Baseball: Princeton coach on Lafayette – ‘This is a special place’

 Kristin Askelson, kaskelson@theadvertiser.com  June 4, 2016

Princeton players wait to take the field at the NCAA Lafayette Regional. The Ragin’ Cajuns beat Princeton 5-3 in the first round. (Photo: Kristin Askelson/The Advertiser)

The Princeton baseball team enjoyed some Lafayette hospitality Friday while the weather delayed the start of Princeton’s game with the Ragin’ Cajuns at the NCAA Lafayette Regional.

Prior to the 9:40 p.m. start of the game, which was scheduled to begin at 7, Scott Bradley was spotted licking his fingers clean behind the first base visitors dugout.

"Some of the best tuna I’ve ever eaten," Bradley said. "This tuna was swimming in the Gulf yesterday!"

The tuna, prepared by local chefs in the Cajun Tails cooking club, was, in fact, swimming in the Gulf the previous day. That was before it was caught by Bill Butler, father of former Cajuns outfielder Dylan Butler.

Princeton head baseball coach Scott Bradley speaks to reporters June 3 after Princetons first round loss to UL in the NCAA Lafayette Regional Tournament.  (Photo: Kristin Askelson/The Advertiser)

Princeton isn’t a newcomer to Louisiana; they opened their 2015 season with a series at LSU. But Bradley said players and coaches had been given a warm welcome to Lafayette and had eaten some amazing food since they arrived Wednesday.

Princeton went on to lose to UL 5-3.

Despite the loss, Princeton coach Scott Bradley just couldn’t wait for his Tigers to play in front of a Tigue Moore Field crowd again.

“I’ve played in a lot of places – Baton Rouge, South Carolina, Arkansas,” Bradley said. “This is a special place. That’s as fun a baseball environment as I’ve ever been in.”