NEW ORLEANS —
The fourth season of the second era of Xavier University of Louisiana baseball
will begin Friday when the Gold Rush travel to Tougaloo for a three-game
non-conference series.
The Gold Rush (16-25 in 2023) and the Bulldogs (11-34)
will play a noon Friday doubleheader, then a 1 p.m. Saturday game
at Coleman Athletic Complex on Tougaloo's campus, which is on the outskirts of Jackson, Miss. Friday forecast:
partly cloudy, high of 72 degrees and less than a 10-percent chance of rain.
But Saturday there's a 70-percent chance of rain.
Returning XULA players from last season
are
Alexander Arnold,
Syr Bailey,
Cohen Boyd,
Calabe Collins,
Dillon Cousin,
Kimani Davis,
Chase DeLoach,
Kedrick Edwards,
Cam Finn,
Shane Goins,
Colby Henderson,
Izaiah Jackson,
Deionte Norris,
Miles Peterson,
LaMar Price,
Amare Quinn,
Skyler Roberts,
Robert Robinson,
Jayden Smith,
Michael Sonn,
Bennie Spady,
Lawrence Steed
and
Javonte Williams. Cousin is a three-year starter at first base. Boyd and Norris both hit better than .300 in 2023.
Smith signed a
five-figure NIL deal during the fall.
Newcomers are Ben Adams, Matt Adams, Kevin Anderson,
Malik Butler, Brody Caton, Jeremy Clark, Camden Conklin, Alex Crews, Coby Guillory, Kendall Larry, Zion Morris,
Tyler Patterson, Dominik Reimonenq, Amari Riley, Leonard Theophile, Alan Velez,
Caleb Washington, Braeden West, Hunter Wheaton and Keshawn Wright. Conklin is redshirting this season.
Adrian Holloway is in his fourth season
as head coach, and Darrion Smith is in his second year as assistant coach. Former XULA
players Zachary Elias and Co Co Simoneaux are graduate assistants.
XULA no longer uses Wesley Barrow Stadium in New Orleans
for baseball or softball home games. The majority of XULA baseball home games will be played
at Northshore High School in Slidell, La., 33 miles from the XULA campus.
XULA will be the visiting team at Barrow in a three-game
series Feb. 9-10 against Dillard and in an April 3 game against SUNO.
XULA's home and Red River Athletic Conference opener will start at 5 p.m. Feb. 16
against Jarvis Christian. The Gold Rush and Bulldogs will play a noon doubleheader Feb. 17. Northshore will be the site
of that series.
This is XULA's third season as an RRAC member.
