SLU’s Schwaner named Preseason All-American by NCBWA

HAMMOND, La. – The 18th annual National Collegiate Baseball Writers preseason All-America squad, which includes Southeastern Louisiana infielder Taylor Schwaner, offers an inside glance at the top NCAA Division I players scheduled to star in the 160th season of intercollegiate baseball.

A consensus preseason All-American, Schwaner was named to the NCBWA’s second team. He spent most of 2017 challenging for the national RBI crown. As late as May 11, Schwaner was third nationally in RBI behind eventual leader Gavin Sheets of Wake Forest and Mississippi State phenom Brent Rooker.

He wrapped up the season hitting .332, with 15 doubles, four triples, 16 home runs, 72 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Schwaner finished eighth nationally in RBI, leading the Southland Conference in home runs and slugging percentage (.668). He also finished in the conference’s Top 10 in runs scored (56), walks (43) and stolen bases.

A senior from Slidell, Louisiana, Schwaner turned in 19 multi-hit performances, including hitting for the cycle against nationally ranked UL Lafayette. He punctuated the feat with a walk-off home run in the 14th inning, one of two game-winners he hit in 2017. He also drove in multiple runs on 21 occasions.

The Southland Conference Player of the Year and a semifinalist for both the Dick Howser and Greg Olson trophies, Schwaner also earned All-Academic, All-Conference, All-State and All-Region honors this past season.

Twenty-two different conferences are represented on the NCBWA squads, along with 11 conference championships teams, 25 NCAA Regional squads, and 13 individuals who were their conference players or pitchers of the year in ’17.

Previous NCBWA All-America teams from 1996-2017 also have featured the likes of 3B Kris Bryant of San Diego, P Stephen Strasburg of San Diego State, 1B Mark Teixeira of Georgia Tech, RHP Mark Prior of USC, SS-2B Rickie Weeks of Southern U., 3B Alex Gordon of Nebraska, P David Price of Vanderbilt, C Buster Posey of Florida State, catcher Mike Zunino of Florida, P-1B A.J. Reed of Kentucky; OF Andrew Benintendi of Arkansas, and 1B-P Brendan McKay (2017 Dick Howser Trophy winner) among others.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.

FIRST TEAM
Pos. Name School Class
C JT Thomas Mercer Sr.
1B Alfonso Rivas Arizona Jr.
2B Nick Madrigal Oregon State Jr.
SS Braden Shewmake Texas A&M So.
3B Johnny Aiello Wake Forest Jr.
OF Travis Swaggerty South Alabama Jr.
OF Tristan Pompey Kentucky Jr.
OF Jake McCarthy Virginia Jr.
OF Matt Wallner Southern Miss So.
DH Logan McRae College of Charleston r-Jr.
UT Braden Zarbnisky West Virginia Jr.
SP Miguel Ausua Oral Roberts Sr.
SP Logan Gilbert Stetson Jr.
SP Steven Gingery Texas Tech Jr.
SP Sean Mooney St. John’s So.
SP Jared Janczak TCU Jr.
SP Trey Cumbie Houston Jr.
RP Michael Byrne Florida Jr.
RP Durbin Feltman TCU Jr.
RP Josh Hiatt North Carolina Jr.
RP Kenyon Yovan Oregon So.
RP Nick Sandlin Southern Miss Jr.

SECOND TEAM
Pos. Name School Class
C Joey Bart Georgia Tech Jr.
1B Seth Beer Clemson Jr.
1B Andrew Vaughn California So.
2B Wade Bailey Georgia Tech Sr.
SS Jeremy Eierman Missouri State Jr.
3B Taylor Schwaner Southeastern Sr.
OF D.J. Artis Liberty Jr.
OF Noah Cummings Oral Roberts Jr.
OF Jake Mangum Mississippi State Jr.
OF Brandon Gutzler Murray State Sr.
DH Kevin Milam St. Mary’s So.
UT Matt Lloyd Indiana Jr.
SP Tyler Holton Florida State Jr.
SP Sean Hjelle Kentucky Jr.
SP Casey Mize Auburn Jr.
SP Patrick Raby Vanderbilt Jr.
SP Brady Singer Florida Jr.
SP Konnor Pilkington Mississippi State Jr.
SP Nick Sprengel San Diego Jr.
RP Ross Learnard Purdue Sr.
RP Sam Bordner Louisville Jr.
RP Jake Mulholland Oregon State So.
RP Beau Ridgeway Texas Jr.
RP Brett Conine Cal State Fullerton Jr.

THIRD TEAM
Pos. Name School Class
C JJ Schwarz Florida Sr.
C Shea Langeliers Baylor So.
1B Luken Baker TCU Jr.
2B Brennon Anderson BYU Sr.
2B Ako Thomas Michigan Jr.
SS Tyler Frank Florida Atlantic Jr.
3B Sam Fragale Virginia Tech r-Sr.
OF Antoine Duplantis LSU Jr.
OF Niko Hulsizer Morehead State Jr.
OF Jackson Lueck Florida State Jr.
OF Zach Watson LSU So.
OF Steele Walker Oklahoma Jr.
DH Aaron Aucker Middle Tennessee Sr.
UT Luis Alvarado Nebraska Sr.
SP Kris Bubic Stanford Jr.
SP Matt Canterino Rice So.
SP Zach Hess LSU So.
SP Nolan Kingham Texas Jr.
SP Jackson Kowar Florida Jr.
SP Jon Olson UCLA Jr.
RP Naithen Dewsnap CSU Bakersfield Sr.
RP Troy Montemayor Baylor Sr.
RP Alex Padilla UIC r-Jr.
RP Dallas Woolfolk Ole Miss Jr.
RP Chris Rivera Long Beach State Jr.