Thornell Earns All-SLC Second Team Honors
5/18/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
FRISCO, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin junior Kyle Thornell has been named a second team All-Southland Conference selection, announced today by the conference office. Thornell earned the distinction for the designated hitter position, picking up the first All-SLC honors of his career.
In addition, sophomore outfielder Conner Fikes was named an All-SLC honorable mention selection for his contributions as well.
For the season, Thornell posted a .301 batting average, recording a .524 slugging percentage and a .412 on base percentage, ranking among the SFA leaders in each category. He set a new program and Southland Conference record with eight triples in 2015, sitting tied for first in the nation.
In addition to triples, Thornell also led the Lumberjacks in RBI (30), home runs (five), total bases (87) and hit by pitch (12). He ranked second in runs scored (27) and walks (20) while sitting third in hits (50) and fifth in doubles (6).
Thornell played his best in Southland Conference play as he led the SLC in batting average (.402), slugging percentage (.629), on base percentage (.512) and triples (six) in conference games. He also finished the year second in total bases (61) and sixth in hits (39) in SLC play, earning Hitter of the Week honors on March 30.
Fikes finishes the year with a .306 batting average with a .388 slugging percentage and a .390 on base percentage. He ranked third on the `Jacks with 23 RBI on the season and was fourth in hits (49), adding three home runs on the season.
In SLC play, Fikes batted .345 with 20 RBI on 30 hits, registering a .494 slugging percentage and a .423 on base percentage. He was second on the team in stolen bases in conference action, going a perfect 7-for-7, leading the team in sacrifice flies.
Thornell becomes the 26th player in SFA history to earn All-SLC honors and the 19th since the program was reinstated in 2006. It marks the second-straight season SFA has had its designated hitter represented on the all-conference team as Thornell joins former teammate Mackenzie Handel, a first team selection in 2014.
The All-SLC teams were selected following a vote of the league's head coaches and sports information directors.
2015 All-Southland Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
1B -- Kevin Carr, Southeastern Louisiana
2B -- Joe Provenzano, McNeese State
3B -- Kyle Reese, Nicholls
SS -- Connor Lloyd, McNeese State
OF -- Cort Brinson, Northwestern State
OF -- Jacob Seward, Southeastern Louisiana
OF -- Zach Nehrir, Houston Baptist
C -- Samm Wiggins, Houston Baptist
DH -- Daniel Midyett, Southeastern Louisiana
P -- Justin Sinibaldi, Nicholls
P -- Trevor Belicek, A&M-Corpus Christi
P -- Tate Scioneaux, Southeastern Louisiana
Second Team
1B -- Connor Crane, McNeese State
2B -- Jake MacWilliam, Sam Houston State
3B -- Brett Hoffman, Southeastern Louisiana
SS -- Stijn van der Meer, Lamar
OF -- Jordan Lee, A&M-Corpus Christi
OF -- Andrew Guillotte, McNeese State
OF -- Tyler Ware, A&M-Corpus Christi
C -- Chris Eades, Southeastern Louisiana
DH -- Kyle Thornell, Stephen F. Austin
P -- Kyle Cedotal, Southeastern Louisiana
P -- Jake Johnson, Southeastern Louisiana
P -- Grant Borne, Nicholls
Third Team
1B -- Spence Rahm, Sam Houston State
2B -- David Fry, Northwestern State
2B -- Mason Salazar, Lamar
3B -- Curtis Jones, Houston Baptist
SS -- Louie Payetta, Houston Baptist
OF -- Wesley Hoover, Central Arkansas
OF -- Tyler Langley, Central Arkansas
OF -- Ryan Byers, Southeastern Louisiana
C -- Brandon Provost, Lamar
DH -- CJ Webster, Northwestern State
P -- Adam Oller, Northwestern State
P -- Collin Kober, McNeese State
P -- Matt Danton, A&M-Corpus Christi
Honorable Mention -- First Base: Jake Nash, Lamar. Second Base: Carson Crites, Southeastern Louisiana. Third Base: Seeley Reed, Lamar; Matt Gallier, McNeese State. Shortstop: Kennon Menard, Southeastern Louisiana; Casey Thomas, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Outfield: Conner Fikes, Stephen F. Austin; Ryan Calloway, New Orleans; Justin Holt, Nicholls; Hayden Simerly, Sam Houston State; Bryce Johnson, Sam Houston State. Catcher: Collin Yelich, Sam Houston State; Travis Hull, Central Arkansas; Cameron Toole, McNeese State. Designated Hitter: Zacaries Hardy, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Pitcher: Josh Oller, Northwestern State; Connor Gilmore, Central Arkansas; Angelle Chase, Lamar; Matthew McCollough, Houston Baptist; Brandon Smith, Northwestern State; Ryan Deemes, Nicholls.
Player of the Year: Jacob Seward, Southeastern Louisiana
Hitter of the Year: Cort Brinson, Northwestern State
Pitcher of the Year: Justin Sinibaldi, Nicholls
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Stuart Holmes, Nicholls
Freshman of the Year: Joe Provenzano, McNeese State
Newcomer of the Year: Kyle Reese, Nicholls
Utility Player of the Year: Curtis Jones, Houston Baptist
Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Matt Riser, Southeastern Louisiana
-SFA-
