Baseball: Obsorne honored as state’s top hurler

Joshua Parrott • jparrott@theadvertiser.com • June 20, 2010

UL pitcher Zach Osborne delivers a pitch against Troy during their baseball game Friday at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in Lafayette.

Since the unexpected death of his father three years ago, Zach Osborne has honored the man that taught him how to throw a baseball during a pre-game ritual on the pitcher’s mound.

It only seems fitting that the former UL right-hander receives another individual honor on Father’s Day from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Osborne was named the state’s Pitcher of the Year on the 2010 LSWA All-Louisiana College Baseball team. The news was announced this weekend after voting by state baseball sports information directors and a panel of LSWA members.

"I’m so glad that he received that award," said UL coach Tony Robichaux, who shared Co-Coach of the Year honors with Southeastern Louisiana’s Jay Artigues. "He’s so deserving of that award, and the timing couldn’t be any better with it coming out on Father’s Day."

Osborne was UL’s ace as a senior, earning first team All-Sun Belt Conference and first team All-South Central Region honors this year with a 9-4 record and 2.37 ERA.

The Houston native struck out 112 batters in 121.2 innings, logged five complete games and made 14 quality starts in 16 appearances. He led the Sun Belt in ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts, was second in complete games, tied for second in wins and third in opposing batting average (.222).

A ninth-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers two weeks ago, Osborne capped his college career with a five-hit shutout in a 1-0 win over Rice in the NCAA Austin Regional. He earned a spot on the regional all-tournament team after throwing only the second complete-game shutout by a Cajun in NCAA tournament history.

Robichaux helped guide UL (38-22, 21-9 Sun Belt) to an incredible turnaround after a sluggish first half.

After starting 14-14 overall and 4-8 in league play, the Cajuns went 23-4 during the second half of the regular season. That included a 17-1 mark in conference play as UL won a share of the Sun Belt title and advanced to regionals for the first time since 2007.

"It’s very special to me for my dad to win that award," said UL senior first baseman Justin Robichaux. "He definitely deserves it given what we did and achieved this season."

Osborne was the lone Cajun to earn first team All-Louisiana honors, but UL junior second baseman Jordan Poirrier (second team) and senior catcher Chad Keefer (honorable mention) were also recognized.

Poirrier led UL in batting average (.329), runs scored (50), doubles (18), triples (six), total bases (140), slugging percentage (.622) and on-base percentage (.418). He was second on the club in home runs (12) and RBIs (56).

Keefer, recently picked in the 28th round by the Florida Marlins, was second team all-conference and all-region. The Oklahoma native threw out a league-best 20 base runners, led the team in homers (15) and RBIs (58) and was second in hitting (.325).

Tulane’s Rob Segedin (.434, 15 homers, 54 RBIs) was named Louisiana’s Hitter of the Year and a first team third baseman. Teammate Blake Crohan (.340-8-42) was the Freshman of the Year and a first team utility player.

Artigues shared Coach of the Year honors with Robichaux after Southeastern Louisiana (40-19, 21-12 Southland) set the program’s single-season wins record. The Lions also matched their best conference record.

Northwestern State outfielder Oscar Garcia (.375-6-48) picked up the other superlative award as the Newcomer of the Year.

LSU led the state with four first team picks, including catcher Micah Gibbs (.392-9-55), first baseman Blake Dean (.344-11-69), designated hitter Matt Gaudet (.289-16-66) and outfielder Mikie Mahtook (.335-14-49).

Tulane placed three players on the first team in Segedin, Crohan and pitcher Nick Pepitone (6-0, 2.28 ERA).

UNO second baseman Nick Schwaner (.320-17-48) and McNeese State shortstop Jace Peterson (.353-4-49) rounded out the infield with Segedin at third base and Dean at first base.

Mahtook, Northwest-ern State’s Eric DeBlanc (.382-6-39) and Louisiana Tech’s Devon Dageford (.373-17-56) formed the outfield. Mahtook and DeBlanc both played prep ball at St. Thomas More.

Joining Osborne and Pepitone on the mound were Northwestern State’s Luke Irvine (7-4, 2.91 ERA) and Centenary’s Boone Whiting (6-2, 3.21 ERA).

LSU-Shreveport put four players on the second team, including pitchers John James (11-1, 3.61 ERA) and Justin Ennis (12-0, 2.85 ERA), catcher Andrew Brouillette (.437-6-71) and first baseman Kevin Smith (.391-19-89).

The pitching staff also featured Northwestern State’s Chad Sheppard (2-0, 3.60 ERA, 10 saves) and Southeastern Louisiana’s Chris Franklin (8-7, 3.87 ERA, 7 saves).

Brouillette, Smith, Poirrier, Southeastern Louisiana shortstop Justin Boudreaux (.313-13-66) and Louisiana Tech third baseman Mark Threlkeld (.335-14-62) completed the second team infield.

Garcia, Louisiana College’s Cody Laprarie (.371-2-39) and Centenary’s Cliff Shepard (.359-6-48) comprised the second team outfield. Southeastern Louisiana designated hitter Joe Sparacino (.324-8-35) and UL Monroe utility player Judd Edwards (.333-2-20) completed the second team.

LSU (pitchers Paul Bertuccini and Austin Ross, shortstop Austin Nola, outfielder Leon Landry) had four honorable mention selections. Nicholls State (pitcher Clint Dempster, outfielder Brett Comer, utility player Brody Bourque) both had three garner such honors.

Louisiana Tech had two honorable mention picks in second baseman Joey Ford, designated hitter Will Alvis.

UL (Keefer), McNeese State (pitcher Jaden Dillon), Southeastern Louisiana (pitcher Jordan Hymel), Southern (first baseman Frazier Hall), Centenary (utility player Jeff Ericson) and Northwestern State (third baseman Chase Lyles) also earned honorable mention accolades.