Cane Cutters News

The Acadiana Cane Cutters are no stranger to sending their players to the pros. Since their inaugural 2011 season, the Youngsville-based team has had over 35 former players drafted or signed by the MLB.

Just last year, Nicholas Judice (University of Louisiana-Monroe) and Patrick Lee (William Carey University) went pro. Both were members of the 2021 and 2022 squads and helped lead Acadiana to its first TCL Championship title in 2022. Judice was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 8th round while Lee signed with the Detroit Tigers.

In this year’s MLB June Amateur Draft, former Cane Cutter outfielders Cole McConnell and Ethan Lege saw their names called. Both draftees played under head coach Darien Dukes during the 2020 and 2021 summer seasons. 

“Both are quality kids who never asked for a day off,” said Coach Dukes. “They’re hard-nosed baseball players. In my 30 years of coaching, they’re two of my favorites to have coached.”

Hailing from Louisiana Tech University, McConnell was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 10th round. In his two seasons with Acadiana, he batted .338 on average and managed 58 knocks in his 44 games played. A true force in the batter’s box, he struck out just 16 times in his 172 at-bats.

“Cole was a totally laid-back guy,” said Coach Dukes. “But standing in the third base coaches’ box, I never thought he wouldn’t get the job done.” 

In his five seasons with the LA Tech Bulldogs, McConnell batted a career .347 average and held a career .431 on-base percentage. He finished the spring of 2024 batting .378 with 18 home runs, receiving C-USA First Team honors and being named a semifinalist for the Dick Howser Trophy.

From the University of Mississippi, Ethan Lege saw himself go in round 15 to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Across his two summers with the Cane Cutters, he batted an average of .370. He led the team in batting average (.364), doubles (10) and home runs (3) in his 2021 season.

“Lege was very serious, but you never had a doubt he wouldn’t get it done,” said Dukes. “He’s just phenomenal with the glove.”

Lege batted .323 with Ole Miss this past spring, amassing 13 homers and 38 runs driven in. He was near perfect in the field as well, finishing with a .984 fielding percentage and just one error to his name. He was a finalist for the Ferriss Trophy, an award given to the best collegiate baseball player in the state. 

The MLB Draft isn’t where it stops though: the Acadiana Cane Cutters also saw free agent Duncan Pastore sign professionally with the New York Yankees. Pastore played the back-half of the 2023 season for Dukes before going on to play for the University of Louisiana.

In his 13 games played with the Cane Cutters, Pastore batted .244 and finished with four doubles and six RBI. With the Ragin’ Cajuns, he finished as one of the top producers on offense with a .327/.442/.404 line and 65 hits - the third highest on the team. 

Coach Darien Dukes couldn’t be prouder of his former players.

“Our organization and our coaching staff wish them the best of luck as they pursue their baseball careers.”