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'Prove it': Butch Thompson, Auburn baseball enter regional hungry to win championships

Justin Hokansonby:Justin Hokanson•06/02/22•

_JHokanson

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Photo by Justin Hokanson/Auburn Live

AUBURN – Butch Thompson, his coaching staff and this Auburn baseball program have accomplished their fair share of things during Thompson’s tenure.

Two regional wins, one Super Regional win, a College World Series appearance, the most regular season wins in over a decade, the best finish in the SEC regular season in over a decade, a No. 1 MLB Draft pick in Casey Mize, and a host of other notable achievements.

There’s one thing missing: a championship.

Auburn hasn’t won a regular season SEC title since 2010, and haven’t won the SEC Tournament since 1997. And they’ve never won the College World Series. At some point, hopefully starting this postseason, Thompson wants that to change.

“Prove it, that’s our motto,” Thompson said outside of Plainsman Park on Thursday, moments after his team finished up their final practice before Friday’s games. “You play an entire season for moments, and it’s time to prove it. There’s no more reset, there’s no more we’re happy to be playing, you have to prove it and play well to advance. They know they need to be at their best from jump street.

“Some people believe in our program, and some don’t. It’s always that way. We haven’t won a championship. We’ve had a good season, but it’s time to win a championship. We’re still searching for that hardware. This is another opportunity for this team to win a championship.”

Auburn enters the regional as the No. 1 seed, but faces legitimate challenges in No. 2 UCLA and No. 3 Florida State – two programs with storied championship histories.

UCLA won the College World Series in 2013, beating Thompson when he was an assistant at Mississippi State. UCLA was also runner-up in 2010.

Florida State has been to 44 straight regionals, and been runner-up in the finals three different times in program history.

Even Southeastern Louisiana is coming off winning their conference tournament.

Needless to say, Thompson has a tremendous amount of respect for all three programs.

“Florida State, 44 consecutive regionals, let that soak in for how much you should respect that. The last time I competed against UCLA was for a national championship, and that’s the same principled program that does an amazing job. They have so much experience. And then Southeastern Louisiana just won their conference tournament, so they’re a confident group,” Thompson said.

RELATED: The 411 on the Auburn Regional

More Auburn notes entering regional play

— Trace Bright will get the start for the Tigers on Friday, and Joseph Gonzalez will get the start on Saturday.

It didn’t seem like too hard a decision for Thompson, especially the Saturday starter. The Tigers will either be 1-0 or 0-1, either way the game on Saturday will be critical to advancing, so Auburn’s most consistent starter will get the start there.

— Auburn pitcher Hayden Mullins isn’t available, Thompson confirmed. But, the good news is that Cole Foster will be available and in the starting lineup against Southeastern Louisiana on Friday night. Foster has missed time recently, but Thompson believes he provides a real “threat” to the opposing pitcher, and should help the Auburn offense start to get back on track.

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