CONWAY, Ark. _ The University of Central Arkansas had two players named to the 2021 preseason All-Southland Conference baseball team on Wednesday.

    Seniors Conner Williams and Beau Orlando were first-team selections announced by the conference office. The SLC preseason poll will be announced Thursday.

    Williams, a right-handed relief pitcher from Conway, finished the pandemic-shortened 2020 season with a league-best six saves in just eight appearances. He had a 0.69 earned-run average and struck out 21 batters and walked just 2 in 13 innings. Williams had four appearances with at least 3 strikeouts and fanned at least one batter in all eight outings.

    Williams had a 4-1 record with a pair of saves and 42 strikeouts in 2019.

    Orlando, a third baseman from Houston, Texas, hit .392 over 16 games in 2020, with a slugging percentage of .431 and an on-base percentage of .515. Orlando had 20 hits, 11 runs scored and 7 runs batted in, and also drew a team-high 11 walks. He had 3 three-hit games and five multi-hit games.

    Orlando hit .290 with 36 RBI in 56 starts in the full 2019 season.

    The Bears open the 2021 season with a four-game home series against Western Illinois that begins Friday, Feb. 19 at 3 p.m. at Bear Stadium.

2021 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
 
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Ryan Flores*	UIW	1B	Sr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Nate Fisbeck*	McNeese	2B	Sr.	The Woodlands, Texas
Beau Orlando*	Central Arkansas	3B	Sr.	Houston, Texas
Reid Bourque*	McNeese	SS	Jr.	Moss Bluff, La.
Gavin Johnson*	Sam Houston	C	R-Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Clayton Rasbeary*	McNeese	DH	Sr.	Rockwall, Texas
Brandon Bena*	Houston Baptist	OF	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.
Colton Cowser*	Sam Houston	OF	So.	Cypress, Texas
Jack Rogers*	Sam Houston	OF	Jr.	Spring, Texas
Will Dion*	McNeese	SP	So.	Sulphur, La.
John Gaddis*	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	SP	Jr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Trey Shaffer	Southeastern Louisiana	SP	Jr.	Biloxi, Miss.
Conner Williams*	Central Arkansas	RP	Sr.	Conway, Ark.
Itchy Burts*	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	U	Sr.	League City, Texas

 
Second Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Preston Faulkner*	Southeastern Louisiana	1B	Jr.	Denham Springs, La.
Salo Iza	New Orleans	2B	Sr.	Key Biscayne, Fla.
Anthony Quirion*	Lamar	3B	Sr.	Dixville, Quebec, Canada
Grant Smith	UIW	SS	So.	Albuquerque, N.M.
Marshall Skinner	Northwestern State	C	Sr.	Cypress, Texas
Lee Thomas*	UIW	DH	Gr.	Katy, Texas
Payton Harden	McNeese	OF	R-So.	Atascocita, Texas
Tyler Smith*	Northwestern State	OF	Sr.	Franklinton, La.
Luther Woullard	New Orleans	OF	Sr.	D'Iberville, Miss.
Dominic Robinson	Sam Houston	SP	Sr.	Tomball, Texas
Chris Turpin	New Orleans	SP	Sr.	Belle Chasse, La.
Will Warren	Southeastern Louisiana	SP	Jr.	Brandon, Miss.
Jeremy Rodriguez*	Stephen F. Austin	RP	Sr.	Cypress, Texas
Jake Dickerson*	McNeese	U	Sr.	Beaumont, Texas

 
* - Member of 2020 Preseason All-Southland Conference teams