Baseball: Fans, players react to season on social media

The Advertiser, June 11, 2014

You’d have to be living under a rock to be unaware of the emotional roller coaster that the UL baseball team and its fans rode over the weekend.

In its first time hosting an NCAA Super Regional tournament, UL was in the national spotlight for its talent on the baseball diamond. The city and Ragin’ Cajuns fans were also in the spotlight.

After winning the first game Saturday in dominating fashion, the Cajuns went on to lose a close game to Ole Miss on Sunday. They then suffered a crushing loss in the elimination game Monday.

MORE: 2014 UL baseball team set bar higher for program

MORE: It was about more than baseball

As players and fans came to grips with the season’s unexpected abrupt ending, many of them took to social media for closure.

Here are some posts from players, fans and even some Ole Miss fans, who could certainly relate (Ole Miss hosted Super Regionals in 2005, 2006, 2009. Each time, they won the first game and lost lost two.)

FROM PLAYERS

• Jace Conrad: Well here goes nothing….

I would like to finally take this opportunity to say thank you. Thank you to all of our friends, families, and most importantly to the amazing city of Lafayette, Louisiana.

I had the dream of playing college baseball since I was just a little kid. I had no clue where I would end up playing or if I would ever even get the chance to. Fortunately, I got the amazing opportunity to be part of a brotherhood that will NEVER be broken. For 3 years, I have given this program every ounce of blood, sweat, and tears that I have, and I wouldn’t change that for the world.

We worked each and every day as if it was all we had ever known. We hit, fielded, played games, fought, yelled, and even cried, through this entire journey. The thing that kept us going was the fact that we stayed TOGETHER through thick and thin. There was nothing, and will never be anything that can break us apart. … We played each game throughout this season with everything we had.

As the season went on, we found ourselves with our backs against the wall multiple times. We had to learn to overcome adversity and respond. This by itself is the BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT thing that any person can ever do and that’s what we did. We showed the world who The University of Louisiana is and we went out fighting till the very last pitch. Yes we came up short in some people’s minds and in mine at times but at the end of the day, we gave it all we had and we wouldn’t change that for the world.

If I could share one last thing that I learned while I was here and that I will take with me for the rest of my life, here it is… No matter what the situation is, whether its baseball, getting a job, getting a promotion, or even as serious as cancer….you are NEVER and I mean NEVER out of the fight!! There’s always something in you that can keep fighting. It just takes the guts and courage to find that something.

With that being said, I cannot thank this amazing community, and even some people around the world for all the love and support. We owe everything to y’all. Without you guys, none of this would have been possible. We love y’all and were very happy to help put The University of Louisiana on the sports map around the world. We will continue to grow and represent this city and state with tremendous pride!

Thank you guys again!

I will FOREVER be a Ragin Cajun!!

• Reagan Bazar: I’ve never been a part of something more special in my entire life. Grinding with my brothers this year is something I’ll never forget.

• Chase Compton: I will remember my years at UL for the rest of my life. Thank you to all of my teammates and all the great fans of UL for supporting me.

• Tyler Girouard: Thanks to everyone who played a part in something special that I will never forget and thanks to #CajunNation for the support!

FROM FANS

• Kay Ledet: Well, I didn’t cry until our boys didn’t want to leave the field … it’s an honor to cheer for @CajunsBaseball.

• Ryan Baniewicz: I’d like to personally thank the Cajun baseball team for rekindling my passion for the game of baseball. They played the game the right way.

• Matthew Hebert: It didn’t end in #Omaha, but #Cajuns baseball provided us a storybook season to remember.

• Glenn Guilbeau: Great season for Cajuns. From wire to wire best team in Louisiana, and one of the best in the SEC.

• @jllanclos: Damn, it’s fun to be a Ragin’ Cajun. But I have grown to love these guys and the passion they represented this university with.

It wasn’t that I wanted Omaha. It’s that I wanted Omaha so bad FOR THEM.

There’s something different about our teams. Every team says they’re a family. But ever since Hud, Marlin, and Deggs got here, there’s a different feeling to them. They’re family, and they draw the community in as an extension of their family.

So you hurt with them when you follow them. I used to be sad as a fan. Now I’m just sad for the players themselves.

I don’t know how to explain it. It’s just different. Couldn’t be prouder to be a Cajun.

This has been a magical ride. Next year will be awesome, too. but it won’t be THESE grinders. It’ll be a different bunch that we’ll fall in love with.

But I’ll really miss THESE grinders.

• Virginia Broussard Falgout: Thanks once again for making such great memories for myself and 2 sons for the past 3 years.

Glad they made me hang out till nearly midnight last night at the Tigue to give you and the rest of the team a special thanks for a very special season! Good luck in the future!!!

• Patrick Meagher: Great season Jace, as a former Cajun player we were proud of you, and your team! You have everything to be proud of this year bro, outstanding job. Good luck next year and in your future endeavors, I’m sure you will do great things.

• John Oliver: Thank you Jace and the whole team for providing us the fans with pride, great baseball and love of home this season. To whatever may follow, may it be all you want it to be. Thanks again.

• RaginCajun10: I’m still in shock today.

That hurt tremendously. I hope our players are keeping their heads up today because what they accomplished this year was something very special. Omaha or not, they set the precedent for the coming years and recruits coming in to carry the torch further. It’s a relay, and they just handed the baton off to the next guys. I know we will come back with fire next year and I’ll be anxious to see how we respond next season. I see no reason for a drop off. Sure, we lose some key contributors and alot of talent, but in my opinion… what we have gained is an extreme will to WIN and an extreme sense of PRIDE.

All of our guys returning next year and the new guys coming in will have more than enough confidence to try and make that Omaha run again.

Remember, there are less talented teams that make it to Omaha every single year based solely on WILL and DETERMINATION. This team, this program, these coaches, were fully awoken to what can be accomplished and I am looking forward to what is to come.

GEAUX CAJUNS!

And a big PS to all the guys we are losing, THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THIS PROGRAM!

• Lexhead: I was thinking today what a bid debt the U has to these kids. This was better national exposure than the basketball team’s trip to the big dance. Better national exposure than the New Orleans Bowl win(s). We saw bandwaggoner’s flipping allegiance, more prevalent use of UL over ULL, UL-L and UL-Lafayette (and even plain ol’ Lafayette). This baseball run, combines with the accomplishments of the football, basketball and softball programs have really changed things. Maybe I am just on a Ragin’ Cajuns high, but I feel like we may have turned a corner here.

Proud to be a UL Ragin’ Cajun, and this baseball team is no small part of that.

• @SaidAtTheTigue: What an amazing season. Thanks for an unbelievable year Cajuns. You went above and beyond, and Lafayette is grateful to you.

• Ragin Cajun 08: This team & the leadership by Conrad will be remembered for a very long time.

• TuffGuy84: Thank you Jace, as well as every player on this team, the amount of fight and the talent on this team may never be matched. There is 1 thing for sure, he didn’t just help bring Louisiana Baseball back to prominence, he helped set a new bar with which all cajun baseball teams will be measured.

• Jesse Lanclos: Who you are is not defined by how it ends. I learned that from coach Lotief and coach Robe. You don’t know me, Jace, but I’m one of many that will forever be inspired by your group of grinders. We may win national championships at the University of Louisiana, but there will never be a group of grinders like you guys. Keep ya head up. You’ve inspired (and will continue to inspire) a community to dream big dreams, believe you can achieve those dreams, and to go after them with everything you’ve got. Can’t wait to see what the future holds for you all. Thanks for taking us on a magic carpet ride we’ll never forget.

Even Ole Miss fans showed some love:

• Jason Miller: Your team was so scary the last 3 days I still get nervous watching the highlights! Congrats on a great season!

• Sy Easterling: NO DOUBT @ULRaginCajuns are for real. Heck of team. Hell of an atmosphere. Congrats on a solid season!

• OleMissEvie: You have a phenomenal team and your fans couldn’t have been nicer. Ya’ll deserve to be in the CWS too.

• Scott Oakley: Much respect to #ULL and their fan base! A great team, great fan base and one heck of a venue!

• Taylor Dillon: Very impressed with the hospitality of everyone in Lafayette. Y’all are hands down the best team we beat this year.

• Chase Conerly: Hats off to the Cajuns. The country just saw the real World Series final.

• Elton Richardson: Two of the best in the nation played 3 awesome games!! ULL tough place to play!!

• @RFHater: Be courteous to your hosts on the way out Rebel fans. We all know how they feel right now. Great team with great fans.