Thibodeaux, Byrd Receive Highest Southland Honors

Thibodeaux, Byrd Receive Highest Southland Honors

Southland Release
 
FRISCO, Texas – After leading the Nicholls State University baseball team to its most Southland Conference wins in program history, Colonel head coach Seth Thibodeaux garnered Southland Coach of the Year while senior Taylor Byrd received pitcher of the year, as the league office announced Monday its all-conference teams and awards.
 
In addition to the two individual awards, the Colonels landed three players on the all-conference teams as Byrd received first-team honors, senior outfielder Keith Cormier was named second team and sophomore pitcher Grant Borne made third team. Senior shortstop Leo Vargas was also recognized, earning honorable mention.
 
After leading the Colonels to a second-place regular-season finish, Thibodeaux was tabbed coach of the year to become the first Colonel head coach to receive the award. In conference play, Nicholls finished with a 21-9 record, obliterating the previous team-best of 15 wins. The team claimed eight series wins, including sweeps over Lamar, New Orleans and McNeese State.  After a remarkable 12-win turnaround in conference play from a season ago, Nicholls is the first team in conference history to win more than 20 league games the season after posting single-digit conference wins. On the year, Thibodeaux led the Colonels to a 32-24 overall record, marking the first 30-win season since 1993 and the first winning campaign in 12 years.
 
Byrd, a native of Petal, Miss., was named the Southland's top pitcher as well as first-team after finishing the year with an 8-3 record. In the rankings, Byrd was second in the league in earned run average and strikeouts, posting a 1.92 ERA with 80 strikeouts. Twenty-four of his 80 strikeouts caught batters looking, which is the sixth highest in the conference. In 14 starts, the left-hander tossed 89.0 innings while allowing 19 earned runs, limiting opponents to a .246 batting average. Byrd allowed no earned runs in six of his outings, gave up just one home run on the year and had a season-high 11 strikeouts in the Colonels' 3-0 win over in-state rival ULM.
 
Cormier, a two-year starter in the outfield, landed on second-team after leading the Colonels with 43 RBIs while finishing second on the team with a .295 batting average. In 56 starts, Cormier had 22 multi-hit games, including four four-hit efforts, and 13 games with two or more RBIs.  The Channelview, Texas native led the team with 13 doubles, a .406 slugging percentage and tied for the team-lead with two home runs. In conference play, Cormier hit .294 with seven doubles and 19 RBIs.
 
Borne was named third-team after notching the second-most wins in conference with an 8-2 record. A native of Baton Rouge, the sophomore lefty ranked third in the conference with 78 strikeouts, was tied for fourth with 25 looking strikeouts and ranked 11th in ERA (2.96). In 14 starts, Borne pitched a team-high 94.1 innings, holding opposing hitters to .244 average. Borne also logged an 11-strikeout outing, leading the Colonels to a 6-1 win over BYU.
 
Vargas rounded out the honorees, being named honorable mention after leading the team in batting with a .302 average. A native of Homestead, Fla., Vargas finished the year with 46 runs, 23 RBIs and tied for the team-lead with two homers. Vargas ranked among the NCAA leaders in sacrifice bunts, laying down 18 on the year. On the base paths, Vargas had a team-best 17 stolen bases.
 
The Colonels will open play on Wednesday in the Southland Conference Tournament, taking on McNeese State at 4 p.m. This year's tournament will be held in Conway, Ark. at Bear Stadium on the campus of Central Arkansas.
 

2014 Southland All-Conference Teams

First Team

 

 

 

Pos.

Name

University

Class

Hometown

1B

Chayse Marion2

McNeese State

Sr.

Red Deer, Alberta

2B

Andrew Guillotte

McNeese State

Jr.

Moss Bluff, La.

3B

Brandon Tierney

A&M-Corpus Christi

Sr.

Arlington, Texas

SS

Sam Bumpers2

Lamar

Sr.

Bourbornnais, Ill.

OF

Tyler Boss

Oral Roberts

Sr.

Spring, Texas

OF

Doug Votolato

Central Arkansas

Sr.

Flower Mound, Texas

OF

Jackson Gooch2

McNeese State

Sr.

Delta, British Columbia

C

Anthony Azar3

Sam Houston State

Sr.

The Woodlands, Texas

DH

Mackenzie Handel

Stephen F. Austin

Sr.

Chandler, Ariz.

P

Taylor Byrd

Nicholls

Sr.

Petal, Miss.

P

Andro Cutura

Southeastern La.

Jr.

Pearl River, La.

P

Pepe Gomez

Oral Roberts

Sr.

Tucson, Ariz.

 

 

 

 

 

Second Team

 

 

 

Pos.

Name

University

Class

Hometown

1B

Ryan O'Hearn

Sam Houston State

Jr.

Frisco, Texas

2B

Matt Brandy

Oral Roberts

Jr.

Tampa, Fla.

3B

Chase Daughdrill

Northwestern State

Jr.

Bossier City, La.

SS

Jose Trevino2

Oral Roberts

Jr.

Corpus Christi, Texas

OF

Colt Atwood

Sam Houston State

Jr.

Katy, Texas

OF

Jude Vidrine

Lamar

Sr.

Nederland, Texas

OF

Keith Cormier

Nicholls

Sr.

Channelview, Texas

C

Seth Spivey

Abilene Christian

Sr.

Brenham, Texas

DH

Billy Sommers

McNeese State

So.

Moss Bluff, La.

P

Matt Danton

A&M-Corpus Christi

Jr.

Conroe, Texas

P

Tyler Eppler

Sam Houston State

Jr.

Navasota, Texas

P

Adam Oller

Northwestern State

Fr.

Conroe, Texas

 

 

 

 

 

Third Team

 

 

 

Pos.

Name

University

Class

Hometown

1B

Caleb Dugas

Northwestern State

Jr.

Raymond, Miss.

2B

Cody Stephens

A&M-Corpus Christi

Sr.

Concord, Calif.

3B

Reed Seely

Lamar

Jr.

Baytown, Texas

SS

Samuel Capielano

New Orleans

Fr.

River Ridge, La.

OF

Andrew Godbold

Southeastern La.

Jr.

Oak Park, Ill.

OF

Hayden Simerly

Sam Houston State

Jr.

Round Rock, Texas

OF

Tyler Ware

A&M-Corpus Christi

Jr.

Omaha, Neb.

C

Russell Vaughn

A&M-Corpus Christi

Sr.

Mesa, Ariz.

DH

Kyle Markum

Lamar

Jr.

Beaumont, Texas

P

Grant Borne

Nicholls

So.

Baton Rouge, La.

P

Bryce Biggerstaff

Central Arkansas

Sr.

Sherwood, Ark.

P

Jordan Romano

Oral Roberts

Jr.

Markham, Ontario



 
2Two-Time All-Conference
3Three-Time All-Conference
 Honorable Mention – First Base: Brandon Provost, Lamar. Second Base: Chris Townsend, Central Arkansas. Third Base: Carter Burgess, Sam Houston State. Shortstop: Corey Toups, Sam Houston State; Leo Vargas, Nicholls. Outfield: Jordan Lee, A&M-Corpus Christi; Jacob Middleton, Lamar; Jesse Hoover, UIW; Jordon McCoy, Houston Baptist; Ricardo Sanchez, Stephen F. Austin. Catcher: Jameson Fisher, Southeastern La. Designated Hitter: Daniel Midyett, Southeastern La. Pitchers: Jason Simms, Sam Houston State; Trevor Belicek, A&M-Corpus Christi; Geno Encina, UIW; Dillon Mangham, Stephen F. Austin; Guillermo Trujillo, Oral Roberts.
 
2014 Southland Conference Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Anthony Azar, Sam Houston State              
Hitter of the Year: Sam Bumpers, Lamar
Pitcher of the Year: Taylor Byrd, Nicholls
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Jordan Romano, Oral Roberts
Freshman of the Year: Adam Oller, Northwestern State
Newcomer of the Year: Andrew Godbold, Southeastern Louisiana
Utility Player of the Year: Curtis Jones, Houston Baptist
Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Seth Thibodeaux, Nicholls