It didn’t take Brennan Breaud long to make an impact at Southeastern – he somewhat, in fact, surprised himself. As a true freshman, the Destrehan alumnus has started 45 of Southeastern’s 46 games this season, the third-most starts on the team.
The shortstop quickly broke into the lineup and he never relinquished his role. He also quickly ascended to the top of the batting order for the Lions.
“I thought I might have to watch for a little longer than that,” Breaud admitted. “They gave me a shot, I had a good game and they left me in.”
That probably has to do with the fact that Breaud’s one good game turned into a slew of them. Breaud is batting .301 this season with 48 runs scored and 23 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .429, ranking second among team regulars and first among Southeastern’s players with at least 100 at-bats this season (Breaud has 173).
“At first, of course there’s some nerves at play,” Breaud said. “You just think, this is what I’ve wanted and I really don’t want to mess it up. But then I just thought about the fact that I’ve been playing this game since I was little. It’s the same game, you’re doing the same things you’ve done a thousand times before, so attack it at 100 percent full speed.”
Much as he did at Destrehan, he’s also helping his team win. The Lions are 35-13 this season and 21-3 in conference play. The team leads the Southland Conference.
Southeastern coach Matt Riser wasn’t surprised at Breaud’s quick adjustment to the college game.
“We knew when we signed Brennan that he was a gamer,” Riser said. “He has a lot of knowledge and feel for the game. He uses his speed and athleticism to his advantage, and he doesn’t play like a freshman.”
A big part of Breaud’s adjustment, Riser said, comes down to the freshman’s uncommon discipline and a short memory when it comes to making mistakes.
“He’s had his struggles this year, and where most freshman would probably tank, he’s done a good job of handling those and coming back the next game to be the player of the game,” Riser said.
Another thing that has helped Breaud along is the fact that a familiar face was waiting for him at Southeastern. Kade Granier, Breaud’s cousin and former Destrehan teammate, is a key part of the Lions’ pitching staff.
When Granier’s on the mound, Breaud said it’s just like old times.
“He’s helped me a lot,” Breaud said. “I’ve picked his brain since he’s a pitcher and he sees what infielders like to do. I know how he pitches. Our families are real close. I couldn’t be happier to be playing alongside Kade for the next three years.”
Riser called Breaud “an absolute pest on the bases and at the plate,” and said he often handles big moments “like a veteran.”
“When you have a true freshman starting, it’s a 60-game season as opposed to a 30-game season. It’s a long year,” Riser said. “Some guys kind of peter out at the end, where right now, Brennan’s really starting to catch his stride.”
One memorable moment this season, Breaud said, came when Southeastern faced Tulane on April 5. Breaud went 3-for-5 in the game and scored a run, helping Southeastern edge a strong Green Wave squad 7-6.
“It was real intense,” Breaud said. “We played lights out that day.”
Southeastern returns to action Friday, kicking off a three-game series against UNO in Hammond Friday at 6 p.m.
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