NATCHITOCHES – Adam Oller long has been regarded as the Northwestern State baseball team's ace.
 
He now has been recognized as the best in the Southland Conference as well. Oller, a junior right-hander, was named Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year on Monday as the conference office announced its three all-conference teams and eight individual award winners.
 
"I'm very happy that everyone saw what we saw," fourth-year head coach Lane Burroughs said. "He leads the league in innings pitched. He's 8-0. He carries us deep into games. He's pitched on Friday nights for three years. His ERA leads the league and is in the top five in the nation. He's very good, and he deserves it."
 
This is the second individual conference award of Oller's career, adding to his 2014 Freshman of the Year honor. Oller becomes the first Demon to win Southland Pitcher of the Year honors since O.J. King in 2002.
 
Oller was one of four Demons named to the three teams and the honorable mention list, which were voted on by league coaches and sports information directors.
 
Joining Oller among the Northwestern State conference honorees were sophomore second baseman David Fry, a second-team selection, and junior center fielder Nick Heath, who earned third-team honors. Catcher Daniel Garner was an honorable mention selection. Fry is now a two-time honoree, after being named to the third team following his freshman season.
 
Oller posted an 8-0 record with a 1.31 ERA, which ranks fifth nationally. His 102 2-3 innings pitched paced the Southland Conference and are the ninth most in NSU single-season history. His 303 1-3 career innings pitched are the fourth most in school career history, and his 2.11 career ERA is the best in modern Demons baseball history.
 
Fry led the Demons with seven home runs and tied for third in the Southland Conference with 16 doubles while seeing time at three infield positions – second base, third base and shortstop. Fry also helped the Demons move within one of the school record for most double plays in a season.
 
Heath set the Northwestern State single-season stolen base record with 35, which gave him the league crown by 14 over Abilene Christian's Hunter Markwardt and Stephen F. Austin's Matthew Dickey. Heath added five outfield assists and ranked fourth on the team with 27 RBIs.
 
Garner finished second on the Demons in batting average (.303) and home runs (4). He led the Demons with 36 RBIs.
 
"All of those guys had good years," Burroughs said. "They'll all tell you they didn't have as good a year as they know they're capable of. I'm very proud of the way they represent Northwestern State and for garnering some postseason recognition. It's always great when your guys get the recognition they deserve. I watched those guys work their tails off on the field, in the weight room and in the classroom. To see them get recognized for their hard work is a good feeling for a coach."
 
In addition to Oller, other individual award winners were Southeastern Louisiana first baseman Jameson Fisher (Player of the Year), Lamar outfielder Reid Russell (Hitter of the Year), Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Kade Granier (Relief Pitcher of the Year), Southeastern Louisiana shortstop Brennan Breaud (Freshman of the Year), Stephen F. Austin outfielder Zac Michener (Newcomer of the Year), Abilene Christian's Russell Crippen (Utility Player of the Year) and Sam Houston State's Matt Deggs (Coach of the Year).
 
Third-seeded Northwestern State opens Southland Conference play at 9 a.m. Wednesday against McNeese. That game and all the games of the tournament will be televised on ESPN3 and can be heard on 100.7 FM KZBL with free streaming audio available on www.NSUDemons.com.
 
2016 Southland All-Conference Teams
 

First Team
Pos.	Name	University	Class	Hometown
1B	Jameson Fisher2	Southeastern La.	R-Jr.	Zachary, La.
2B	Carson Crites	Southeastern La.	Jr.	Amarillo, Texas
3B	Kyle Thornell2	Stephen F. Austin	Sr.	Magnolia, Texas
SS	Stijn van der Meer2	Lamar	Sr.	Rosmalen, Netherlands
OF	Reid Russell	Lamar	Jr.	Longview, Texas
OF	Garrett McMullen	Stephen F. Austin	R-Sr.	Longview, Texas
OF	Conner Fikes	Stephen F. Austin	R-Jr.	Rowlett, Texas
C	Bryndan Arredondo	Lamar	Jr.	Lubbock, Texas
C	Kyle Bracey	New Orleans	Sr.	Amite, La.
DH	Hezekiah Randolph	New Orleans	Jr.	Baton Rouge, La.
P	Adam Oller3	Northwestern State	Jr.	Conroe, Texas
P	Will Hibbs	Lamar	Sr.	Friendswood, Texas
P	Mac Sceroler	Southeastern La.	So.	Denham Springs, La.
Second Team
Pos.	Name	University	Class	Hometown
1B	Connor Crane2	McNeese State	Sr.	Parker, Colo.
2B	David Fry2	Northwestern State	So.	Colleyville, Texas
3B	Dakota Dean	New Orleans	Jr.	Crestview, Fla.
SS	Aaron Palmer	New Orleans	Jr.	Jesup, Ga.
OF	Bryce Johnson	Sam Houston State	So.	Cypress, Texas
OF	Lewis Guilbeau	McNeese State	Sr.	Austin, Texas
OF	Webb Bobo	Southeastern La.	Jr.	Prattville, Ala.
DH	Kyle Knauth	Nicholls	So.	Slidell, La.
P	Domenick Carlini	Southeastern La.	Sr.	Nesbit, Miss
P	Kaleb Fontenot	McNeese State	Sr.	Ville Platte, La.
P	Heath Donica	Sam Houston State	Jr.	Corsicana, Texas
Third Team
Pos.	Name	University	Class	Hometown
1B	Jake Nash	Lamar	Sr.	Palestine, Texas
2B	Chris Townsend	Central Arkansas	Sr.	Batesville, Miss.
3B	Logan Preston	Central Arkansas	Sr.	Texarkana, Texas
SS	Brennan Breaud	Southeastern La.	Fr.	Norco, La.
OF	Tyler Langley2	Central Arkansas	Sr.	Conway, Ark.
OF	Zac Michener	Stephen F. Austin	Jr.	Kennedale, Texas
OF	Nick Heath	Northwestern State	R-Jr.	Junction City, Kan.
C	Sam Roberson	Southeastern La.	R-Sr.	Dallas, Texas
DH	Daniel Midyett	Southeastern La.	Sr.	Shreveport, La.
P	Kyle Cedotal2	Southeastern La.	Sr.	Denham Springs, La.
P	Collin Kober2	McNeese State	So.	Lake Charles, La.
P	Riley Gossett	Sam Houston State	Fr.	Cypress, Texas

 
2Two-Time All-Conference Selection
3Three-Time All-Conference Selection
 
 
Honorable Mention – First Base: None. Second Base: Nicholas Ramos, Stephen F. Austin. Third Base: None. Shortstop: Tyler Kendrick, Stephen F. Austin. Outfield: Jacob Seward, Southeastern La.; Zacaries Hardy, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi; Jacoby Middleton, Lamar; Gavin Wehby, Nicholls;  Zack Gibson Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. Catcher: Daniel Garner, Northwestern State. Designated Hitter: Austin Nelson, McNeese State. Pitcher: Dylan Zarosky, Houston Baptist; Jimmy Johnson, Lamar; Daniel Martinez, New Orleans; Aaron Mason, Abilene Christian.
 
 
2016 Southland Conference Individual Awards
Player of the Year: Jameson Fisher, Southeastern Louisiana    
Hitter of the Year: Reid Russell, Lamar
Pitcher of the Year: Adam Oller, Northwestern State
Relief Pitcher of the Year: Kade Granier, Southeastern Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Brennan Breaud, Southeastern Louisiana
Newcomer of the Year: Zac Michener, Stephen F. Austin
Utility Player of the Year: Russell Crippen, Abilene Christian
Clay Gould Coach of the Year: Matt Deggs, Sam Houston State