Author: batonrougetigers

THE RUGGLES CUP
Last month, the Tigers travelled to Houston to take on the Lonestars in the annual Ruggles Cup. All in all, eight Tigers took the field that weekend. Veterans Tom Gillespie, Mitch Gray, Brady Moran, Garrett Remson, and Neil Stebbing played alongside newcomer Ryan Hicks and Billy “Deebo” France dusted off his cleats as well under the leadership of coach Matt Heintze.

Despite some bizarre weather (sunshine, wind, rain, and even hail), the Tigers held serve for most of the day in a tightly contested match. Eventually, however, the home team pulled away with a 15.15.105 to 8.9.57 victory.

SOUTH CENTRAL REGIONAL TOURAMENT
Then two weekends ago, The Tigers returned to Houston for the 2nd Annual South Central Regional Tournament. The day was eventful from the very beginning as the ever-reliable team bus parked on the side of the road for several hours after a blowout. Despite that setback, the bus eventually got moving and arrived in Houston at about 4:00 a.m.

Making their second appearance in as many months, Tom Gillespie, Ryan Hicks, Neil Stebbing, Mitch Gray, and Coach Heintze were this time joined by Josh Cartmill, Caleb Covington, Cole Hilgenkamp, Chase Rawson, Christian Roubique, John Zimmerman, Rob Montanaro and another newcomer, Tim Cannon.

Although expectations were high coming into the game, the injury bug struck early and often. After dropping the opening match against the Austin Crows by a score of 5.6.36 to 1.5.11, the Tigers played their next two games without a bench, falling to the Houston Lonestars 10.14.74 to 3.7.25 and a nail-biter to the Dallas Dingoes to 7.4.46 to 5.3.33.

Despite coming away from the tournament without a win, the team left in high spirits after having shown marked improvement in each game and looks forward to the rest of the USAFL slate:

Next Up:
June 1st – Baton Rouge Family Day Event sponsored by Fred’s in Tigerland
June 15th – Eastern Regional Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina

The Tigers travelled to Nashville earlier this month to pair up with the Des Moines Roosters as the two clubs took to the field in some USAFL action, hoping to improve on last year’s disappointing 0-3 performance in Little Rock.

The first match of the day pit the “Tiger-Cocks” against the Oklahoma Footy Club, a combination of the Oklahoma City Flyers and Tulsa Buffaloes (whom the Tigers played in Houston in the spring). It was a hotly contested first half with plenty of field changes and scarce scoring, but at the intermission, our squad led 2.2.14 to 1.1.7. Fresh legs and fitness proved to be the difference in the second half, as the home team pulled away to the tune of 7.4.46 1.4.10.

The second match did not go quite so well. Playing against a dangerous and decorated Ohio Valley club, the Tiger-Cocks just couldn’t keep up. Although the Tigers only trailed 3.2.20 to 1.2.8 at the half, they were never able to close that gap and kicking inaccuracy cost them down the stretch, as they lost 8.6.54 to 2.8.20.

After a brief pause to grab some lunch, the players jumped back into their third match of the day against Atlanta, whose club featured a plethora of new faces thanks to their AFLS movement. Unfortunately for their squad, youth played a huge factor in the outcome, as the Tiger-Cocks cruised by 12.19.91 to 0.1.1.

The Tigers were represented by:
#3 – Ryan Moran
#18 – Josh Cartmill
#27 – Rob Montanaro
#37 – Brady Moran
#41 – Stuart Johnson
#43 – Lachlan McQueen
#63 – Cole Hilgenkamp

***Check back in for additional footage of the tournament as it becomes available.

Good morning, folks!

It’s time for another exciting round of footy as the Baton Rouge Tigers paid up with the Des Moines Roosters once again in this year’s Central Regional Tournament in Music City.

The Tigers are 2-4 on the season thus far after splitting the Ruggles Cup with a victory over the Tulsa Buffaloes and losing to the Houston Lonestars. In the South Central Tournament earlier this summer, they also posted a victory over the a squad of Houston Lonestars while falling to the Dallas Magpies, Austin Crows, another group of Lonestars.

The Tigers hope to improve upon their performance in last year’s tournament, where they were sent home without a win. Led by veterans Josh Cartmill, Lachlan McQueen, and Ryan Moran, they are determined not to do so again this year.

The Tigers take the field against the Oklahoma Footy Club at 10:00 CST, Ohio Valley at 12:00 CST, and Atlanta at 3:00 CST. You can Follow the Action Live through the USAFL’s official Facebook page. The full schedule is listed below:

Good morning, folks!

It’s time for another exciting round of footy as the Baton Rouge Tigers paid up with the Des Moines Roosters once again in this year’s Central Regional Tournament in Music City.

The Tigers are 2-4 on the season thus far after splitting the Ruggles Cup with a victory over the Tulsa Buffaloes and losing to the Houston Lonestars. In the South Central Tournament earlier this summer, they also posted a victory over the a squad of Houston Lonestars while falling to the Dallas Magpies, Austin Crows, another group of Lonestars.

The Tigers hope to improve upon their performance in last year’s tournament, where they were sent home without a win. Led by veterans Josh Cartmill, Lachlan McQueen, and Ryan Moran, they are determined not to do so again this year.

The Tigers take the field against the Oklahoma Footy Club at 10:00 CST, Ohio Valley at 12:00 CST, and Atlanta at 3:00 CST. You can Follow the Action Live through the USAFL’s official Facebook page. The full schedule is listed below: