PINEVILLE, La. – There's a new name at the top of the Louisiana College Wildcats lineup  but it's one LC baseball fans love to hear. The name is that of junior Cody Laprarie, a new addition to LC's baseball team and the starting center fielder who is having a career season in the leadoff spot.

Laprarie played two seasons for nearby LSU-Alexandria but came to LC at the beginning of this year as LSU-A did not have enough classes to accommodate his major, health and physical education.

“It was perfect timing,” said head baseball coach Mike Byrnes, who was in need of more depth in the  outfield coming into this season. “We're lucky we got him and we're excited about having him.”

The Wildcats certainly picked a good time to get Laprarie, as the center fielder has started the season putting up huge numbers.

Laprarie is hitting .482 in 15 games, and has scored 24 runs while amassing 40 total bases. The 5'10” junior has hammered 7 doubles and 2 homeruns and knocked in 13 runs while slugging .714.

“I'm just getting some breaks and I'm seeing the ball pretty well. I didn't really do anything different, just trying to prepare like I always have,” said Laprarie, who has also shown proficiency on the base-paths, swiping four bases on five attempts and in the outfield, with only one error and several great running catches.

Byrnes had scouted Laprarie while he played shortstop for Grant High School in Dry Prong, but at the time did not need a middle infielder.

When Laprarie went to LSU-A, he became the starting center fielder and lead-off hitter, and when Byrnes and LC found he was looking for a new academic institution, they were tickled to death to bring him to
Pineville.

“He fits right into the way we play the game. He plays the game hard. He leaves everything on the field, and that's what it's all about,” said Byrnes, who added that Laprarie haunted LC for two years whenever
they had to play against him.

Laprarie had little difficulty in making the decision to play ball for LC, having played against the Wildcats and knowing most of the players on the squad. “I knew what they had and how they approached the game, and I thought it would be a good fit. I'm just thankful Coach Byrnes gave me an opportunity to come over here and fit into the system,” said Laprarie.

Despite his success, Laprarie speaks modestly and is even embarrassed by the attention he has gotten and the good-natured ribbing he takes from his teammates. He shied away from questions about his personal production (6-7, 7 runs, 4 RBI) in Monday's double-header against Jarvis Christian, focusing on the team's loss in the first game and praising the adjustments made by his teammates in their second-game victory. He continues to play the part of the role player, happy to contribute wherever he can.

“Anything I can do to help the team win, that's the ultimate goal,”said Laprarie. “We want to win and  possibly get in the playoffs. We don't really rely on one person to carry this team. If one person is
struggling the next guy will pick you up. That's part of our philosophy here and you can see it up and down our lineup.”