Return of Louisiana Tech’s run producer

Steele Netterville made his way to the front of the bus to get the attention of his coaches.

It’s March 19, 2021, and Louisiana Tech is headed to Tulane to start a weekend series with the Green Wave, hoping to build off its win over No. 4 Ole Miss earlier in the week. Netterville needed to alert head coach Lane Burroughs to a situation unfolding with outfielder Cole McConnell.

“Steele Netterville, future doctor, comes up to us and is like, ‘Have you seen Cole’s finger?’” Burroughs said. “ We knew he was having a finger issue, so we went, ‘No, what’s up?’ Steele goes, ‘It’s green and he’s got a fever.’” McConnell was dealing with a major nailbed infection, resulting in heavy nausea and swelling. But he hadn’t told his coaches just how bad it really was.

“By the time I saw him, his finger had doubled in size, and it was almost purplish and green,” Netterville said. “He was waking up in the middle of the night puking. It was bad.”

When Tech got to the field, the Bulldogs called in Tulane’s trainer and doctor to have a look. Upon inspection, it was clear this was nothing to gloss over.

“Their trainers looked at him and they immediately called this hand specialist to look,” Netterville said. “I think he left his kid’s birthday party or something and they did a procedure on Cole to clear it out and I think they took part of his finger.”

McConnell sat out nearly a month in recovery before returning to action. Even so, he finished the year second on the team and fifth in Conference USA in batting average (.347).

It wouldn’t be the last time McConnell had to overcome adversity at Tech.

After an All-Conference season in 2022, setting the program single season record for RBIs (76) and doubles (24), McConnell looked to be a major part in what was supposed to be the year for the Bulldogs in 2023. He also played that summer in the prestigious Cape Cod League. Instead, he played four games before sitting out the rest of the year serving a suspension, left to only watch the turbulent season.

“Last year, it was tough,” McConnell said. “But coach Burroughs stuck with me and if there was anything I needed, he was there. It’s really special to be with him and still a part of the team.”

McConnell’s return for the 2024 season factored into the hope that the Bulldogs were going to get back on track, but you wouldn’t have been crazy to ask if that much time away from live action would hamper his production. It had been over a year since his last live at bat.

In hindsight, it was a stupid hypothetical.

After all, if there’s one thing you need to know about Tech’s star center fielder, it’s that adversity makes him stronger. And he’s not afraid to face it head on.

McConnell leads the Bulldogs and CUSA in average (.382), hits (83), and home runs ( 17), while ranking third in the league in RBIs (66). The fifth-year senior already has career highs in homers, runs scored (62), and average as Tech’s hard-hitting two-hole batter.

At one point, McConnell reached base safely in 27 consecutive games — the longest streak since Mason Mallard (36 games) in 2019.

“Cole’s word was perseverance,” Burroughs said. “ I think everything he’s been through from injuries; I mean, he’s played hurt more than anybody I’m aware of. He’s hurt right now. His back hurts. And then you throw in he misses a year. He just keeps coming back. He’s putting up numbers like he does every year. No matter what you throw at Cole, he keeps coming back for more. Those are the kind of players we love.”

Unrelenting toughness

For the last four weeks, McConnell — who leads CUSA in home runs and average — has played with a sore back.

Not ideal in a sport where half the time you’re asked to rotate your hips, back, feet and arms violently enough to hit a screaming ball back into the field of play.

But despite soreness — he’s only taking pregame batting practice now to mitigate pain — McConnell has continued to produce like one of the best in the country.

Whether it was his 3 home run game against Jacksonville State on March 23, his 498-foot bomb against New Mexico State on May 3, or his go-ahead two-run single over WKU on May 12, McConnell’s plate presence hasn’t diminished at all. If anything, he’s gotten stronger.

“The one good thing about Cole last year was he kept practicing with us,” Burroughs said. “He stayed here all summer and lifted weights and got stronger and he hit. In the fall, he didn’t miss a beat. You knew he was going to put up numbers.

“He’s a run producer. That’s what he is. He’s an offensive, run-producing guy. He hits for power. He hits for average. I think this year, there are probably too many strikeouts. He’ll tell you that. But you can live with those punchouts when you’re driving the ball out of the ballpark. Honestly, just because of his strength and swing and being around him all these years, I figured he’d pick right back up where he has. I’m not surprised by his season.”

In 27 home games this year, McConnell hit .387 (43-for-111) with 12 home runs and 40 RBIs. Overall, his longest streak this year without an RBI is just three games.

Netterville, teammates with McConnell from 2020 to 2022, can look back now and laugh at the finger fiasco.

But when he takes a bigpicture look at one of his favorite teammates ever, including this year’s back issues, Netterville can’t help but love him for always fighting back. “Cole’s a tough dude. He doesn’t want to let anybody down,” Netterville said. “He loves to play. I think it’s a combination of toughness and commitment to the guys. He’s not scared of anything.”

Not forgotten

Louisiana Tech has no shortage of stars on this year’s team.

Ethan Bates, a Golden Spikes Award watchlist member, is one of the best two-way players around with 15 homers and 15 saves. Jorge Corona has become one of the top catchers in the country over the last five seasons, and Sam Broderson has 85 strikeouts in 48 innings on the mound to name a few.

But you don’t hear much about McConnell on even a conference scale like the others.

In fact, McConnell, the leading hitter in CUSA, has only received CUSA Hitter of the Week twice. Yes, the leading hitter on a Tech team sitting ninth nationally in hits (572) has just two weekly honors.

Burroughs has a theory as to why national pundits and conference officials have put McConnell’s brilliance on the backburner.

“He’s kind of been lost in the shuffle because he did miss that year,” Burroughs said. “I think people forgot about him. But all he does is go out and put up numbers and produce.”

McConnell, not one for self-promotion, is just glad to be back in the fold. Watchlists, awards, and highlights aren’t what gets his motor going. Even after sealing a sweep over WKU to put Tech back on top in CUSA, McConnell left his thoughts to just being grateful for a chance to play again and remain a run -producing weapon.

“It was really tough watching them play because I grew up with this class for five years,” McConnell said. “Not being able to get out on the field with them, it really sucked. I’m glad this year to do that with them. I’m just lucky to be able to play for this team again and this group of guys and these coaches. It’s awesome.”