FRISCO, Texas – Nicholls State University senior
Ethan Valdez was listed on the 2019 Preseason All-Southland Conference First Team as it was announced in a release by the organization Tuesday afternoon.
Valdez is the first Colonel to receive Preseason All-Conference First Team honors since Kyle Reese and Justin Sinbaldi in 2016.
"
Ethan Valdez is very deserving of first team honors," Nicholls head coach
Seth Thibodeaux said. "He has worked extremely hard and has been very loyal to this program. He is our team captain and will wear No. 11 this year. I'm happy for him."
Valdez, a San Antonio, Texas, native, was named a 2018 Preseason All-Second Team second baseman last season. He also garnered 2018 All-SLC Tournament honors after he hit .400 (6-15) while lifting the squad to its first semifinal appearance since 2011. The 5-10 righty led the Southland with 56 runs scored last season.
This will be Valdez's first season at shortstop, taking the helm from last year's No. 11
Joey Morales. Known for his adept range and athleticism, Valdez was also a member of the 2018 SLC All-Defensive Team, boasting a .987 fielding percentage during league play.
The preseason all-conference teams are voted upon by the league's head coaches. Returning players from the 2018 All-Conference First and Second teams are automatically named to the 2019 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.
2019 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Tyler Smith* |
Central Arkanas |
1B |
Sr. |
Deer Park, Texas |
| Kyle Bergeron* |
Incarnate Word |
2B |
Jr. |
Bridge City, Texas |
| Jake Georgiades* |
Stephen F. Austin |
3B |
Sr. |
College Station, Texas |
| Ethan Valdez |
Nicholls |
SS |
Sr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Beau Bratton* |
New Orleans |
C |
Jr. |
Biloxi, Miss. |
| Dalon Farkas* |
Abilene Christian |
DH |
Sr. |
Milton, Ga. |
| Itchy Burts* |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
OF |
Sr. |
League City, Texas |
| Eddy Gonzalez* |
Incarnate Word |
OF |
Sr. |
Laredo, Texas |
| Hunter Hearn* |
Sam Houston State |
OF |
Sr. |
Crosby, Texas |
| Corey Gaconi* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
P |
Sr. |
Metairie, La. |
| Carlisle Koestler* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
P |
Sr. |
Vicksburg, Miss. |
| Jerry Maddox* |
Northwestern State |
P |
Sr. |
Dayton, Texas |
| Cole Coker* |
Lamar |
U |
Jr. |
Huffman, Texas |
Second Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Hometown |
| Ryan Flores* |
Incarnate Word |
1B |
So. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Cody Grosse* |
Southeastern Louisiana |
2B |
Sr. |
Plainfield, Ill. |
| Enrique Sanchez Jr. |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
3B |
Sr. |
Houston, Texas |
| Manny Vasquez |
Stephen F. Austin |
SS |
Sr. |
Naco, Ariz. |
| Drake Osborn* |
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi |
C |
Jr. |
Sandia, Texas |
| J.P. Lagreco* |
Northwestern State |
DH |
Sr. |
Pearl River, La. |
| Clayton Harp |
Sam Houston State |
OF |
Sr. |
El Campo, Texas |
| Pearce Howard |
New Orleans |
OF |
So. |
Silver Springs, Md. |
| Shane Selman |
McNeese |
OF |
Sr. |
Lake Charles, La. |
| Aidan Anderson |
McNeese |
P |
Sr. |
Beaumont, Texas |
| Ridge Heisler* |
Northwestern State |
P |
Sr. |
Mangham, La. |
| Hayden Wesneski* |
Sam Houston State |
P |
Jr. |
Cyrpess, Texas |
| Derek Scott* |
Abilene Christian |
U |
Sr. |
Abilene, Texas |
* - Member of 2018 All-Southland Conference Teams
Visit
geauxcolonels.com for the most up-to-date information on Nicholls baseball. Be sure to follow the team on Twitter
@Nicholls_BASE.
