Kats rake in SLC awards, Pitcher of the Year
5/23/2017 2:05:00 PM | Baseball
HUNTSVILLE – Sam Houston State's Heath Donica has been named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year, the fifth in Bearkat history, to highlight the announcement of Tuesday's all-conference awards.
Donica, who posted an 8-1 record with a 1.82 ERA, was among four players named First-Team All-Southland Conference, and was joined by shortstop Taylor Beene, catcher Robie Rojas and center fielder Bryce Johnson among the 12-member list.
Hayden Wesneski became the first Bearkat player to earn Southland Conference Freshman of the Year accolades. The right-hander ranks second nationally among all freshman in victories and has posted a 9-2 record and 3.82 ERA during his inaugural campaign.
Elsewhere, third baseman Andrew Fregia and left fielder Clayton Harp were tabbed Third-Team All-Conference. Fregia leads Sam Houston with 78 hits and 118 total bases and is second on the team in RBIs (43), batting average (.332), slugging percentage (.502) and runs scored (42).
Harp's honors come during a season in which the sophomore paced the squad with 44 RBIs while matching Fregia with a team-best 11 multi-RBI games. Harp, who enters Wednesday's Southland Conference Tournament opener on a 15-game reached base streak, is hitting .306 across 53 games.
Sam Houston secured two of three outfield spots on the all-defensive team as Johnson was named the league's top defensive center fielder and Riley McKnight was named as the top defensive right fielder. McKnight is one of 11 players meeting the minimums in the conference with a 1.000 fielding percentage while Johnson has showcased his speed and playmaking ability in center alongside nine assists.
Wesneski also earned all-conference honorable mention as did Blake Chisolm, who burst onto the scene in his first season with the program, ranking first on the second in slugging percentage (.550), on base percentage (.466) and doubles (15) as well as third in average (.331).
The Bearkats will look to pick up more hardware this week, opening the Southland Conference Tournament on Wednesday at 9 a.m. vs. Stephen F. Austin. Sam Houston enters the tournament as the three-seed and is seeking its second-straight tournament title and third-consecutive championship game appearance.
QUOTEABLES:
Head coach Matt Deggs on the honor for Heath Donica…
“He'll go down as one of the greatest pitchers I've had throw for me. He's a self-made player who has done nothing but get better. He loves to compete. He understands who he is and his stuff. He knows how to get hitters out. It's no surprise to me he is pitcher of the year.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on Hayden Wesneski being named Freshman of the Year…
“He has a lot of maturity and poise for a freshman. He has three or four pitches he can locate for a strike. He has been gigantic for us this year with the loss of (Riley) Gossett. He has put together a tremendous year and is going to keep getting better and better.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on the first-team all-conference members…
“This is a really good ballclub. A year ago I thought we had several guys who would be on there who weren't. It's good to see them get recognized for their hard work. They've all had great years and have been extremely big for us.”
Head coach Matt Deggs on individual achievement and opportunity ahead…
“None of us are here for individual accolades. This is the ultimate team. They are all bought into something bigger. Like I told them today, if you don't like where you were voted or finished, you have an opportunity to do something about it. There are several other guys we feel are first-team performers but they have a big stage in front of them to prove it.”
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
