s website.

A pair of teammates who have gotten their summer schedule started is Dylan Butler and Henri Faucheux. They are competing for the Thomasville HiToms of the Coastal Plains League which began the season on Tuesday, May 29. To track the progress of Butler and Faucheux visit the HiToms’ website.

The furthest trip of any Cajuns this summer is being made by two sets of teammates headed out west – one set to Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada and the other to Anchorage, Alaska.

Rising sophomores Cord Cockrell and Jace Conrad will team up for the Kelowna Falcons of the West Coast League. Kelowna opens the season on Wednesday, June 6 and the squad’s progress can be followed by clicking here.

Spending their summer in Alaska are rising juniors Chase Compton and Ryan Leonards – the Cajuns top two hitters for average in 2012. Compton and Leonards will hone their skills with the Anchorage Bucs of the Alaska Baseball League. The Bucs begin play on Sunday, June 10 with a pair of exhibition contests.

Austin Robichaux, the youngest son of head coach Tony Robichaux, travels to Chatham, Mass., to participate in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Many future Major League Baseball players have played in the Cape Cod League during their college years, and because it draws top-tier college players, the level of play is often considered the equivalent of high-A Minor League Baseball.

Robichaux will suit up for the Chatham Anglers (commonly know as Chatham A’s) and the squad begins play on Thursday, June 14. To keep track of Robichaux’s progress and to listen to live broadcasts of the Anglers’ contests visit their website.

The remaining Cajuns participating in summer baseball includes Dominick Francia (Clarinda A’s – M.I.N.K. Baseball League), Derek Howell (Mankato MoonDogs – Northwoods League) and James Peterson (Marion Bobcats – Ohio Valley League).

Below is a complete listing of current Ragin’ Cajuns baseball student-athletes in the 2012 Summer Leagues:

Name                                 Team                                          League

Dylan Butler                       Thomasville HiToms                      Coastal Plains League

Cord Cockrell                     Kelowna Falcons                          West Coast League

Chase Compton                  Anchorage Bucs                           Alaska Collegiate League

Jace Conrad                       Kelowna Falcons                          West Coast League

Henri Faucheux                  Thomasville HiToms                      Coastal Plains League

Dominick Francia                Clarinda A’s                                  M.I.N.K. Baseball League

Ben Frith                            Alexandria Aces                           Texas Collegiate League

Tyler Girouard                    East Texas PumpJacks                 Texas Collegiate League

Derek Howell                      Mankato MoonDogs                      Northwoods League

Ryan Leonards                   Anchorage Bucs                           Alaska Collegiate League

Jordan Harrison                  Victoria Generals                          Texas Collegiate League

Kyle Neely                          Alexandria Aces                           Texas Collegiate League

James Peterson                  Marion Bobcats                            Ohio Valley League

Logan Preston                    East Texas PumpJacks                 Texas Collegiate League

Austin Robichaux               Chatham Anglers                          Cape Cod League

Almann Snowden               Acadiana Cane Cutters                  Texas Collegiate League

— Ragin’ Cajuns —