Baseball: RaginCajunsBSB Places Three On All-Sun Belt Baseball Squads

Jeff Schneider, Associate Director of Athletics Communications

LAFAYETTE, La. – The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns baseball team had three players tabbed to the 2018 All-Sun Belt Baseball teams led by senior left-hander Colten Schmidt who was named the SBC Pitcher of the Year, the league office announced on Monday.
 
Schmidt is the sixth player in program history and the third in the last five seasons to be named the Sun Belt Pitcher of the year joining Gunner Leger (2017), Carson Baranik (2014), Hunter Moody (2006), Austin Faught (2005) and Scott Dohmann (2000) on the list.
 
"It’s an honor to be recognized by the other members in your conference as the best in your league," head coach Tony Robichaux said. "Colten had to spend a lot of last season working while he waited, and it has paid off for him this year. He didn’t let his adversity keep him from reaching his potential, and that’s why he is one of the best players in our league. I appreciate the other coaches who took the time to vote for our players. To have your peers vote for you means a lot. All three of our guys that were selected have had to overcome adversity at some point in their career. I am glad that they stayed working and are being recognized for their hard work and effort."
 
Also named an All-Sun Belt First Team selection, Schmidt ranks third in the nation in walks allowed per nine innings (0.79), sixth in strikeout-to-walk ratio (9.56) and seventh in WHIP (0.81). The left-hander has a league best 1.93 ERA with a perfect 7-0 record in 14 starts posting 10 quality starts on the year. In 102.1 innings pitched, Schmidt has 86 strikeouts and only nine walks.
 
Joining Schmidt on the All-Sun Belt Teams are junior outfielder Daniel Lahare and senior utility player Kennon Fontenot as second team selections.
 
Lahare got off to a slow start during the season but finished top 10 in the league in average (.319), runs (46), hits (66) and triples (4). The junior is currently on a 17-game hit streak and is hitting .342 in the second half of the season with a .542 slugging percentage and 15 extra base hits.
 
Fontenot has also had a strong second half for the Ragin’ Cajnus hitting .350 in the final 28 games. On the season, Fontenot is hitting .293 with seven doubles, two triples and four home runs while driving in 40 runs.
 
Louisiana returns to action Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field at Russo Park in the Cajuns first game of the 2018 Sun Belt Conference Tournament against the highest remaining see of the No. 7 Little Rock vs. No. 10 Georgia State and No. 8 UT Arlington vs. No. 9 Arkansas State single elimination games.
 
For the latest updates on Ragin’ Cajuns baseball, follow Ragin’ Cajuns baseball on Facebook (RaginCajunsBaseball), Twitter (@RaginCajunsBSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsBSB) or check RaginCajuns.com.
 
All-Sun Belt Baseball First Team
Jason Bilous (Coastal Carolina, Junior, SP)
Brian Eichhorn (Georgia Southern, Junior, SP)
Colten Schmidt (Louisiana, Senior, SP)
Justin Garcia (Little Rock, Senior, RP)
Nick Gatewood (Georgia State, Junior, C)
Kevin Woodall, Jr. (Coastal Carolina, Senior, 1B)
Cory Wood (Coastal Carolina, Sophomore, 2B)
Seth Lancaster (Coastal Carolina, Senior, SS)
Drew Frederic (Troy, Sophomore, 3B)
Dylan Hardy (South Alabama, Junior, OF)
Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama, Junior, OF)
Joey Denison (Troy, Senior, OF)
Jeremy Brown (Arkansas State, Senior, UTIL)
Zach Bierman (Coastal Carolina, Junior, DH)
 
All-Sun Belt Baseball Second Team
Hunter Gaddis (Georgia State, Sophomore, SP)
Tyler Carr (South Alabama, Senior, SP)
Andrew Crane (Troy, Senior, SP)
Matt Eardensohn (Coastal Carolina, Junior, RP)
Carter Perkins (South Alabama, Junior, C)
Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State, Junior, 1B)
Jonathan Ortega (Texas State, Junior, 2B)
Matt Sanders (Troy, Senior, SS)
Brendan Donovan (South Alabama, Junior, 3B)
Parker Chavers (Coastal Carolina, Freshman, OF)
Daniel Lahare (Louisiana, Junior, OF)
Rigsby Mosley (Troy, Freshman, OF)
Kennon Fontenot (Louisiana, Senior, UTIL)
Ryan Glass (Georgia State, Freshman, DH)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Player of the Year
Joey Denison (Troy, Senior, OF)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Pitcher of the Year
Colten Schmidt (Louisiana, Senior, SP)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Freshman of the Year
Rigsby Mosley (Troy, Freshman, OF)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Newcomer of the Year
Kyle MacDonald (Arkansas State, Junior, 1B)
 
Sun Belt Baseball Ron Maestri Coach of the Year
Gary Gilmore, Coastal Carolina