UT Tyler senior catcher
Cole Ketzner claimed Lone Star Conference Baseball Player of the Year honors to highlight the league’s baseball postseason awards, which were announced by league officials on Wednesday (May 6) at the championship banquet in Tyler, Texas.
Ketzner, who is from Magnolia, Texas, is hitting .399 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and a league-leading 62 RBI. In addition to his homers, he also ranks in the top 3 in the LSC in slugging percentage (.709) and OPS (1.214). Ketzner has reached base at a .505 clip. On defense, he has made just one error and thrown out six baserunners.
Ketzner’s teammate
Julio Garcia was named LSC Pitcher of the Year. The senior right-hander is 8-2 with a conference-best 2.55 ERA. He has logged three complete games – one shutout – and walked just nine batters over 60 innings. Garcia has 48 strikeouts – 16 looking.
UT Dallas junior outfielder
Chris Benavidez took Newcomer of the Year honors after hitting .418 with 10 home runs, 15 doubles and 49 RBI.
UT Permian Basin outfielder
Daylon Jefcoats was voted LSC Freshman of the Year after hitting .365 with nine home runs, two triples and 11 doubles.
Ketzner, Garcia, Benavidez and Jefcoats were all LSC First Team All-Conference selections.
UT Tyler won the Coaching Staff of the Year award after guiding 40 victories and the first LSC regular season title in program history. The Patriots’ staff is comprised of head coach Brent Porche, associate head coach Taylor White, assistant coach Jeff Robinson, turf manager Wade Pope and graduate assistant Baylor Battles.
Overall, 49 student-athletes were honored by the all-conference program. The awards are determined by vote of the LSC baseball head coaches.
2026 LSC BASEBALL ALL-CONFERENCE AWARDS
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Player of the Year: Cole Ketzner, UT Tyler
Pitcher of the Year: Julio Garcia, UT Tyler
Newcomer of the Year: Chris Benavidez, UT Dallas
Freshman of the Year: Daylon Jefcoats, UT Permian Basin
Coaching Staff of the Year: UT Tyler -- Brent Porche, Taylor White, Jeff Robinson, Wade Pope, Baylor Battles
ALL-CONFERENCE
First Team
| Name |
School |
Pos. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
| Julio Garcia |
UT Tyler |
SP |
Sr. |
Baytown, Texas |
| Connor Freeman |
St. Edward’s |
SP |
Jr. |
Austin, Texas |
| Aaron Rubio |
Lubbock Christian |
SP |
Jr. |
Las Vegas, Nev. |
| Caden Copeland |
UT Tyler |
SP |
Sr. |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Coleson Abel |
UT Tyler |
RP |
Sr. |
Kerrville, Texas |
| Cole Ketzner |
UT Tyler |
C |
Sr. |
Magnolia, Texas |
| Connor Cox |
St. Edward’s |
1B |
Sr. |
Longview, Texas |
| Chase Pendley |
Angelo State |
1B |
Sr. |
Prosper, Texas |
| Austin Beck |
Angelo State |
2B |
Sr. |
Allen, Texas |
| Jacob Police |
West Texas A&M |
3B |
Sr. |
Prescott, Ariz. |
| Gael Bernal |
UT Permian Basin |
SS |
Jr. |
El Paso, Texas |
| Chris Benavidez |
UT Dallas |
OF |
Jr. |
Bryan, Texas |
| Wyatt Cunningham |
Cameron |
OF |
Sr. |
Austin, Texas |
| Daylon Jefcoats |
UT Permian Basin |
OF |
Fr. |
Andrews, Texas |
| Leo Salas |
Sul Ross State |
OF |
Jr. |
Haltom City, Texas |
| Kole Kinnison |
UT Dallas |
DH |
So. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Jorge De Los Santos |
Lubbock Christian |
UTL |
Jr. |
Monterey, Mexico |
Second Team
| Gabe Cook |
St. Mary’s |
SP |
Jr. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Derek Maples |
St. Mary’s |
SP |
So. |
San Antonio, Texas |
| Cade Griffin |
West Texas A&M |
SP |
Jr. |
Willis, Texas |
| Garrett Nail |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
SP |
Jr. |
Sweny, Texas |
| Garrett Baumann |
Angelo State |
RP |
Sr. |
Poth, Texas |
| Nico Fernandez |
UT Dallas |
C |
Sr. |
Cypress, Texas |
| Eddie Saenz |
Texas A&M International |
1B |
Sr. |
Laredo, Texas |
| Tanner Hornback |
UT Tyler |
2B |
Jr. |
Lafayette, La. |
| Carlos Chavez |
UT Permian Basin |
3B |
Jr. |
El Paso, Texas |
| Payton Bush |
Angelo State |
SS |
Jr. |
Amarillo, Texas |
| Trent McCown |
UT Dallas |
OF |
Sr. |
Wylie, Texas |
| Hudson Grace |
Lubbock Christian |
OF |
Jr. |
Midland, Texas |
| Connor Clark |
UT Tyler |
OF |
Jr. |
Sherman, Texas |
| Trey Migl |
Oklahoma Christian |
OF |
Sr. |
Piedmont, Okla. |
| Brett Smajstrla |
Angelo State |
DH |
Jr. |
Pearland, Texas |
| Jake Alwine |
West Texas A&M |
UTL |
Sr. |
Glendale, Ariz. |
Third Team
| Eric Tenery |
St. Mary’s |
SP |
Jr. |
Kerrville, Texas |
| Karson Dunn |
Lubbock Christian |
SP |
Sr. |
Queen Creek, Ariz. |
| Nick Gray |
Angelo State |
SP |
Jr. |
Forney, Texas |
| Seth Taylor |
UT Dallas |
SP |
Jr. |
Austin, Texas |
| Joel Burgess |
St. Mary’s |
RP |
Sr. |
Atascocita, Texas |
| Blake Wilhoite |
Angelo State |
C |
Sr. |
Midlothian, Texas |
| Max Wiggins |
Sul Ross State |
1B |
Fr. |
Pleasanton, Texas |
| Albert Garza |
UT Dallas |
2B |
Gr. |
Santa Fe, Texas |
| Tate Greene |
Angelo State |
3B |
Fr. |
Allen, Texas |
| Jake Amoroso |
UT Dallas |
SS |
Jr. |
Austin, Texas |
| Jontae Hennesy |
Oklahoma Christian |
OF |
Sr. |
Phoenix, Ariz. |
| Kade Nathman |
St. Edward’s |
OF |
So. |
Cedar Park, Texas |
| Kaston Mason |
UT Tyler |
OF |
Sr. |
Rockwall, Texas |
| Eiji Sawamura |
Eastern New Mexico |
OF |
Jr. |
Kiyose, Japan |
| Luke Smith |
UT Tyler |
DH |
Jr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| Garrett Brooks |
St. Mary’s |
UTL |
Sr. |
Spring Branch, Texas |