Southland Conference Announces 2018 Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
Southland Conference
FRISCO, Texas – Sam Houston State led all Southland baseball programs with four student-athletes named to the 2018 Preseason All-Conference Teams, the league announced Tuesday.
Central Arkansas, McNeese, New Orleans and Southeastern Louisiana all earned a trio of selections while Houston Baptist and Lamar each earned two picks. Abilene Christian, UIW, Nicholls, Northwestern State, Stephen F. Austin and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi all garnered one spot.
All first team honorees are automatic selections as returners from last season’s all-conference teams.
The Lions lead the first team with all three of their selections being named to top list, headlined by senior third baseman Taylor Schwaner. The reigning Southland Player of the Year notched a .330 batting average against league foes last season in 112 at-bats, including 41 RBIs and nine home runs with a .670 slugging percentage.
The 2017 Southland Hitter of the Year also returns in McNeese junior Shane Selman. Selman hit .362 last season against conference opponents in 127 at-bats, tallying 10 home runs.
Last season’s Relief Pitcher of the Year JT Newton of Houston Baptist and Freshman of the Year Hayden Wesneski of Sam Houston State also return, along with Newcomer of the Year Josh Evans returning for Stephen F. Austin.
The 2018 Southland Baseball Preseason Poll will be announced Thursday. The season begins Friday, Feb. 16 with 13 games, starting when Houston Baptist welcomes Western Michigan at 2 p.m. CT.
Southland preseason all-conference teams are nominated and voted upon by the league’s head coaches. Voting for one’s own athletes is not permitted. Returning all-conference selections from the previous season are automatically named to the preseason teams and may be elevated to higher teams based on available positions.
2018 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Hunter Strong |
Central Arkansas |
1B |
Jr. |
Sheridan, Ark. |
| Joe Provenzano |
McNeese |
2B |
Sr. |
Downers Grove, Ill. |
| Taylor Schwaner |
Southeastern Louisiana |
3B |
Sr. |
Slidell, La. |
| Tyler Depreta-Johnson |
Houston Baptist |
SS |
Sr. |
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
| John Cable |
New Orleans |
C |
Sr. |
Roswell, Ga. |
| Josh Evans |
Stephen F. Austin |
DH |
Sr. |
Ponca City, Okla. |
| Shane Selman |
McNeese |
OF |
Jr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| Clayton Harp |
Sam Houston State |
OF |
Jr. |
El Campo, Texas |
| Orynn Veillon |
New Orleans |
OF |
Jr. |
Lafayette, La. |
| Bryan Warzek |
New Orleans |
P |
Jr. |
Clifton Park, N.Y. |
| JT Newton |
Houston Baptist |
P |
Jr. |
Bangs, Texas |
| Corey Gaconi |
Southeastern Louisiana |
P |
Jr. |
Metaire, La. |
| Drew Avans |
Southeastern Louisiana |
U |
Sr. |
Alabaster, Ala. |
Second Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| David Fry |
Northwestern State |
1B |
Sr. |
Colleyville, Texas |
| Ethan Valdez |
Nicholls |
2B |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Andrew Fregia |
Sam Houston State |
3B |
Jr. |
Liberty, Texas |
| Ryan Gonzales |
UIW |
SS |
Jr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Luis Trevino |
Abilene Christian |
C |
Jr. |
Mission, Texas |
| Robin Adames |
Lamar |
DH |
Jr. |
The Bronx, N.Y. |
| Hunter Hearn |
Sam Houston State |
OF |
Jr. |
Crosby, Texas |
| Dalton Stark |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
OF |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas |
| Keaton Presley |
Central Arkansas |
OF |
Sr. |
Springfield, Mo. |
| Grant Anderson |
McNeese |
P |
Jr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| Tyler Gray |
Central Arkansas |
P |
Sr. |
Fort Smith, Ark. |
| Hayden Wesneski |
Sam Houston State |
P |
So. |
Cypress, Texas |
| Grant Devore |
Lamar |
U |
Sr. |
Dallas, Texas |