FRISCO, Texas - Conner Westenburg and Simon Larranaga were tabbed to the Southland Preseason All-Conference Teams to represent McNeese baseball as announced by the league Thursday morning. In the preseason poll, the Cowboys were picked third after making a run to the SLC Title Game in 2024. 

A native of Porter, Texas, Westenburg enters his senior campaign by being named to the SLC All-Conference First Team as an outfielder. Westenburg had a strong 2024 campaign in which he earned 46 runs and 69 hits for an average of .296. Of his 69 hits on the season, 26 came in the form of extra bases in the form of 17 doubles, three triples, and six home runs. His 17 doubles ranked him fifth in the conference while his 20 stolen bases placed him second in the league.

Westenburg concluded the 2024 season in which he started all 59 games en route to the SLC Title Game against Nicholls by being named to the SLC All-Defensive Team, SLC All-Academic First Team, College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team, and the SLC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Larranaga, a fellow senior from Mont Belvieu, Texas, was recognized on the SLC All-Conference Second Team as a utility player. Spending last season between first base and serving as a designated hitter, Larranaga started 38 games while appearing in 39 on the season. The senior hit a team-high nine home runs while tallying eight doubles on the season.

Larranaga batted .297 for the Cowboys while collected 41 hits on the 2024 campaign. He further earned 41 hits on the season while taking 17 walks and driving in 26 RBIs, scoring the same number of runs himself.

McNeese was picked by the conference to finish third in the standings behind the reigning conference champion in Lamar and second-place Southeastern. The Cowboys and Cardinals met last year in the semifinals of the conference tournaments with Lamar taking the first game before the Pokes won game two for an SLC Championship Game appearance.

The Cowboys finished tied for fourth in the standings last season with Northwestern State, earning the fifth seed for the SLC Tournament.

There will be two new members to the Southland for the 2025 season as UTRGV joins the conference as a new member and Stephen F. Austin returns to the Southland after joining the WAC for three seasons.

2025 All-Southland Conference Preseason First Team
C Zak Skinner, Lamar*
1B Brayden Evans, Lamar*
2B Isaac Webb, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
SS TJ Salvaggio, Southeastern
3B Rocco Gump, Northwestern State
OF Reese Lipoma, Northwestern State*
OF Conner Westenburg, McNeese
OF Cole Stromboe, Southeastern+
OF Tristian Moore, New Orleans+
UT Bryce Calloway, New Orleans
DH Rey Mendoza, UIW
SP Brennan Stuprich, Southeastern 
SP John Salinas, UIW
SP Zach Garcia, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
RP Kyle Moseley, Lamar
 
2025 All-Southland Conference Preseason Second Team
C Steven Lancia, UTRGV
1B Martin Vazquez, UTRGV
2B Diego Villsecas, New Orleans
SS Isaac Lopez, UTRGV
3B Easton Moomau, UTRGV+
3B Matt Ryan, Lamar+
OF Balin Valentine, Northwestern State
OF Parker Coley, Southeastern
OF Jude Hall, Southeastern
UT Simon Larranaga, McNeese
DH Armani Raygoza, UTRGV
SP Parker Edwards, HCU
SP Angelo Cabral, UTRGV
SP Tyler Bryan, Northwestern State
RP Larson Fabre, Southeastern

*elevated from the second team
+tie for final spot

Baseball Preseason Poll
1. Lamar                                               197 (18)
2. Southeastern                                 146 (4)
3. McNeese                                        145
4. UTRGV                                             144
5. Nicholls                                           129
6. New Orleans                                 128
7. UIW                                                   95
8. Northwestern State                     89
9. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi        73
10. HCU                                               37
11. SFA                                                 27