NATCHITOCHES – Tyler Smith found himself right where he was a year ago only this time he has some familiar company.
For the second straight season, Smith was named to the Preseason All-Southland Conference Baseball Team, but this time, he is not the only Demon on the squad, which was announced Wednesday morning by the conference office.
Fellow fifth-year senior Marshall Skinner also earned preseason honors as both Demons find themselves part of the second team – Smith in the outfield and Skinner behind the plate.
A Covington High School product, Smith enters his senior season one home run shy of moving into the career top 10 and stands in striking distance of top-10 career marks in RBIs, hit by pitches and games played. His seven career triples stand 10th in school history.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Smith homered twice in 11 games and led the Demons in slugging percentage .514. Smith was the lone Demon named to the 2020 Preseason All-Southland second team after finishing the 2019 season as a third-team all-conference selection.
Skinner earned his first career Southland honor after hitting .333 with a home run and 13 RBIs while starting all 16 games in 2020.
A Blinn College product, Skinner hit safely in nine straight games to open the 2020 season and finished with six multi-hit games. His home run came on opening night, breaking a scoreless tie in what became an 11-0 Northwestern State win against Wichita State.
The Demons open their 2021 season on Feb. 19 at Southern Miss, starting a three-game series against the Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park.
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 |
* – Member of 2019 All-Southland Conference teams
