By Lori Lyons, Rougarou Writer
As the Texas Collegiate League pauses play for its annual All-Star break, the Baton Rouge Rougarou will take some much-needed time to regroup, reorganize and recover from the first half.
The 2024 All-Star game will be played on Wednesday, July 3, at the Seguin River Monsters’ home field, “Smokey” Joe Williams Park. Three Rougarou players have been named as starters and another five as alternates.
Rougarou pitcher Fabian Hernandez will be the starter for Team Louisiana. The Dominican Republic native is 2-0 with a 0.63 earned run average, second overall in the TCL. He has pitched 28.2 innings, allowing two runs on 22 hits with 25 strikeouts.
Rougarou center fielder Zeb Ruddell has been named as a starting outfielder. The former LSU outfielder from Monroe, who recently committed to Louisiana Tech, is batting .316 with 24 runs, five doubles, 11 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.
Josh Shelly will be the starting shortstop. The sophomore out of Houma who was named last year’s TCL Player of the Year, recently wrapped up play at Lurleen B. Wallace and will continue his career at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He is batting .287 with 17 runs, four doubles and one triple.
The alternates are catcher Clayton Pourciau (.220, 12 RBIs) and Rougarou pitchers Josh Prieto (3.91 ERA), Kameron Hardeback (2.53 ERA), Hayden Stallings (1.74 ERA) and Garrett Walker (4.90).
“It shows we’re right in the mix of things,” Rougarou coach James Dillard said. “Other teams are taking notice of how good our pitchers are. It’s a really good honor for Fabian. It speaks wonders about him. Everybody’s really excited to be a part of it and they’re ready to go have some fun.”
It has been quite the roller coaster ride for the Rougarou this summer. After opening with a 1-0 win over the Gumbeaux Gators on May 30, Baton Rouge to battle rain as well as its opponents. The second game against the Gators was rained out, then the Rougarou lost two to the Victoria Generals, then another two games were rained out.
It took some time, but the Rougarou finally found a rhythm and challenged the Gators for the top spot in the Louisiana Division, finishing 12-10, a game and a half back. Lake Charles clinched the first Louisiana Division playoff spot. Victoria clinched the first Texas Division playoff spot.
But the Rougarou limped into the first week of the second half. After defeating the Brazos Vally Bombers 6-5 in a marathon battle on Friday, the Rougarou lost its last two games to the Seguin River Monsters – one on a heartbreaking bang-bang play at the plate.
“We wanted to go into the break with a little bit of momentum,” Dillard said. “But you take just one of those plays and go in our favor and we easily could have been 3-1or 2-2. We were one play away the first night. Obviously, we didn’t get that.”
But the off-week will be a chance for Dillard and his staff to make some moves. Several players will be leaving to head off to their next college stops and several more will be coming to replace them.
“That’s always really good for a team,” Dillard said. “It could be the shot in the arm you’re looking for.”
The Rougarou will resume play Saturday, July 6, with a very important two-game series at home against the Acadiana Cane Cutters, the team to beat for a spot in the playoffs.