LSU expects trip to Omaha in 2010

OMAHA, Neb. - The LSU baseball team hadn't even left town Thursday before people started telling the Tigers that they expect to see them back in Omaha playing for another national championship next year.

Coach Paul Mainieri wouldn't want it any other way.

"I sure hope so," he said. "One of the things I've always prided myself in as a coach is having a really good program, one that doesn't seesaw year to year."

LSU expects to return at least 10 major contributors who were freshmen or sophomores on the 56-17 squad that won the SEC regular-season and tournament titles and swept through its NCAA regional and super regional.

Among them are second baseman DJ LeMahieu, center fielder Mikie Mahtook, catcher Micah Gibbs, shortstop Austin Nola, No. 1 pitcher Anthony Ranaudo and closer Matty Ott.

"We've got a good core of kids coming back, and if we hold on to some key recruits who were drafted, I don't see why we can't have a very solid team," Mainieri said.

It was like old times for the LSU.

Skip Bertman won the school's first five national titles in a span of 10 years (1991-2000), and annual trips to the College World Series have become a ritual.

Gold-and-purple clad fans showed up at the team hotel after Wednesday night's championship-clinching 11-4 victory over Texas. Mainieri said it took him two hours to make his way through the crowd in the lobby.

"The experience will be a time I'll never forget," he said. "These Louisiana people know how to party, I'll tell you that."

Another awaited the Tigers in Baton Rouge.

"That's for all the people who couldn't be here in Omaha," Mainieri said. "It's hard for me to imagine that there are many people left in Baton Rouge with all the purple and gold I've seen in Omaha."

Mainieri said it's getting harder for the longtime powers to stay on top.

"I think it's going to be extremely difficult. Parity in college baseball is so great."