Former DHS, LSU ace still chasing the dream

By Lori Lyons

There comes a time in every athlete’s life when he or she realizes, it’s time. It’s time to quit chasing the dream and give up the game.

That time has not yet come for former Destrehan and LSU pitcher Kurt McCune.

One year after making his final appearance as an LSU Tiger, the Norco native graduated with a degree in general business. And just a few weeks later he was headed to Texas to play summer league ball for the Amarillo Thunderheads, an independent professional baseball team affiliated with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. McCune is pitching, working on his skills and hoping to find a team that will give him a chance.

“I’m still chasing the dream,” McCune said. “I’m still throwing good. I’m putting up some solid numbers. I just gave up my first run last night. I’m still throwing hard. I’m still young (at 23). I’m just asking for a chance. But it’s a long, long road to the major leagues.”

McCune was one of the best players ever to wear a Destrehan Wildcats uniform. A two-time All-State selection, he was 9-4 in his senior season with a 3.74 ERA and 112 strikeouts – good enough to earn himself a spot at LSU.

And he came on strong. In his collegiate debut on Feb. 20, 2011, McCune pitched a no-hitter through 5.1 innings against Wake Forest before giving up an infield single in the sixth. He walked two and struck out seven in six innings of work, earning SEC Pitcher of the Week honors. He would start 14 games as a freshman, and led the staff with a 7-3 record and a 3.31 ERA. He quickly became the Friday night starter and was considered the ace of the staff. He beat Alabama, holding the Tide to four unearned runs with no walks and five strike outs. He beat Ole Miss, giving up three runs on six hits with four walks and seven strike outs. He pitched a complete game 6-hitter against Georgia – the only complete game of the season by an LSU pitcher.

The rest of his college career would not shine as brightly. He appeared in 21 games his sophomore season, finishing 3-4. He was moved into a relief role. He appeared in 11 games as a junior. He started once as a senior, but was the go-to-guy for late-inning relief.

“He never really had the blazing fast ball they were looking for at the college level,” said former Destrehan coach Marty Luquet, McCune’s high school coach. “He had it at the high school level. But he was a tireless worker and he’s just looking to keep going. There’s places in organizations for guys like him. He just has to find the right organization.”

McCune said he’s been working on his pitching repertoire and trying to put up some solid numbers through the summer.

He said seeing LSU return to the College World Series in Omaha this month brought back a lot of memories. McCune was a member of the 2013 team that advanced to the College World Series and went 0-2.

“It did, it did,” McCune said. “I didn’t get to watch too much of it because I was either playing or practicing, but the first thing I did when I came in was check to see how they did.”

He also took some good-natured ribbing from his pitching coach, Lance Brown, who is the former head coach at TCU – the Horned Frogs’ all-time winningest coach. TCU eliminated LSU from the World Series.

“He had a little bit to say,” McCune said.