FRISCO, Texas _ University of Central Arkansas sophomore Hunter Strong was named a first-team All-Southland Conference selection on Tuesday on the eve of the 2017 Southland Baseball Tournament.
Strong, a first baseman from Sheridan who was also named to the Southland All-Defensive Team, becomes the program's 5th First Team All-Southland selection, joining Travis Snider in 2012, Forrestt Allday and Caleb McClanahan in 2013, and Doug Votolato in 2014. He was joined on the All-Southland teams by teammate Brooks Balisterri – a third team selection – while junior outfielder Keaton Presley, senior pitcher Brandon Hagerla and junior pitcher Tyler Gray were honorable mentions.
Strong, a two-year starter at first base, led the conference in hits (80) and doubles (23 – 8th most in the country in Division I) and was fourth in batting average (.359), fifth in total bases (119) and 10th in on-base percentage (.444). Strong finished the regular season with two triples, four home runs and added 44 RBI, leading the Bears to their sixth consecutive appearance in the Southland Conference Tournament. He was the league's top hitter in conference play with a .403 average, leading the No. 2 hitter by 12 points. He ranked 5th in slugging percentage (.637) and was fourth in on-base percentage (.472), and has 24 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games and had a team-best 14-game hitting streak earlier in the season. His 80 hits make him one of just four players in program history to reach that mark, and entering the conference tournament leaves him just five shy of Allday's program Division I single-season record and seven short of Zak Clark's overall program record set in 2004.
Balisterri, a senior shortstop from Benton, hit .280 for the season in 50 starts, with 27 RBI, 22 walks, eight sacrifice bunts and six stolen bases. He is one of just three seniors on this year's squad.
All-Southland Honorable Mention
Hagerla, from Petaluma, Calif., led the Bears in victories with an 8-3 record and a 3.41 earned-run average in 20 appearances (63.1 innings) and was one of the top middle relievers in the SLC. His eight victories tied for third in the SLC and his ERA was 13th.
Gray, from Fort Smith, Ark., led the Bears with 83 strikeouts, good for sixth in the league, and innings pitched (80.2), which ranks 15th in the conference. For his career, Gray is 12-8 with a 3.51 ERA with 162 strikeouts.
Presley, from Springfield, Mo., was one of the top outfielders in the SLC with a .983 fielding percentage. He was also productive at the plate and on the base paths, hitting .293 with 16 doubles, four triples and three home runs, along with a team-high 56 runs scored (2nd in SLC) and 49 RBI. He also stole 20 of 27 bases, to rank fourth in the SLC in that category.
The Bears (31-24, 17-13) will face Houston Baptist in the first round of the SLC Tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.
Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Taylor Schwaner, Southeastern Louisiana
Hitter of the Year: Shane Selman, McNeese
Pitcher of the Year: Heath Donica, Sam Houston State
Relief Pitcher of the Year: JT Newton, Houston Baptist
Freshman of the Year: Hayden Wesneski, Sam Houston State
Newcomer of the Year: Josh Evans, Stephen F. Austin
Clay Gould Award - Coach of the Year: Justin Hill, McNeese
2017 All-Southland Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
Pos. Name University Class Hometown
1B Hunter Strong Central Arkansas So. Sheridan, Ark.
2B Joe Provenzano 2 McNeese Jr. Downers Grove, Ill.
3B Taylor Schwaner Southeastern Louisiana Jr. New Orleans, La.
SS Taylor Beene Sam Houston Sr. Humble, Texas
C Robie Rojas Sam Houston Sr. Jersey Village, Texas
DH Josh Evans Stephen F. Austin Jr. Ponca City, Okla.
OF Shane Selman McNeese So. Lake Charles, La.
OF Bryce Johnson 2 Sam Houston State Jr. Cypress, Texas
OF Russell Crippen Abilene Christian Sr. Snohomish, Wash.
P Heath Donica 2 Sam Houston State Sr. Corsicana, Texas
P Mac Sceroler 2 Southeastern Louisiana Jr. Denham Springs, La.
P Shawn Semple New Orleans Jr. Swedesboro, N.J.
U Ricky Ramirez McNeese Sr. Deer Park, Texas
Second Team
Pos. Name University Class Hometown
1B David Fry 3 Northwestern State Jr. Colleyville, Texas
2B Carson Crites 2 Southeastern Louisiana Sr. Amarillo, Texas
3B Matt Gallier McNeese Sr. Lake Charles, La.
SS Tyler Depreta-Johnson Houston Baptist So. Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
C John Cable New Orleans Jr. Roswell, Ga.
DH Robin Adames Lamar So. Bronx, N.Y.
OF Cutter McDowell Lamar Sr. Pearland, Texas
OF Zac Michener 2 Stephen F. Austin Sr. Kennedale, Texas
OF Robbie Podorsky McNeese Jr. Prairieville, La.
P Cole Stapler Nicholls Sr. Prairieville, La.
P Bryan Warzek New Orleans So. Clifton Park, N.J.
P JT Newton Houston Baptist So. Bangs, Texas
U Drew Avans Southeastern Louisiana Jr. Alabaster, Ala.
Third Team
Pos. Name University Class Hometown
1B Trey Silvers Lamar Sr. Manvel, Texas
2B Nick Ramos Stephen F. Austin Sr. Plano, Texas
3B Andrew Fregia Sam Houston State So. Liberty, Texas
SS Brooks Balisterri Central Arkansas Sr. Benton, Ark.
C Bryndan Arredondo 2 Lamar Sr. Lubbock, Texas
DH Luis Trevino Abilene Christian Jr. Mission, Texas
OF Reid Russell 2 Lamar Sr. Longview, Texas
OF Clayton Harp Sam Houston State So. El Campo, Texas
OF Orynn Veillon New Orleans So. Lafayette, La.
P Will Vest Stephen F. Austin Jr. Houston, Texas
P Trent Fontenot McNeese Sr. Nederland, Texas
P Corey Gaconi Southeastern Louisiana So. Metairie, La.
U Grant Devore Lamar Jr. Dallas, Texas
3 Three-time all-conference selection
2 Two-time all-conference selection
All-Defensive Team
1B Hunter Strong Central Arkansas So. Sheridan, Ark.
2B Samuel Capielano New Orleans Sr. River Ridge, La.
3B Gage Teer Nicholls Jr. Brandon, Miss.
SS Tyler Depreta-Johnson Houston Baptist So. Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
C Alex Tucker Nicholls Sr. Denham Springs, La.
LF Drew Avans Southeastern Louisiana Jr. Alabaster, Ala.
CF Bryce Johnson 2 Sam Houston State Jr. Cypress, Texas
RF Riley McKnight Sam Houston State So. Klein, Texas
P Cole Stapler Nicholls Sr. Prairieville, La.
All-Conference Honorable Mention
2B Samuel Capielano, New Orleans; Lance Miles, Sam Houston State
3B Owen Magee, New Orleans
SS Cullen Jozwiak, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Joey Morales, Nicholls; Aaron Palmer, New Orleans
C: Dustin Duhon, McNeese; Alex Tucker, Nicholls
DH: Blake Chisolm, Sam Houston; Hezekiah Randolph, New Orleans
OF: Drew Avans, Southeastern Louisiana; Brandon Brintz, Houston Baptist; Tristan Clark, New Orleans;
Keaton Presley, Central Arkansas; Derek Scott, Abilene Christian; Dalton Stark, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
P: Grant Anderson, McNeese; Rhett Deaton, McNeese; Tanner Driskill, Lamar;
Tyler Gray, Central Arkansas Brandon Hagerla, Central Arkansas; Mike Hanchar, Nicholls; Carson Lance, Lamar; Tyler Starks, Stephen F. Austin; Christian Thames, Houston Baptist; Hayden Wesneski, Sam Houston
The 2017 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament begins Wednesday at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas. The winner of the eight-team double elimination tournament will earn the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Championship
