⚾️ UL Diamond Club ⚾️

Donovan LaSalle, a Lake Charles native and Barbe HS alumnus, is majoring in Sports Management and wants to become a sports agent and stay involved in baseball. While his jersey number is #2 for the Cajuns, he wore #5 in high school and #19 and #3 at Oklahoma. St. so he’s not superstitious about Jersey numbers. His uncle is Dusty Baker, and he has fond memories of being a batboy with the Reds and Astros. Players like Joey Votto, Bryce Harper, and Aroldis Chapman are some of his favorite players. His favorite dish is his mom’s Vietnamese Pho, which is a beef or chicken noodle soup. His dad played baseball at College of the Canyons, and Donovan credits his baseball knowledge to him. He likes the brotherhood already established at UL, especially with the number of new players, and thinks the funniest guy on this year’s team is Cody Brasch.

Right-handed pitcher Cody Brash is from Haslet, TX, and is a transfer from Tyler JC and has recovered from Tommy John surgery. He discusses dorm life, Mike Carter Field, and the strange traffic in Tyler during his stay there. His favorite thing about Louisiana is the cuisine. He enjoys gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish, boudin, and king cake. However, Angelo’s BBQ in Fort Worth is his favorite! A Rangers fan, he wears #15 in honor of Ian Kinsler and is looking forward to playing Dallas Baptist so his parents can easily attend the game. His favorite thing about the Cajuns is team-first chemistry. While he loves to keep things light, he has embraced the 5 am practices and is an intense competitor on the mound. He sees himself as one of the older players on the team, as being a leader by example.

Senior infielder Rigo Hernandez is from Panama City, Panama. Recruited to William Carey in 2019 after a tryout in Panama, he arrived with limited spoken English and has improved greatly. A serious leg injury derailed his junior year, but disciplined rehab led to a 2024 All-American season, batting .363, highlighted by a March 15 game in which he went 5-7, scored six runs, and drove in seven RBIs. Teammate and compatriot Jose Torres, along with Coach Thib’s interest, led him to Cajun baseball. He enjoys Louisiana food, especially jambalaya, which is reminiscent of home, and plans to try gumbo soon. He praises the team’s family feel and would call teammate Maddox Mandino, if he ever needed help in an emergency.Please consider donating to the Diamond Club. One hundred percent of the money stays with the baseball team to help supplement the budget and provide support. ⁠Give to the Diamond Club Online

Tyler Pappenbrock, a senior left-handed pitcher from Leo, Indiana, discusses his journey from Huntington University to Louisiana after posting his stats online and connecting with Coach Thib. He credits experience and coaching for his improved control and relies on his slider as his primary pitch. A kinesiology graduate, he plans to pursue a career in physical therapy. Tyler is starting to enjoy Louisiana’s food and culture. He values his family’s support despite the travel distance. Joining a close-knit new team, he embodies leadership through experience and camaraderie, expressing excitement for the upcoming season and gratitude for this opportunity.  Please consider donating to the Diamond Club. One hundred percent of the money stays with the baseball team to help supplement the budget and provide support. Give to the Diamond Club Online