SWLA Native Blake Trahan To Be Inducted Into ULL Sports Hall Of Fame

A Southwest Louisiana native received some pretty exciting news on Friday as The University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced that former Kinder Yellow Jacket Blake Trahan will be inducted into the ULL Athletics Hall of Fame in 2023.

According to a release from the university, The University's Hall of Fame recognizes men and women who distinguished themselves as student-athletes and have made significant contributions to their professions and their communities. They are nominated and selected through a process that is overseen by the board of directors of the Ragin' Cajuns Lettermen Club, an organization of former student-athletes who have lettered in their sport.

In 2015, new eligibility criteria for the Hall of Fame were adopted to allow the nomination of coaches and administrators, as well as alumni whose collegiate careers were shortened by the chance to pursue professional sports.

Below is an excerpt that was written about Trahan from the release that was sent out about the inductees...

A three-year starter at shortstop and named to All-America teams three straight years for UL, including named as first-team shortstop on the American Baseball Coaches  Association/Rawlings All-America team as a sophomore in 2014 … Also A-A second team by both Baseball America and Perfect Game in 2014 and third-team A-A by ABCA/Rawlings and Louisville Slugger in junior year in 2015 … On Louisville Slugger and Perfect Game's Freshman A-A team in 2013 … First-team ABCA All-South Central Region in both 2014 and 2015 … First-team All-Sun Belt Conference shortstop in 2014 and 2015 after second-team selection as a freshman in 2013 when he was the league's Freshman of the Year, and named Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2015 … Three-time All-Louisiana pick, once first-team and twice second-team (a guy named Alex Bregman won All-Louisiana those two years) … Upon completion of his career ranked in top five in UL history in games played (194, third), runs (155, fifth), hits (239, third), walks (112, third) and sacrifice hits (23, fifth) … His 23-game hitting streak in 2015 (Feb. 28-April 11) is still tied for the best in UL history …  Part of likely the best offensive team in UL history in 2014 as a sophomore when team claimed the only No. 1 national poll ranking in school history in the last third of the season … That team finished 58-10 and never lost two straight games prior to two losses in the NCAA Super Regional against Ole Miss, one win away from College World Series … Hit .355 and OPS .920 that year with 91 hits, 12 doubles, 49 RBI and 15 stolen bases while only committing 10 errors at shortstop … Hit .315 with 80 hits, 15 doubles and more walks (38) than strikeouts (32) along with 17 stolen bases as junior in 2015 … Team went 43-20, 58-10 and 42-23 his three years, won one Sun Belt regular-season title and two tournament titles while playing in NCAA Regionals all three years … Considered a potential first round draft pick prior to the 2015 MLB Draft, the Cincinnati Reds selected Trahan in the third round, with the 84th overall selection.

Trahan was able to achieve his childhood dream of playing Major League Baseball as he did so with the Cincinnati Reds. Trahan is now serving the youth of Southwest Louisiana by coaching baseball at Lacassine.

The eight-member class will be formally inducted into the UL Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday, October 20 at Warehouse 535 (535 Garfield Street, Lafayette, LA 70501). The class will be recognized during the Ragin' Cajuns Homecoming Game against Georgia State on Oct. 21.