SEC baseball looking elementary for LSU freshman CF Zach Watson – SECcountry.com

BATON ROUGE, La. LSU freshman center fielder Zach Watson is not going to have a crisis of confidence any time soon.

Watson is the hottest bat in the Tigers lineup. Heading into a crucial series at Kentucky, hes reached base in 24 consecutive games and has hits in the last 12 games. Notably, hes very aware of those numbers and embraces the challenge of makingthem rise.

I think about it every at-bat, every game, Watson admitted. I go into the game knowing what streak Im on. Ive got to get a hit this game, Ive got to get on somehow. Its a big thing to me. To do this as a freshman is a big thing. I want to see how long I can keep it going.

That might sound me-first, but it really isnt. Watson knows a hitting streak doesnt mean anything if those knocks come in situations that do nothing to benefit the Tigers.

I dont want one hit, but multiple hits a game, he said. I want to do my best for the team.

Plus, he looks at it as a bit of a reverse superstition. Streaks and no-hitters are the types of things that ballplayers dont mention in the dugout, but Watson doesnt subscribe to that behavior.

Ive got to mention it every time, Watson said. If I dont mention it, Ill end it.

His ascent is notable foran LSU offense that went through the doldrums for its first few SEC series. Watson started the year on the bench. Coach Paul Mainieri then plugged him in to bolster LSUs defense in center even though he was a shortstop in high school.

It took some getting used to, but after practicing every day Im very used to it, Watson said. I feel like Ive played it forever.

Watson spent the bulk of his early games as LSUs No. 9 hitter. He thinks it was a crucial move by Mainieri that helped bolster a confidence that now seems unflappable.

It allowed me to be at the bottom of the lineup, and yet Im the second leadoff, Watson said. You need a good guy down there thats going to hit the ball thats got some wheels. I saw it as an opportunity to be the second leadoff and get on base one way or the other.

The experiment worked so well that Mainieri can no longer chance waiting for the first inning to end before Watson steps into the batters box. The West Ouachita (La.) High grad has batted in the No. 3 hole in front of slugger Greg Deichmann in LSUs past two games.

When I looked at the lineup and saw myself in the 3-hole I said Oh, I like this. I can get on and Greg can drive me in, Watson said. Its a win-win situation.

Watson doesnt appear to be much of a power threat, putting only 166 pounds on his 6-foot frame. But hes second behind Deichmann on the team with a .475 slugging percentage.

He doesnt come across as being a really athletic guy because hes just not a really big guy, Mainieri said. But hes really wiry strong, and he can run. And hes got a little bit of that it factor too.

Whether its the it factor or simply skill, Watson wants to make sure he can keep contributing to the offense and stay inthe heart of the order.

I dont want to give Coach Mainieri a reason to take me out of the 3-hole, Watson said. It might have been a (short-term)thing, I dont know. He knows what hes doing. I trust him.

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SEC baseball looking elementary for LSU freshman CF Zach Watson - SECcountry.com