The Sam Houston State University baseball team walked away this season as Southland Conference champions with a record of 40-20 (20-9 SLC).
Although they are the SLC champions they lost in the postseason Houston Regional’s to Arkansas who 5-1. The team lost to Arkansas 5-4 then beat Prairie View 4-2 and Rice 4-1 before going to their final round against Arkansas. Coach David Pierce expressed his feelings towards his team to a postgame press conference. “I couldn’t be more proud of the team than I am right now…We are very proud of what we have done,” Pierce said.
Two seniors, Jake Arrington and John Hale were also present at the press conference.
“I hate that it’s over but we played with no regrets and we went out that way,” Jake Arrington, senior said. “Overall it was a great season that we had.”
Pierce went on to say that even though they have five graduating seniors that the “program is in great hands right now.” According to Pierce the team has three starting freshman and two sophomores. “Everything is moving in the right direction for us,” Pierce said.
Four team members were named Regional All-Tournament, John Hale, Jessie Plumlee, Colt Atwood and Jake Arrington. According to gobearkats.com the 11-player all-tournament team was selected by media members covering the regional tournament.
Anthony Azar, SHSU designated hitter, was named American Baseball Coaches Association All- South Central Region Team as a first team selection, according to gobearkats.com.
In the Houston Regional Arrington broke a 51-year-old school record. Arrington had 10 triples which beat the nine triple’s record set in 1961, set by Hootie Murray, according to gobearkats.com.
Another victory the team celebrates this year is senior pitcher Justin Jackson getting drafted to the Miami Marlins.
According to gobearkats.com this year was only the third time that the baseball team has had 40 wins in their 26 years at Division I level.
The team also broke another SHSU record by going through a 13 game winning streak.
This is the baseball team’s first SLC victory since 1989, and their seventh NCAA Division I Baseball Championships appearance, according to gobearkats.com
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