• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Feb 9, 2010 - Page: 1C

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Without taking an official at-bat or stepping on the diamond in a competitive situation last year, LSU’s Wet Delatte learned a ton.

About himself and about what it’s going to take for him to succeed at the college level.

At the top of the list of lessons Delatte stored away in 2009 is that every day is a chance to prove himself again.

“Last year was a great season for this team, and I wanted to make sure I made it a great situation for me,” said Delatte, who redshirted in 2009 after a staph infection decked him for the first four weeks of the season. “It was tough to watch and not be on the field. I felt like I helped a lot in practice and did everything I could to make the team better and also make myself better. That experience last year carried over to this year and has helped me a lot.”

Good thing, because the former St. Amant star has put himself in position where his hard work could pay off this spring.

When the Tigers open the baseball season in 10 days, Delatte is expected be the starting third baseman, one of two new position starters for the reigning national champion.

Just don’t expect him to take it for granted.

Delatte watched closely last season when four freshmen emerged in prominent roles. And there was no formula to when Matty Ott, Tyler Hanover, Mikie Mahtook and Austin Nola stepped into their roles.

Instead, it was more about need and coach Paul Mainieri relying on his gut to determine when a change was needed.

So when Mainieri sat down with Delatte and told him he had earned the starting third base job, Delatte knew nothing was etched in stone.

“He told me he wanted to see if I’d keep working as hard as I did to win the job,” Delatte said. “Everybody is still fighting to win a spot. Anybody could jump up and take any spot on the field, so you have to go out with the same motivation every day.

“The coaches have pushed me a lot. They told me to go out every day and take extra grounders, go to the cages every chance I get — just stay focused — and I believe that’s the way I have to approach everything I do.”

Delatte’s task will be to take over a spot shared a year ago by senior Derek Helenihi and Hanover, who has shifted over to second base, his more natural position.