FRISCO, Texas – McNeese Baseball had three members named to the Southland Conference All-Defensive Team while one garnered All-Conference First Team recognition as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon.
Cooper Hext headlined the Cowboys in his senior campaign by making his way onto the All-SLC First Team after being named to the Preseason All-SLC Second Team. Hext led the team with a .310 batting average, collecting 67 hits with 25 of those coming in the form of extra bases. In addition to tallying 11 doubles and seven home runs, his seven triples places him fifth in the nation and atop the conference in the category. He furthermore sits second in program history in career triples at 14, just three shy of the program record.
"I'm so happy for Cooper," said head coach
Justin Hill. "It's one thing to produce in a supporting role, but to do the heavy lifting with all the expectations, that's the sign of a real winner."
Hext further garnered SLC All-Defensive Team honors in the left field, making 48 of his 54 starts in the position. He fought his way to a .991 fielding percentage in the outfield, collecting 112 putouts and four assists in 117 chances. It marked his second consecutive year on the team after being named to the 2023 All-Defensive Team.
Conner Westenburg, a junior, earned a spot on the All-Defensive Team as a center fielder after serving as a staple for the Pokes all season. Westenburg made 48 starts in center after swapping with Hext six games into the season from left field. His time in the outfield helped him to earn a fielding percentage of .981 with 145 putouts and six assists on 154 chances. He had one home-run snatching grab make SportsCenter Top 10 against conference foe Texas A&M-Corpus Christi to claim national recognition.
"Cooper and Conner are very deserving of these awards," continued Hill. "They work extremely hard every day to improve their defense. They are a great tandem and you feel pretty good any time a ball is hit their way."
Cameron LeJeune was the final Cowboy to be named to the All-Defensive Team as a pitcher. The redshirt junior didn't make an error all season for a perfect fielding percentage. He earned 13 assists with one putout, taking part in two double plays. He had two runners he caught stealing on the season. LeJeune earned the lowest ERA of the team at 3.74 with a 7-2 record, tallying five saves. He struck out 52 batters throughout 67.1 innings of work.
Hill praised LeJeune, saying, "This is a fitting honor for Cameron. His work ethic and attention to detail are as good as I've ever had the pleasure to coach. He is deserving of this and more."
McNeese begins the SLC Baseball Championship Tournament Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. against fourth-seeded Northwestern State.
SLC All-Conference Teams
Player of the Year – Edgar Alvarez, Nicholls
Hitter of the Year – Mitchell Sanford, New Orleans
Pitcher of the Year – Brooks Caple, Lamar
Relief Pitcher of the Year – Nico Saltaformaggio, Nicholls
Newcomer of the Year – Dalton Beck, UIW
Freshman of the Year – Larson Fabre, Southeastern
Coach of the Year – Will Davis, Lamar
FIRST TEAM
C – Miguel Useche, New Orleans
1B – Edgar Alvarez, Nicholls
2B – Isaac Webb, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SS – TJ Salvaggio, Southeastern
3B – Shea Thomas, Southeastern
OF – Mitchell Sanford, New Orleans
OF – Samuel Benjamin, HCU
OF – Cooper Hext, McNeese
DH – Dalton Beck, UIW
UT – Bryce Calloway, New Orleans
SP – Brooks Caple, Lamar
SP – Colton Mercer, New Orleans
SP – Brennan Stuprich, Southeastern
RP – Nico Saltaformaggio, Nicholls
SECOND TEAM
C – Zak Skinner, Lamar
1B – Brayden Evans, Lamar
2B – Diego Villescas, New Orleans
SS – Parker Coddou, Nicholls
3B – Sebastian Trinidad, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
OF – Reese Lipoma, Northwestern State
OF – Basiel Williams, Nicholls
OF – Cameron Caley, UIW
DH – River Orsak, Lamar
UT – Drake Anderson, Nicholls
SP – Matthew Watson, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SP – Jacob Ellis, Lamar
SP – Hunter Hesseltine, Lamar
RP – Caleb Bunch, Northwestern State
ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
C – Miguel Useche, New Orleans
1B – Edgar Alvarez, Nicholls
2B – Dalton Hurst, New Orleans
SS – Kanin Dodge, Lamar
3B – Rocco Gump, Northwestern State
CF – Conner Westenburg, McNeese
LF – Cooper Hext, McNeese
