Long before UL’s 2012 baseball schedule approached, Chris Sinclair wasn’t sure just how much catching he’d do during senior season with the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Some, for certain.

But surely not every day, and night, they played.

As it turns out, though, it looks like that is just what the Cajuns will need.

A season ago, Michael Strentz started 42 games behind the plate as a freshman for UL and Sinclair started 17.

This time around, Cajuns coach Tony Robichaux wanted both in the lineup as often as possible.

He first started working Strentz in the outfield, figuring he’d use him some there, too. Then the Comeaux High product’s arm went sore, and he could only DH for a while. And last week Strentz underwent Tommy John surgery to repair his damaged elbow, ending his season.

"I wasn’t really sure what was going on," Sinclair said. "I just knew Strentz was getting reps in the outfield, and I was catching.

"But I expected him to catch some this year. To me, I just thought we were going to be 50-50 the whole way through."

Instead, Sinclair is the Cajuns’ only catcher standing.

Third baseman Tyler Girouard helps out during practices and in the bullpen, and can fill in if need be.

But Sinclair is the guy, going from someone who could only hope he’d play most games to one who — for all practical purposes — must play them all.

"I love it," said Sinclair, a West Monroe High product who transferred to UL after spending the 2010 season at Western Nevada College.

"You know, it was tough losing Strentz," added Sinclair, a two-time baseball All-State pick who also a member of West Monroe’s 2005 Class 5A state-championship high school football team. "He was a key part of our team. But injuries do happen. I’m just doing my best to pick up the slack."

Sinclair actually started his college career in his own backyard, at UL Monroe. He played in 20 games, including 10 starts, for the Warhawks.

But when UL opens Sun Belt Conference play with a three-game series against UL Monroe that starts tonight in Monroe, Sinclair will be in the Cajuns’ dugout.

UL teammates who selected him as team captain despite the fact he was not an every-day player last season — it’s an honor that "means the world to me," Sinclair said — are glad he will be.

So is Robichaux, who has full faith in Sinclair.

"When you can have your team captain pick up the workload from Mike (Strentz) now so Mike can go get healthy – that’s the kind of player Chris is," Robichaux said. "And he understands the game. He understands our pitching system, and he handles pitchers very, very, good.

"That’s what this system demands, and you have to have a guy like that behind the plate."

Robichaux’s only concern is that Sinclair stays clear of injury issues

himself.

"Now," he said, "we just have to keep him healthy.

"He’s a tough kid. If anybody can do it, he can do it," Robichaux added. "But we’ve got to be careful. Hopefully we don’t wear him down as the season goes on."

For his part, Sinclair knows the chore comes with a risk.

But it’s one he’s fearlessly willing to take on.

"The more you play, the better you get. Things become a little easier," Sinclair said. "It’s a lot of wear and tear, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. "» You’ve just got to do it."

The Cajuns really do need him. Sinclair knows it, and he recently found that out the hard way.

When his grandfather passed away earlier this season, he took time to mourn between games.

But after the funeral Sinclair hightailed it in time to get to San Antonio, driving there to join the team for games against Gonzaga, Kansas and tournament host UT-San Antonio.

He had to be there, for a club that was counting on him.

"We’re like a big family here," Sinclair said, "and it means a lot when your teammates are texting you when you’re gone and letting you know they’re thinking about you, and then, when you come back, everybody picks you up."

Circumstances being what they are, he’s more than willing to do his share of picking up, too.

Even if the breaks come few and far between, if ever at all.

Because that’s what is needed.

Simple as that.

Besides, Sinclair added, "It’s fun getting back there every day."