FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls State University junior second baseman
Ethan Valdez was listed on the 2018 Preseason All-Southland Conference Second Team as it was announced in a release by the organization Tuesday afternoon.
The preseason all-conference teams are voted upon by the league's head coaches. Returning players from the 2017 All-Conference First and Second teams are automatically named to the 2018 Preseason All-Conference teams at their respective positions. Second- and third-team players are elevated if the slot is vacated by a non-returning player at the same position. All of the first-team slots were filled and Valdez grabbed one of nine open second-team slots.
"Preseason polls and teams are not as important as postseason polls and teams," Nicholls head coach
Seth Thibodeaux said. "I'm happy for Ethan. He's a lot of fun to coach and be around, but I'm 100 percent sure he's thinking the same thing. He's unselfish and hungry like the rest of our team."
Valdez, a San Antonio, Texas native, has played in all but two games since arriving on campus. During conference play last season, Valdez hit .276 with five doubles and eight RBIs and recorded a 10-game hitting streak at one point. He committed just four errors in 144 chances, contributing to the league's second-best fielding percentage (.978).
See below for a full list of All-SLC teams.
First Team
| Name |
|
School |
|
Pos. |
|
Class |
|
Hometown |
|
| Hunter Strong |
|
Central Arkansas |
|
1B |
|
Jr. |
|
Sheridan, Ark. |
|
| Joe Provenzano |
|
McNeese |
|
2B |
|
Sr. |
|
Downers Grove, Ill. |
|
| Taylor Schwaner |
|
Southeastern Louisiana |
|
3B |
|
Sr. |
|
Slidell, La. |
|
| Tyler Depreta-Johnson |
|
Houston Baptist |
|
SS |
|
Sr. |
|
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. |
|
| John Cable |
|
New Orleans |
|
C |
|
Sr. |
|
Roswell, Ga. |
|
| Josh Evans |
|
Stephen F. Austin |
|
DH |
|
Sr. |
|
Ponca City, Okla. |
|
| Shane Selman |
|
McNeese |
|
OF |
|
Jr. |
|
Lake Charles, La. |
|
| Clayton Harp |
|
Sam Houston State |
|
OF |
|
Jr. |
|
El Campo, Texas |
|
| Orynn Veillon |
|
New Orleans |
|
OF |
|
Jr. |
|
Lafayette, La. |
|
| Bryan Warzek |
|
New Orleans |
|
P |
|
Jr. |
|
Clifton Park, N.Y. |
|
| JT Newton |
|
Houston Baptist |
|
P |
|
Jr. |
|
Bangs, Texas |
|
| Corey Gaconi |
|
Southeastern Louisiana |
|
P |
|
Jr. |
|
Metaire, La. |
|
| Drew Avans |
|
Southeastern Louisiana |
|
U |
|
Sr. |
|
Alabaster, Ala. |
|
Second Team
| Name |
|
School |
|
Pos. |
|
Class |
|
Hometown |
|
| David Fry |
|
Northwestern State |
|
1B |
|
Sr. |
|
Colleyville, Texas |
|
| Ethan Valdez |
|
Nicholls |
|
2B |
|
Jr. |
|
San Antonio, Texas |
|
| Andrew Fregia |
|
Sam Houston State |
|
3B |
|
Jr. |
|
Liberty, Texas |
|
| Ryan Gonzales |
|
UIW |
|
SS |
|
Jr. |
|
Corpus Christi, Texas |
|
| Luis Treino |
|
Abilene Christian |
|
C |
|
Jr. |
|
Mission, Texas |
|
| Robin Adames |
|
Lamar |
|
DH |
|
Jr. |
|
The Bronx, N.Y. |
|
| Hunter Hearn |
|
Sam Houston State |
|
OF |
|
Jr. |
|
Crosby, Texas |
|
| Dalton Stark |
|
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
|
OF |
|
Sr. |
|
Cypress, Texas |
|
| Keaton Presley |
|
Central Arkansas |
|
OF |
|
Sr. |
|
Springfield, Mo. |
|
| Grant Anderson |
|
McNeese |
|
P |
|
Jr. |
|
Beaumont, Texas |
|
| Tyler Gray |
|
Central Arkansas |
|
P |
|
Sr. |
|
Fort Smith, Ark. |
|
| Hayden Wesneski |
|
Sam Houston State |
|
P |
|
So. |
|
Cypress, Texas |
|
| Grant Devore |
|
Lamar |
|
U |
|
Sr. |
|
Dallas, Texas |
|
Get your season or single-game tickets now by calling
985-448-4790 or visiting
nichollstickets.com. Please click
here for more information on joining the 2018 Nicholls Baseball Coaches Committee. Visit
geauxcolonels.com for the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_BASE.
