Baseball: Fuselier, Smith among SBC’s top freshmen

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • June 15, 2009

When given the opportunity to play right away for UL in 2009, outfielder/pitcher Alex Fuselier and outfielder Les Smith made the most of their time on the baseball diamond.

Fuselier and Smith were recently named to the unofficial Sun Belt Conference All-Freshman team based on nominations and approval by the league newspaper beat reporters.

Only FIU (five) got more players on the 13-member squad, which included true and redshirt freshmen. UL and UNOs had two players apiece.

Troy, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky also were represented on the team.

"Both of those guys did a great job for us as freshmen," UL coach Tony Robichaux said of Fuselier and Smith. "They both had times when they were mentally and physically challenged, but they were able to make that tough transition from high school to college baseball."

A graduate of Teurlings Catholic, Fuselier was named the team’s utility player after contributing to UL as a hitter, fielder and pitcher. The left-hander started 37 of 46 games, tying for the team lead with four triples.

His .245 batting average isn’t overly impressive, but he hit .370 (10-for-27) with six runs and six RBIs over the final eight games of the season as the Cajuns reached a bracket final in the league tournament. That late surge boosted his batting average 28 points.

Fuselier also spent part of the season as UL’s Friday night starter, going 2-2 with a 6.50 ERA in 10 appearances.

"He really started to help us when he got better in gaining information on what the pitcher was doing to him during the game," Robichaux said. "With Justin (Robichaux) and Zach (Osborne) not going in the draft (last week), that will allow us to use Alex more as a hitter next year and use him out of the bullpen and in midweek games."

Smith, one of the three outfielders on the All-Freshman team, emerged as one of the conference’s top young talents this past season. He started 57 of 58 games and hit .284 with nine home runs and 41 RBIs. His 111 total bases led the team. He also tied for first in runs scored (42) and was second in homers, RBIs, hits (62), doubles (14) and walks (28) despite playing the last half of the year with a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder.

In the field, Smith did not commit an error in 90 chances and had seven assists.

Smith, a native of Dyersburg, Tenn., announced two weeks ago that he was transferring to a junior college closer to home.

"Les would have had a chance to come back and hit in the middle of our lineup again," Robichaux said. "That’s why we’re going to miss him so much."

Two lefties – Troy’s Tyler Ray and FIU’s R.J. Fondon – were voted the All-Freshman team’s two starters. Both pitchers tied for fourth in the conference with seven victories.

Ray was the Sun Belt’s Freshman of the Year after going 7-3 with a 4.60 ERA. Fondon was 7-2 in 18 appearances.

MTSU lefty Justin Guidry – the second cousin of former Cajun and New York Yankees pitching ace Ron Guidry – was the lone reliever. Guidry posted a 4-2 mark in 22 appearances for the Blue Raiders, who won the league tournament.

FIU dominated a thin group of infielders with three of the five selections, notably first baseman Mike Martinez. The smooth-swinging righty was a first team all-conference pick and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American after hitting .366 with five homers and 29 RBIs. The Golden Panthers also had second baseman Raiko Alfonso (.300 with 12 doubles) and third baseman Garrett Wittels (.246 in 30 starts) on the team.

FAU catcher Mike Albaladejo led the team with a .373 batting average. UNO catcher Kyle Maldonado hit .259 and threw out eight would-be base stealers.

Smith was joined in the outfield by UNO’s Rodarrick Jones and WKU’s Jared Andreoli. Jones led the Privateers with 12 stolen bases and hit .299 with seven homers in 50 games. Andreoli logged a.298 batting average with 32 RBIs and a .414 on-base percentage.

The designated hitter was Pablo Bermudez, who hit .313 with 11 doubles and 26 RBIs.

UL also had two of the 11 honorable mention selections in pitchers Matt Lackie (2-1 in eight appearances) and Blake Wascom (1-0 with 3.91 ERA in 10 appearances).

While the Sun Belt votes for superlative honors and an all-conference team, there is no official All-Freshman team because the league office has a moratorium on creating new awards.

Unofficial Sun Belt All-Freshman baseball team

Starting pitchers

Tyler Ray, Troy: Went 7-3 with a 4.60 ERA. Was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year. Tied for fourth in SBC with 7 wins and fifth with 88 innings.

R.J. Fondon, FIU: Was 7-2 with a 5.05 ERA in 18 appearances. Tied fourth in SBC with 7 wins.

Relief pitcher

Justin Guidry, MTSU: Was 4-2 in 22 appearances. Had 27 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.

Infielders

Mike Albaladejo, FAU, C: Led the team with a .373 batting average in 34 games. Threw out eight would-be base stealers.

Mike Martinez, FIU, 1B: Hit .366 with 5 homers, 4 doubles and 29 RBIs. First team all-SBC and Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.

Raiko Alfonso, FIU, 2B/3B: Hit .300 with 12 doubles, 3 homers and 20 RBIs. Helped turned 20 double plays.

Garrett Wittels, FIU, 3B: Hit .246 with 5 doubles, 1 homer and 16 RBIs. Started 30 of 46 games.

Kyle Maldonado, UNO, C: Hit .259 with 5 doubles in 34 games. Threw out 8 would-be base stealers.

Outfielders

Les Smith, UL, OF: Hit .284 with 62 hits, 14 doubles, 9 homers, 41 RBIs and 111 total bases. Started 57 of 58 games.

Rodarrick Jones, UNO, OF: Hit .299 with 9 doubles, 7 homers and 27 RBIs. Started 49 of 50 games. Had a team-high 12 stolen bases.

Jared Andreoli, WKU, OF: Hit .298 with 2 homers and 32 RBIs. Also had .414 on-base percentage.

Designated hitter

Pablo Bermudez, FIU, OF: Hit .313 with 11 doubles, 3 homers and 26 RBIs. Started 38 of 48 games.

Utility

Alex Fuselier, UL, OF/SP: Hit .245 with 4 triples in 46 games, including 37 starts. Tied for fourth in SBC in triples. Went 2-2 in 10 pitching appearances.

Honorable Mention

Kevin Burgi, Arkansas State, C: Hit .273 with 1 homer and 9 RBIs in 16 games.

Kes Carter, WKU, OF: Hit .383 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 24 games.

Matt Drake, South Alabama, OF: Hit .283 with 4 doubles and 13 RBIs in 28 games.

Ahmed Garcia, FAU, P: Was 3-2 with a 5.54 ERA in 22 appearances. Had 16 strikeouts in 39 innings.

Matt Lackie, UL, P: Went 2-1 in 8 appearances. Had 18 strikeouts in 21 innings.

Nathan Lami, South Alabama, OF: Hit .234 with 7 doubles and 18 RBIs in 48 games.

Jacob Lee, Arkansas State, P: Was 2-5 with 5.32 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 47.1 innings in 13 outings.

Michael Vargas, FIU, OF: Had .316 batting average with 3 doubles, 2 homers and 12 RBIs in 34 games.

Blake Wascom, UL, P: Was 1-0 with 3.91 ERA in 10 appearances and had 20 strikeouts in 23 innings.

Brett Wilson, MTSU, P: Went 3-2 with a 5.65 ERA in 18 appearances. Had 29 strikeouts in 36.2 innings.

Joe Zimmerman, UNO, P: Went 3-4 in 14 appearances with 61 strikeouts in 70.1 innings.