C-USA names Bates Player of the Year, two more from LA Tech to preseason baseball team

DALLAS – Conference USA named three Bulldogs to its Preseason All-Conference Team on Thursday morning – seniors Parker Bates, Taylor Young and Hunter Wells. Bates was also tabbed as the conference’s Preseason Player of Year as the Bulldogs were predicted second in the West Division in the Preseason Coaches Poll.

Bates, who has twice already been named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year before this season (D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball), adds yet another preseason honor to his name after posting a .422/.531/.891 (AVG/OBP/SLG) triple-slash line during the shortened 2020 season. The Tyler, Texas native led the C-USA in hits (27), RBI (28), home runs (eight) and slugging percentage (.891) a season ago.

Young, who was the sole Bulldog named to the 2020 Preseason All-Conference USA Team, started all 17 games and led the team with 21 runs scored. Young finished with a .309 batting average, five home runs, four doubles and a .420 on-base percentage.

Wells earns the all-conference nod after also starting all 17 games this past season, recording a .324 batting average and leading the team with 12 walks. The senior tallied 15 RBI and the seventh triple of his career, sitting just two away from tying the program record.

The Bulldogs were predicted second in the West Division in the preseason poll after finishing 11-6 in 2020. LA Tech earned two victories over top-25 opponents and went 5-1 against in-state foes. Head coach Lane Burroughs’ squad notched two first-place votes in the preseason poll. Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic topped the West Division and East Division, respectively, with 10 votes apiece.

Coaches selected Southern Miss’ Walker Powell as the C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Bulldogs ranked second in the league with three members on the all-conference team. Southern Miss topped the list with four honorees, three of were pitchers.

LA Tech opens its 2021 season on Feb. 19 against Notre Dame in Baton Rouge. First pitch for opening day is set for 1 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.

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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST
1. Florida Atlantic (10)
2. Old Dominion (1)
3. FIU (1)
4. WKU
5. Charlotte
6. Marshall

WEST
1. Southern Miss (10)
2. Louisiana Tech (2)
3. Rice
4. Middle Tennessee
5. UTSA
6. UAB
(first place votes in parentheses)

2021 PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Parker Bates, Louisiana Tech (Senior, OF)

2021 PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Walker Powell, Southern Miss (Senior, RHP)

2021 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
SP Gabe Shepard So. Southern Miss
SP Hunter Gregory Jr. Old Dominion
SP Walker Powell Sr. Southern Miss
RP Hunter Stanley Sr. Southern Miss
C J Paul Fullerton Sr. UAB
IF Derek Cartaya R-Sr. FIU
IF Brett Coker So. Middle Tennessee
IF Braden Comeaux Sr. Rice
IF Hunter Wells Sr. Louisiana Tech
IF Taylor Young Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Parker Bates Sr. Louisiana Tech
OF Bobby Morgensen Sr. Florida Atlantic
OF Gabe Montenegro Jr. Southern Miss
DH/UT Mitchell Hartigan So. Florida Atlantic
DH/UT Davis Sims Sr. WKU