Xavier University of Louisiana Gold Rush
Conference: Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC)
Head Coach: Adrian Holloway, 4th Season
2023 Record: 16-25 (.390)
Black College Nines (BCN) 2023 HBCU Baseball Final Poll: Unranked
Top Returning Players:
Deionte Norris, INF/RHP
Cohen Boyd. INF
Top Freshman Recruits:
Alan Velez, INF
Keyshawn Wright, INF/DH
Tyler Patterson, RHP
Top JUCO Transfer:
Alex Crews, INF
Zion Morris, OF/RHP
Preseason Overview:
The upcoming 2024 baseball season at Xavier University of Louisiana holds the promise of a resurgence to the championship level exhibited in 2021. During that remarkable year, the program returned after a 60 year hiatus and played for the 2021 Black College World Series championship tile, losing in a thrilling two-game series to Bluefield State.
Head coach Adrian Holloway has had to deal with team injuries the last few season. He enters the 2024 season with a good crop of talent on the mound and in the batter’s box… plus the Gold Rush should be injury free.
Top players to look out for in 2024 include Deionte Norris, a fifth year third baseman/righhanded pitcher from Slidell, La. He’s a team leader and will play a major part in Xavier’s offensive production. During the 2023 season, Norris hit .308 in 37 games, with two home runs and 20 RBIs. Sophomore infielder Cohen Boyd is the reigning Red River Athletic Conference Champions of Character recipient. In 2023, Boyd hit .304 with 15 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 30 games. Another key should be senior lefthanded pitcher Kimani Davis from Atlanta, Ga.
Incoming freshmen who have made an impact during fall ball include Alan Velez, a strong armed middle infielder from Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico who will open the season as a starter. Others are Keyshawn Wright, a third baseman/designated hitter from Atlanta with a lot of power and very solid defensively, and Tyler Patterson, a righthanded pitcher from Chicago who will work from the bullpen.
Xavier has brought in some stout JUCU recruits who are players to look out for in 2024. Junior infielder Alex Crews is a transfer from Nunez CC and is great defensively and a great hitter. He will probably be the leadoff hitter. Junior outfielder/right handed pitcher Zion Morris is a transfer from Central Alabama CC who runs well and has a strong arm. He will see innings out of the bullpen as a reliever and is a high on-base-percentage guy.
Ranking his recruiting class, Coach Holloway stated, “With these new additions, we should be solid defensively and put up some good offensive numbers.”