December 15, 2005

Tiger Baseball player signs with Tulane

All-state pitcher Aaron Loupe of the Hahnville Tigers has decided to continue his baseball career with Tulane University in New Orleans. He was courted by both LSU and Tulane universities and had verbally committed to LSU but changed his mind after visiting the Tulane campus and seeing Coach Rick Jones program.

"He decided to sign with Tulane because they offered him an excellent baseball scholarship," said Coach Caseaux.

The high school senior said he decided to switch to Tulane because they offered him a better scholarship and he was impressed with the school campus and educational opportunities.

"Aaron's a pretty good pitcher, said Hahnville baseball coach Cazeaux. To get a scholarship to Tulane you have to be a good player, he added. The senior, who has been a starting pitcher at Hahnville since he was a freshman, made all state last season with a record of 10-0.

Loupe, who is from Luling, will replace Nathan Southard as Tulane's Luling connection. This is Southards' last season as Tulane's starting centerfielder.

Loupe will lead the pitching rotation at Hahnville when the season starts in February. The team, which ranked in the top 20 in the country for part of last season, lost most of its first string with the graduation of 13 seniors. They will begin this season as a talented but inexperienced team according to Caseaux.