WASHINGTON D.C. -- The LSU Shreveport baseball team, the first-ever college baseball squad to put together a perfect season, were feted like royalty Monday at the White House and the U.S. Capitol.
The Pilots rubbed elbows with President Donald Trump, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and other U.S. and Louisiana dignitaries throughout the day.
LSUS and LSU baseball won their respective national titles as the eyes of the college baseball world were on Louisiana and the White House.
“Louisiana is a special state, and it’s an honor to celebrate two college baseball national champions from that great state,” Trump said in the team’s afternoon visit to the White House. “Both teams brought incredible pride, grit and glory to their schools and their state, and they are bringing that same Louisiana spirit to a place called the White House.
“It’s rare for two teams from one state to be in one room, but these are incredible teams who had amazing seasons.”
LSUS baseball coach Brad Neffendorf and LSU coach Jay Johnson escorted Trump to the ballroom stage where players and administrators from both teams stood on risers.
After Trump exalted LSU and its second national championship in three seasons, he turned his attention to the Pilots.
“59-0 – what in the hell is that?” Trump said of LSUS’s perfect record. “Normally you have a little bad luck and lose a game or two, but (Neffendorf) deserves special recognition.
“Both of these programs made history together and dominated two leagues.”
Neffendorf summed up the Pilots’ effort this season with one word – investment.
“These guys were invested in everything we asked and invested in each other,” Neffendorf said. “You always wonder how quick a roster can become a team – and some don’t.
“But this roster became a team so quickly, and we got the heck out of their way and let them go get the job done.”
Mike Johnson, a double graduate of LSU, mentioned his roots growing up just off Youree Drive in the “shadow” of the LSUS campus.
“I played ball on that baseball field, and it’s a great day when we can recognize champions from North and South Louisiana,” Johnson said. “We want to thank (Trump) for being a gracious host and having us out to recognize this excellence.
“Louisiana is punching way above our weight limit. This is a prideful state, these guys work so hard and did it with class, grit, determination and integrity.”
The day will end with a team dinner at Bobby Van’s Grill in which the Pilots will receive their NAIA national championship rings.
The Pilots are the first NAIA team in any sport to be invited to the White House.
The 59-0 Pilots won the program’s first national championship and first-ever in any sport in LSUS history.
While the Pilots trailed in just 18 of the 59 games, LSUS did need some comeback magic at times, including erasing a four-run deficit in the national championship win against Southeastern (Fla.).
LSUS benefited from back-to-back home runs from Jackson Syring and Ian Montz to erase the championship game, highlighting an offense that smashed 76 home runs and batted .361 on the season.
Trump mentioned these heroics by name and earlier shook the hands of LSUS starting pitchers Isaac Rhode and Cobe Reeves along with designated hitter Anthony Swenda.
Rhode, NAIA Pitcher of the Year, pitched the final inning of that championship win after reliever Kenneth Schechter tossed four scoreless frames to give the Pilots’ bats time to make the comeback.
Ten different Pilots from that championship team played professional baseball, including pitcher Draven Zeigler, who signed as an undrafted free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.
LSU had 10 players drafted to the Major Leagues, which drew quips from Trump about wanting to represent these players and also why the Tigers’ 53-15 record wasn’t better.
Jay Johnson mentioned the honor of sharing the stage with Neffendorf and the Pilots, who accomplished something that the college baseball world may never see again.
Neffendorf won a host of national coaching awards, which included the NAIA Coach of the Year and the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year, the latter of which recognizes coaching from every college level.
“We’re extremely honored and excited to be here, and our guys were jacked up to be together one more time as I know LSU’s guys are, too,” Neffendorf said. “There’s no better place than the state of Louisiana for baseball.”
Trump was presented with LSUS and LSU baseball jerseys with his name and “No. 47” on the back, representing his current presidential term.
