Cane Cutters News

The Cane Cutters break down their top moments from an action-packed summer of Texas Collegiate League baseball at Fabacher Field.

2013 Year in Review - Photo Album

As the 2013 Texas Collegiate League summer season comes to a close, we would like to take the time to recall some of the most memorable moments during this year’s campaign. With so many to choose from, deciding which events, or series of events, belong in the top-tier was a tough task. Will these highlights match up with yours? Here are our picks for this summer’s Best of 2013 Countdown. 

July 20^th – Connor Barron Blasts 3-Run Walk Off Home Run

Saturday, July 20^th certainly provided a memorable moment. Fabacher Field was the cat’s pajamas during their first-ever Roaring 20’s Night, complete with 1920’s style public address announcements and music. Keeping the game close all night with the Texas Marshals, Acadiana trailed by a pair in the bottom of the 9^th inning with two outs when Connor "Boom Boom" Barron stepped to the plate with runners on first and second. After diligently working the count,  Barron blasted a towering shot around the right field foul pole for a three-run walk-off to end the close the contest, 5-4. The home run, Barron’s fifth on the summer, gave him the all-time Cane Cutters’ record for home runs in a single season. The win gave the Cutters four straight against the Marshals in the midst of their stellar July.

August 9^th – Mitchell Nau Wins TCL Player of the Year

Before the Texas Collegiate League played their final regular season contest, the circuit honored the best of 2013 during their annual awards selection. Acadiana catcher Mitchell Nau would be recognized with the top Leauge honor: Texas Collegiate League Player of the Year. Nau, playing in his second season with the Cane Cutters, hit at a phenomenal .350 clip with six home runs and 39 runs batted in. The Texas A&M Aggie led the Cane Cutters to a (32-28) regular season record, starting a majority of those games behind the dish. His selection made him the second Cane Cutter in the organization's short three years of existence to be crowned. Former Acadiana standout and current New York Yankees farmhand Taylor Dugas won the award in 2011.

July 2^nd – 24^th – Cane Cutters Win 15 of 18 during a Hot Stretch in July

After a rough (1-7) start through the first 8 games, the Cane Cutters began to turn it around, getting progressively better through June en route to compiling an (11-7) record on the back end of their cold streak to end the first full month of play. The turnaround soon turned into a hot streak. From July 2^nd to July 24^th, the Cane Cutters won 15 of their 18 games played, earning them 2^nd place in the total league standings and the top spot in the second-half standings over the nationally ranked Brazos Valley Bombers. Ultimately, the run would be a catalyst to the Cane Cutters earning a postseason bid.

June 19^th – July 28^th – Jake Winston’s Dominant Play

Jake Winston, starting pitcher from Southern Mississippi, pitched out of his mind in his seven starts from June 19^th to the July 28^th. During that stretch he owned opposing teams’ lineups, compiling a (6-1) record with a 2.31 ERA while striking out 6.4 batters per nine. Four of his wins came against the Woodlands Strykers, one of the teams threatening the Canes for a playoff bid. The stretch also helped land Winston franchise records for both wins and ERA in a single season.

July 9^th – Cane Cutters Send Six to TCL All-Star Game

The Cane Cutters had an excellent showing in the Texas Collegiate League All-Star Game in Kilgore this summer. Acadiana sent six representatives to the midseason classic. Catcher and to-be TCL Player of the Year Mitchell Nau, shortstop Logan Taylor, utility machine Kyle Cedotal, and pitchers Jake Winston, Justin Sinibaldi, and John Gremillion were all deservingly hand-picked for the East Team. Gremillion, reliever from Southeastern Louisiana University, would etch his name in the box score as the winning pitcher.

June 28^th – Paul’s Jewelry Diamond Dash

Fabacher Field played host to the inaugural Paul’s Jewelry Diamond Dash on the 28^th of June, during which fans with special invitations earned over the course of the summer were allowed to take the field and search for a pricey gem hidden somewhere on the diamond. Dash invitee Trey Rideaux eventually found the hidden keepsake and walked away with the 75 point, 14 karat gold fashioned diamond necklace valued at $2,300.

July 12^th – UL Softball-Media Challenge and Hollywood Night

Another Fabacher first was took flight on Hollywood Night hosted by the Hampton Inn & Suites Lafayette. Before the regularly scheduled game, the Canes held a special contest to get things going. The challenge entailed big-name members of the local sports media to take on the best softball pitchers the University of Louisiana Lafayette had to offer. These girls weren’t lobbing the ball up there either, their intent was to sit them down on strikes quickly. Just to show you just how talented UL’s softball pitchers are, only one media member, Tom Martin from KATC, made contact into fair territory. He would send a solitary dribbler back towards the mound. 

Summer 2013 was chalked full of many can’t-miss memories. How do these favorite Cane Cutters’ moments stack up with yours? Let us know what you think about our countdown and perhaps what we missed by commenting on our Facebook page, Acadiana Cane Cutters Baseball, or Twitter @CaneCuttersBB.