THIBODAUX, La. – Nicholls State University senior Justin Sinibaldi will repeat as the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year the Colonels will finish with the second-best overall record in the league, according to D1Baseball.com's annual preseason SLC preview.
 
The collegiate baseball website tabbed the Colonels to earn a 35-18 overall record and a 19-10 conference mark in 2016. Only Southeastern La. was projected a better overall record. D1Baseball.com predicted the Lions to go 42-17 overall and 25-5 in Southland play.
 
The organization also ranked the top 20 MLB draft prospects in the conference, with four Nicholls student-athletes cracking the top 10, more than any other team in the league. Sinibaldi was chosen as the third-highest draft prospect in the Southland, followed by right-handed pitcher Cole Stapler (fourth), righty Jake Smith (sixth) and outfielder Justin Holt (10^th).
 
Last season the Colonels reached several milestones and garnered national recognition. Nicholls went on a nine-game tear that was the teams' longest winning-streak since 2005. The Colonels swept their season series against Louisiana-Lafayette for the first time since 1996 and downed the LSU Tigers at Alex Box Stadium. Nicholls also turned in back-to-back 30-win seasons for the first time since 1992-93. The Colonels' 34 wins in 2015 were the most since 1992, when the program totaled 36 victories. Nicholls had three players taken in the 2015 MLB Draft, including LHP Grant Borne (Washington Nationals), LHP Stuart Holmes (Toronto Blue Jays) and RHP Ryan Deemes (Houston Astros), while catcher Christian Correa was later signed by the Houston Astros.
 
The Colonels open their 2016 campaign with a four-game series at home against Mississippi Valley, the weekend of Feb. 19. Conference play begins on March 4. For season tickets, call (985) 448-4790 or log on to geauxcolonels.com.