Junior outfielder Kyle Cedotal (far right) looks on as the Lions play Bryant in the 2014 NCAA Regionals. Cedotal will be returning to the bat with the 2015 Lion baseball team beginning on Feb. 7 with the annual Alumni Game and then Feb. 13 for a weekend series against Louisiana Tech.  The Lion’s Roar /  Sara Patrick

Those who made the drive down I-12 last May to watch the Lions baseball team play against Bryant University were rewarded by witnessing history. 

The Lions capped off a 38-25 season by winning the Southland Conference Tournament championship that eluded them for three years. 

By virtue of winning the conference tournament, the Lions were guaranteed a spot in a regional, setting up the team’s first regional victory since 1992. 

“Obviously last season was a great year. We played our best ball at the end of the season and getting to be a part of that dogpile was special,” said second-year head coach Matt Riser. “Now it’s time to take it even further than the regional tournament.”

The 2014 season was a historical one for the Lions baseball program, but now there are new challenges that face the team. All-Conference pitcher Andro Cutura and Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year Andrew Godbold were taken in the draft and have left the team to play in the pros. Riser now has the task of instilling the same winning mentality to a team featuring the third-best recruiting class in the state. 

“We knew it was going to be a big class that we would have to go out and get. Honestly, we feel like it is one of the most talented classes we have ever had on campus,” said Riser in an interview with lionsports.net. “There’s going to be chances for some freshman to play. They will have a chance to get on the all-freshman team.”

Despite the large amount of new faces that will be joining the team, there will be several key players returning to the Pat Kenelly Diamond. Senior third baseman Brett Hoffman and junior Jameson Fisher enter the season a part of the 2015 Louisville Slugger Preseason All-American team. However, Fisher will redshirt this season due to an injury acquired in the fall. Junior Jacob Seward, who was a part of the Southland all-tournament team, will return to his spot in the outfield. Also returning are senior infielders Sam Roberson and Jacob Williams, both of whom represented the Lions on the regional All-Tournament team.

“Hoffman is a preseason All-American, so we are going to expect a good bit out of him this season,” said Riser. 

The bullpen this year will feature a mixture of new members to the team and some familiar faces. Senior Tate Scioneaux, the 2014 Southland Tournament MVP, will return to the team. 

“Tate has done a fantastic job of stepping up and leading the younger guys. We expect another good year for him,” said Riser. “After the fall, a lot of the feedback we got from the team was just how close this team was.”

Joining Scioneaux will be Kyle Cedotal. Cedotal, a senior, will spend less time in the outfield than he has in the past three seasons. 

“Kyle has done a fantastic job of responding to his job on the mound,” said Riser. 

One newcomer to watch for is transfer Jake Johnson. The junior spent the last two seasons playing at Neosho Community College, where he led the team to the Junior College World Series. There are also several freshmen that will have a chance to get into the mix of the bullpen.

This season will include games against some usual in-state rivals as well as games against unfamiliar non-conference teams. The Lions will match up with Tulane three times this season, where Riser played at during college. Southeastern will also face the University of Louisiana-Lafayette twice this season, once away and once at home. One year after setting a record for attendance when the Louisiana State University Tigers visited Southeastern, the Lions will travel to Baton Rouge to take on the Tigers before the start of conference play. The team will be tested with several key non-matchups against Utah University, Northwestern University and Michigan State University. 

“We’re going to have to take this season one game at a time and just try to continue to get better,” said Riser. 

Prior to the first game of the season on Feb. 13 against Louisiana Tech, the Lion’s baseball team will participate in the yearly Alumni Game. This game features former stars from the Lion baseball team facing the current squad in a scrimmage. This year’s game will be Saturday, Feb. 7 at 12 p.m. 

Later that day, fans will have a chance to dine with the team and get to know the squad members at the First Pitch Banquet. The banquet is slated to begin at 7 p.m. and costs $50 per ticket. Coach Riser will present the Lion for Life Award at the banquet and a pair of seniors from the team will speak to those who attend. 

The Lions will start conference play in March with a series against Incarnate Word. 

For a complete schedule and more news on Southeastern baseball, visit lionsports.net.