Junior pitcher Mac Sceroler was named to the All-Southland Conference first team and finished with a 9-2 record at the mound.
Jonathan Rhodes/The Lion’s Roar

The Lions baseball team almost met their goal of reaching the National Collegiate Athletic Association Super Regionals this season in the College World Series, but the program will be trying to take that next step forward in the post-season next year.

“We certainly hope to make it to the Super Regionals next season,” said Head Coach Matt Riser. “Sam Houston State was the first team in the Southland Conference to win an NCAA Regional and that should open the door for us next season to do the same.”

The Lions will lose six seniors from the team: Jacob Seward, Carson Crites, Derrick Mount, Webb Bobo, Ryan Byers and Cliff Hurst. Even though their final season did not end the way they wanted it to, they still enjoyed this season and hold on to their Lion pride.

“I think the state of the program now is that we expect to be in the NCAA Regionals,” said Byers. “It’s not just an accomplishment anymore. Coach has brought us to this level where we are expected to make it to the regional every year. We are expected to make a run for a national championship every year. Falling short of that is just not enough for us. We want more. We want to keep going.”

Riser appreciated the leadership the team had this season from the seniors and how they rallied the troops in each game.

“We’re gonna miss those guys, and their leadership is going to be hard to replace,” said Riser. “You look at what those guys did, batting and running bases this season. I’m very proud of their effort. I’m also proud of Mac for what he did pitching this season for us to play his junior season here after turning down the Major Leagues.”

Like any season, there was a turning point for the Lions midway where they decided to buckle down and get focused on their goal as a team.

“I think if you’re looking for a turning point in this season, it would be the loss at UL Lafayette,” said Riser. “We had already beaten the team two times earlier in the season. Naturally, we thought it would have been an easy win, but they shocked us. From that game on, we didn’t underestimate any opponent.”

The focus for the coaching staff during this off season will be to recruit players not only from high school but from other schools in order to keep the roster experienced. Riser believes that good recruiting will be just one part of helping the program reach the next level in the NCAA College World Series.

“We are looking at about 16 players to possibly recruit,” said Riser. “By getting some players already at the college level, we stay experienced and get some more of that leadership that we are losing this off season.”

Riser is proud of the legacy that the players have left behind this season and hopes the current players and players to come will continue this legacy and move the program to new heights next season.

“I could not thank these guys enough because of the way they have raised the bar and expectations,” said Riser. “Not only of our program, but of themselves as well if they continue to expect more of themselves and continue to achieve more in their life outside of baseball. That is what this leadership has done. It has paved the way for the guys behind to make sure that they come in and raise expectations and don’t be content with what is being expected of you now. In a year or two from now, when it is your senior year and you are sitting in the same spot, hopefully it’s for a national championship, but if it’s not, make sure you have raised the expectations for our program.”

 Senior Ryan Byers, far left, helped the Lions to their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament and an at-large bid.
Jonathan Rhodes/ The Lion's Roar  

Sophomore Brennan Breaud has been an infielder for the Lions for two years. 
Jonathan Rhodes/ The Lion's Roar