As they go through final prep for the 2025 Texas Collegiate League season, the Baton Rouge Rougarou seem to have a new attitude.
It's called winning.
After three consecutive seasons of sub-par finishes, the 2024 Rougarou had its most successful campaign, winning its final four games to finish 23-21 – its first above .500 finish in the league.
This year, everyone in green and black wants to improve on that, starting with Tuesday night’s season-opener against the Brazos Valley Bombers at 7 p.m. at Pete Goldsby Field. Admission is free for all fans courtesy of Gordon McKernan injury attorneys. Gates open at 6 p.m.
“This is our fourth year and, honestly, I thought we would have won more before the fourth year,” said team owner Ronnie Rantz. “Last year was the best year any Rougarou team has done.”
This season, everyone wants to do better.
“I need a championship,” said pitcher Fabian Hernandez, who, for the second year in a row, will get the opening day start on the mound. The sophomore at Mid America Christian University was, was 4-0 with a 1.08 earned run average and a TCL All-Star last season. A native of the Dominican Republic, Hernandez said he’s a little less nervous going into this year’s opening day.
“It’s a little more easy for me,” he said. “Last year I was a little more stressed for my first time here.”
Rantz and his staff, along with new head coach Stephen Klein, assistant head coach Tim Beatty, and pitching coach Carl Labit believe they have assembled the right mix of players to make a run this summer. The seven teams play a schedule of 48 games in the East and West divisions. Whichever team wins each half of the season automatically makes the playoffs. If it’s the same team, the team with the best overall record earns the spot. The top teams then play a best-of-three series.
The Rougarou are determined to be one of those teams and, according to Klein, they just might have what it takes this summer.
“We’re seeing a lot of good bats,” Klein said. “A lot of power. And Carl has been working with the pitchers. There’s a lot of strengths, a lot of velocity.”
If nothing else, there are a lot of arms. Anyone who has followed the TCL knows that pitching can be at a premium over the course of 48 games. This year the Rougarou added some depth, shoring up its roster with a hefty list of 16 pitchers – and a few more to come.
“We’ve definitely got some depth,” Klein added.
So now that the roster is finalized and Pete Goldsby Stadium has been all spruced up, all that’s left to do is play ball. The Rougarou will play two home games against Brazos Valley before hitting the road to Brazos Valley on Thursday and Friday, Seguin Saturday and Sunday, then Lake Charles. The team returns to Goldsby – with Brazos Valley – on Thursday, June 12.
“I’m excited,” Klein said. “It’s finally here.”
Added Rantz: “The biggest thing I’m excited about it the weather looks good. We’ve got a good weather report for Tuesday and Wednesday -- after last year when we had five rainouts to start.”
By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer