4:40 p.m. -- Another HR, another countdown moment

Ryan Schimpf's one-out solo home run in the bottom of the fifth gave LSU a 10-1 lead. Schimpf hit the ball over the green wall, just to the right of straightaway center field.

 

1 Game Remaining At The Box
 
That's what the sign near the left-field corner says now after Paul Mainieri changed the number in the top of the sixth inning to help with the countdown for the final season at the 70-year-old ballpark.

 

(Actually, the sign says 1 Games Remaining At The Box, but why quibble? The words were painted months ago, and the numbers change at each home game.)

 

If LSU keeps winning, it seems unlikely tomorrow's game will be the last one here. The Tigers continue to strengthen their case for a home regional with each victory.

 

The updated list of those who have done the honors of helping with the countdown:
 
Game 1: Brad Cresse, former LSU catcher.
Game 2: Kurt Ainsworth, former LSU pitcher.
Game 3: Members of LSU's 2003 and 2004 College World Series teams.
Game 4: Gregg Patterson, former LSU pitcher.
Game 5: LSU game management director emeritus Ted Stickles.
Game 6: Wally Pontiff Sr., father of LSU outfielder Nicholas Pontiff and the late Wally Pontiff Jr., a former Tigers infielder.
Game 7: Brad Wilson, former LSU first baseman and DH.
Game 8: Lou Farmer, former LSU pitcher.
Game 9: Anita Haywood, the “K Lady.”
Game 10: Chris Guillot, longtime fan and leader of cheers at The Box.
Game 11: Art Swanson, former LSU pitcher.
Game 12: Ronnie Rantz, former LSU pitcher and founder of the Jumbo Sports Network.
Game 13: Joe Civello, captain of stadium marshals at The Box.
Game 14: Six regulars from Coon's Corner.
Game 15: Warren Morris, former LSU second baseman.
Game 16: John O'Donoghue, former LSU pitcher.
Game 17: Chris Demouy, former LSU pitcher.
Game 18: Lindsey Thibodeaux, LSU graduate and longtime fan.
Game 19: David Toms, PGA pro, former LSU golfer and avid LSU fan.
Game 20: Cassie Alsfeld, LSU student body president.
Game 21: Founding members of Left Field Lunatics group of fans.
Game 22: Patrick Coogan, former LSU pitcher.
Game 23: Doug Thompson, former LSU pitcher.
Game 24: Ben McDonald, former LSU pitcher.
Game 25: Jim Hawthorne, voice of the Tigers.
Game 26: Members of the 1975 SEC championship team.
Game 27: Scott Schultz, former LSU pitcher.
Game 28: Mel Didier, former LSU baseball and football player.
Game 29: Bill Franques, stadium announcer and LSU baseball publicist.
Game 30: Jason Williams, former LSU shortstop.
Game 31: Chad Cooley, former LSU outfielder.
Game 32: Rick Greene, former LSU pitcher.
Game 33: Blair Barbier, former LSU player and coach.
Game 34: Ron Polk, longtime Mississippi State coach.
Game 35: Paul Mainieri, LSU coach.

 

The final one will be:

 

Sunday -- Skip Bertman.

 

Skip joined Mainieri in a cart ride from the dugout to the sign for the countdown. The crowd gave Mainieri a standing ovation.