There’s 239 miles of highway between Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Bryan, Texas.
On Thursday, June 25, Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators pitcher Cole Flanagan made it there on his own, forgoing the bus ride with his team. He wasn’t being anti-social or anything, he just had places to be.
“I had a recruiting visit the next day,” Flanagan said. “I had to drive myself there in the morning.”
But before he made that nearly 800-mile trip to Alabama’s Jacksonville State University, Flanagan shined on the mound for the Gators. The 6-foot-1, 230-pound lefty threw eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, walking one and striking out eight.
For his performance, the Moss Bluff native and Sam Houston graduate has been named the Texas Collegiate League pitcher of the week.
“It’s pretty cool,” Flanagan said. “It was an honor to see I’d gotten that.”
“He was a warrior,” Gators coach James Landreneau said of Flanagan’s outing. “He did a great job of controlling the game (and had) outstanding command. He was able to add and subtract velocity throughout the night.”
The Gumbeaux Gators went on to win that game 7-0. On Sunday the team closed out the first half of the TCL season with a record of 12-11, putting them 4 ½ games out of first place.
The Victoria Generals finished atop the first half standings at 17-7, securing their spot in the playoffs where the top four teams in the league will compete for the overall title.
Flanagan said he pitched well on Thursday, despite being a day short of rest.
“I felt pretty good going out,” he said. “I felt like I threw the ball pretty well.”
Flanagan is hoping to use his mound time this summer to find a new baseball home through the transfer portal. He spent last season pitching for the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, where he appeared in 12 games, throwing 12.2 innings, allowing 16 hits, six runs, three walks and struck out seven.
"I'm just looking for a change of scenery, I guess," he said. "I liked UL. It was good for me."
It was a short trip from there to the Gumbeaux Gators.
“Whenever I got done, coach (James) Landreneau called me and asked me if I’d like to play,” Flanagan said. “I was like, ‘Yes, sir. Sounds like a good time.’”
As a Gator, Flanagan is 2-0 with 17.1 innings pitched. He has allowed 16 hits, five earned runs, walked three and struck out 18.
Flanagan said he has had a good time as a Gator.
“This is my first time playing college summer ball and it’s been a good time,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun with it. It’s definitely been a cool experience.”
But, Flanagan said, nothing has topped the day Sam Houston won the 2025 Non-Select Division I state championship over Live Oak – not yet, anyway.
“That was the best baseball moment of my entire life,” he said. “It was the funnest day ever. We dogpiled. It was a good one too.”
By Lori Lyons