Baseball Lands Nine On All-Southland Conference Teams

NEW ORLEANS – The University of New Orleans baseball team's record-breaking season added another accomplishment on Tuesday, as a program-record nine Privateers were named All-Southland Conference.

Highlighting the Privateers is junior right-handed pitcher Shawn Semple who claimed first-team honors, with sophomore southpaw Bryan Warzek and junior catcher John Cable earning second-team, sophomore center fielder Orynn Veillon placing on the third-team while senior second baseman Samuel Capielano was named All-Defensive team and  junior third baseman Owen Magee, senior designated hitter Hezekiah Randolph, junior right fielder Tristan Clarke and senior shortstop Aaron Palmer all received honorable mention distinction.

"I thought these guys did a great job this year," head coach Blake Dean said. "When you put hard work in, it feels good to be rewarded and acknowledged for everything you did. To see that we got nine guys on the All-Conference teams shows that the guys are working hard and that we are moving in the right direction."

Semple becomes the first UNO pitcher since Bryan Cryer in 2008 to place on their leagues' first-team. Last weekend the Swedesboro, N.J., product became the first Privateer since Cryer to eclipse 100 strikeouts in a season, and now sits one punch out away from cracking the program record book for most in a season with 103. Along with his strikeout total, which ranks 25^th in the country, Semple boasts a 9-3 record with a 2.27 ERA. He has logged two complete games this season, with one coming against HBU where he tossed a career-high 15 strikeouts in the win.

"He's done a great job," Dean said of Semple. "He has worked his tail off all year. He has done an unbelievable job on the mound and has become a leader among the pitching staff. He threw over 100 strikeouts and walked less than 20 batters, you can't ask a guy do put up better numbers than that. There is no question that he deserved first-team honors."

Cable marks the second-straight season the Privateers' catcher has earned All-Conference, joining Kyle Bracey who got first-team in 2016. This season, the Roswell, Ga., native has led UNO with a .358 batting average, the fifth-highest in the SLC, while also leading the Privateers with a .437 on base percentage. Cable holds the team's longest reach base streak, stretching 16 games before ending this past weekend.

"Cable has done a lot for us as an offensive catcher," Dean said of Cable." To go out there and put up the numbers he does at the plate and then to catch almost every game on top of that is unheard of. It says a lot about how hard he works and what he is capable of."

Joining Cable on the second-team is Warzek, who ranks within the top-10 of the league in ERA, wins, innings pitched, strikeouts and opposing batting average. The Clifton Park, N.Y. product sits just outside the top-10 in program history for a single-season ERA with a 2.21 mark, logging 93.2 innings with an opposing batting average of .233.

"I thought Warzek could have easily made first-team," Dean said of Warzek. "He was one of the best pitchers all season and ranks among the best in the league in just about every statistical category. He has followed up Semple nicely and the pair have created a formidable one-two punch. He has made huge strides from last season and hopefully he continues to improve."

Veillon is the lone Privateer on the third team after establishing himself as one of the top power hitters in the conference. The Lafayette, La., native ranks third in the SLC with 13 homers and fifth in slugging percentage with a .602 mark, both team-highs. He has posted three multi-home run games, blasting two at Northwestern State in the regular-season finale which helped propel the Privateers into the conference tournament.

"He has done a lot better than I expected," Dean commented on Veillon. "He continues to find new ways to get big hits and drive in runs for us, and when he gets hot his home runs come in bulk. He probably has the highest ceiling on our team, if continues to improve there is no telling how far he can go."

Capielano finds his name on the All-Southland teams for the first time since 2014, when he became the first UNO player to place on one of the SLC teams, with All-Defense accolades as well as honorable mention distinction. The River Ridge, La., native has been a mainstay in the infield for UNO since his freshman campaign, currently ranking third in the conference with 149 assists and ninth with 34 double plays fielded while posting a .986 fielding percentage.

"Capielano probably has the best glove I've ever seen," Dean said of his veteran second baseman. "If the ball is hit to him, 99 percent of the time he's gloving it. I have never seen him make a bad throw, he puts it right on the money every single time. He has done an amazing job and we have been truly fortunate to have him in our infield the last four years."

Rounding out the All-Southland honorees are Randolph, Palmer, Magee and Clarke who all earned honorable mention distinction. Randolph and Palmer become the first Privateers to be repeat recipients since John Ballon and Matt Matejcek did so in 1999 and 2000, while Magee and Clarke both earned league recognition in their first seasons at UNO.

"All these guys had great seasons," Dean commented on the honorable mention honorees. "You could easily make a case for each of them of why they should have been higher on the list. They have all contributed to what we accomplished this season."

The 2017 Southland Conference Tournament runs from May 24-27 in Sugar Land, Texas. For tickets to future Privateers athletic events, contact the UNO Athletics Ticket Office at (504) 280-GAME (4263) and season tickets can be purchased over the Internet by clicking HERE.    

Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Taylor Schwaner, Southeastern Louisiana
Hitter of the Year: Shane Selman, McNeese
Pitcher of the Year: Heath Donica, Sam Houston State
Relief Pitcher of the Year: JT Newton, Houston Baptist
Freshman of the Year: Hayden Wesneski, Sam Houston State
Newcomer of the Year: Josh Evans, Stephen F. Austin
Clay Gould Award - Coach of the Year: Justin Hill, McNeese
 
2017 All-Southland Conference Baseball Teams
First Team                                        
Pos.      Name                                  University                          Class      Hometown        
1B          Hunter Strong                    Central Arkansas               So.         Sheridan, Ark.
2B          Joe Provenzano ²              McNeese                            Jr.           Downers Grove, Ill.
3B          Taylor Schwaner               Southeastern Louisiana   Jr.           New Orleans, La.
SS           Taylor Beene                     Sam Houston                     Sr.          Humble, Texas
C             Robie Rojas                        Sam Houston                     Sr.          Jersey Village, Texas
DH          Josh Evans                          Stephen F. Austin              Jr.           Ponca City, Okla.
OF          Shane Selman                    McNeese                            So.         Lake Charles, La.
OF          Bryce Johnson ²                Sam Houston State          Jr.           Cypress, Texas
OF          Russell Crippen                  Abilene Christian               Sr.          Snohomish, Wash.
P             Heath Donica ²                  Sam Houston State          Sr.          Corsicana, Texas
P             Mac Sceroler ²                   Southeastern Louisiana   Jr.           Denham Springs, La.
P             Shawn Semple                   New Orleans                      Jr.           Swedesboro, N.J.
U            Ricky Ramirez                    McNeese                            Sr.          Deer Park, Texas
 
Second Team    
Pos.      Name                                  University                          Class      Hometown        
1B          David Fry ³                          Northwestern State         Jr.           Colleyville, Texas
2B          Carson Crites ²                  Southeastern Louisiana   Sr.          Amarillo, Texas
3B          Matt Gallier                       McNeese                            Sr.          Lake Charles, La.
SS           Tyler Depreta-Johnson    Houston Baptist                So.         Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
C             John Cable                         New Orleans                      Jr.           Roswell, Ga.
DH          Robin Adames                   Lamar                                  So.         Bronx, N.Y.
OF          Cutter McDowell              Lamar                                  Sr.          Pearland, Texas
OF          Zac Michener ²                  Stephen F. Austin              Sr.          Kennedale, Texas
OF          Robbie Podorsky               McNeese                            Jr.           Prairieville, La.
P             Cole Stapler                       Nicholls                               Sr.          Prairieville, La.
P             Bryan Warzek                    New Orleans                      So.         Clifton Park, N.J.
P             JT Newton                          Houston Baptist                So.         Bangs, Texas
U            Drew Avans                        Southeastern Louisiana   Jr.           Alabaster, Ala.
 
Third Team
Pos.      Name                                  University                          Class      Hometown                                                     
1B          Trey Silvers                         Lamar                                  Sr.          Manvel, Texas
2B          Nick Ramos                        Stephen F. Austin              Sr.          Plano, Texas
3B          Andrew Fregia                   Sam Houston State          So.         Liberty, Texas
SS           Brooks Balisterri               Central Arkansas               Sr.          Benton, Ark.
C             Bryndan Arredondo ²       Lamar                                  Sr.          Lubbock, Texas
DH          Luis Trevino                       Abilene Christian               Jr.           Mission, Texas
OF          Reid Russell ²                     Lamar                                  Sr.          Longview, Texas
OF          Clayton Harp                     Sam Houston State          So.         El Campo, Texas
OF          Orynn Veillon                     New Orleans                      So.         Lafayette, La.
P             Will Vest                             Stephen F. Austin              Jr.           Houston, Texas
P             Trent Fontenot                  McNeese                            Sr.          Nederland, Texas
P             Corey Gaconi                     Southeastern Louisiana   So.         Metairie, La.
U            Grant Devore                     Lamar                                  Jr.           Dallas, Texas
 
³ Three-time all-conference selection
² Two-time all-conference selection
 
All-Defensive Team
1B          Hunter Strong                    Central Arkansas               So.                        Sheridan, Ark.
2B          Samuel Capielano             New Orleans                      Sr.                         River Ridge, La.
3B          Gage Teer                          Nicholls                               Jr.                          Brandon, Miss.
SS           Tyler Depreta-Johnson    Houston Baptist                So.                        Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.
C             Alex Tucker                        Nicholls                               Sr.                         Denham Springs, La.
LF           Drew Avans                        Southeastern Louisiana   Jr.                          Alabaster, Ala.
CF           Bryce Johnson ²                Sam Houston State          Jr.                          Cypress, Texas
RF           Riley McKnight                  Sam Houston State          So.                        Klein, Texas
P             Cole Stapler                       Nicholls                               Sr.                        Prairieville, La.
 
All-Conference Honorable Mention
2B          Samuel Capielano, New Orleans; Lance Miles, Sam Houston State               
3B          Owen Magee, New Orleans
SS           Cullen Jozwiak, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Joey Morales, Nicholls; Aaron Palmer, New Orleans
C:           Dustin Duhon, McNeese; Alex Tucker, Nicholls
DH:        Blake Chisolm, Sam Houston; Hezekiah Randolph, New Orleans
OF:         Drew Avans, Southeastern Louisiana; Brandon Brintz, Houston Baptist;  Tristan Clark, New Orleans; Keaton Presley, Central Arkansas; Derek Scott, Abilene Christian; Dalton Stark, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
P:            Grant Anderson, McNeese; Rhett Deaton, McNeese; Tanner Driskill, Lamar; Tyler Gray, Central Arkansas Brandon Hagerla, Central Arkansas; Mike Hanchar, Nicholls; Carson Lance, Lamar; Tyler Starks, Stephen F. Austin; Christian Thames, Houston Baptist; Hayden Wesneski, Sam Houston