PINEVILLE – When the Wildcats play their final game this season, every senior on the Louisiana College baseball team will have to deal with the bittersweet feeling of bidding farewell to the players who have walked beside him over the past four years.

However, for Jon Michael Kidd, Chris Magee and Dustin Tubre, teammates since their days at West Monroe high and have been roommates for the majority of their time at LC, it will be bidding farewell to players who've been there for the better part of a decade.

“It's definitely going to be different not having them around,” Kidd said. “We've spent basically 10 years practicing and playing together. Now we're all going to be heading different directions. I know we'll all keep in touch and everything but it will definitely be different.”

“It's been nice having those two here,” Tubre said. 'We all know each other and have seen each other at our best and worst. They've always been there to support me and push me. The fact that we've been able to hold each other accountable and become such good friends … it's more than just baseball I guess you'd say.”

The West Monroe trio – which, with Kidd and Magee as regulars in the outfield and Tubre a starting pitcher, figures to play a key role in whatever success the Wildcats have this year – can take some comfort in knowing that when they do leave, they will be missed by the Louisiana College baseball family.

“All three of them have contributed to the success of this program,” LC coach Mike Byrnes said. “Whether it's been as a hitter or a pitcher or a position player, they have all done a good job. They all play the game the way we like to play it at Louisiana College which is with a lot of respect and character. They're outstanding baseball players, outstanding students and outstanding human beings. It's going to be tough to replace them.”

Of course, Byrnes won't have to replace the trio until the summer and can simply enjoy their productivity until that time.

Heading into this weekend's road series against American Southwest Conference East Division foe East Texas Baptist, Tubre is 1-2 with an ERA 6.5 thanks to his having been asked to start some of the Wildcats' toughest games.

In seven appearances, Tubre has allowed 17 earned runs and walked eight while striking out 20.
More impressive is the fact that teams have struggled to hit for power against the 5-foot-10, 175-pound righty. Tubre has allowed just three doubles, one triple and no home runs in 2010.

“Tubre is just a hard-nosed right-hander,” Byrnes said. “He's a bulldog of a pitcher who's going to give you everything he has every time he gets on the mound.”

Kidd and Magee, two of four regulars in the LC outfield, have similar numbers.

Kidd, a 5-11, 170-pounder who bats and throws right, is batting .260 with seven runs scored, three doubles and five RBI while Magee, a right-handed batter and thrower who stands 6-1 and weighs 190 pounds, is batting .200 with a run scored and two RBI.

As important to Byrnes are Kidd and Magee's respective fielding percentage, 1.000 and .958 respectively.

“Both of those guys are outstanding defensive outfielders,” Byrnes said. “Offensively, they know what to do when they get up to hit. They know what they are capable of and give you productive at-bats. I wouldn't have a problem having either one of them batting in the ninth with two outs and the winning run on third.”

Three selfless, productive players who perform above what the size of their frames would suggest.
For Byrnes, it's attributable to the quality of the young men and the high school program from which they came.

“West Monroe is and has been one of the premier high school programs in this state,” Byrnes said. “You know when you get anyone from that program that they will be fundamentally sound and have respect for the game and will bring a lot to your program.”

That all three of the young men wound up at the same school is a story in itself.

Tubre and Magee, who had been courted by larger schools, signed with LC out of high school but Kidd initially went to Arkansas-Monticello.

Aside from the one season Kidd spent in Arkansas, the three young men have been teammates for eight years. Magee and Kidd, who played youth baseball together, have been on the same team for 10 years.

Not one of the three is in a hurry to part company and are hoping to delay that moment with a run to the postseason, something Wildcats (7-14 overall and 0-3 in ASC East play) can take a huge step toward accomplishing with a good showing against ETBU this weekend.

“ETBU is a team that we are always battling to get into the playoffs,” Magee said. “We really need to take 2-of-3 if not sweep. We lost our first three conference games (to Mississippi College) so a good weekend could get us turned around and help to build confidence.”

The Wildcats will play a single nine-inning game against ETBU Friday at 6 p.m. and follow with back-to
back seven-inning games beginning at noon on Saturday.
“ETBU is just like us,” Byrnes said. “They're swinging the bat really well but have had problems on the mound and on defense at times. I'm expecting three barn-burners.”