NATCHITOCHES – Tyler Smith's career path has been one of steady improvement, one that landed him on the All-Southland Conference team at the end of the 2019 baseball season.
 
Smith will begin his senior season as part of the 2020 Preseason All-Southland Conference Team, being named to the second team that was announced Tuesday by the conference office.
 
A 5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder, Smith led the Demons with 10 home runs and 36 RBIs in 2019. He enters the 2020 season three home runs shy of 10^th place in Northwestern State career history and ranks 10^th in school history in career triples with seven. Analytically, Smith was the 146^th best hitter in the country in 2019, according to a study by the NCAA.
 
Smith enters his final season in a Northwestern State uniform within striking distance of the career top 10 in games played, at-bats, RBIs and total bases.
 
A talented defender, Smith has recorded 22 career outfield assists, including 12 in his sophomore season. He has tallied at least four outfield assists in each of his three seasons.
 
Smith was the lone Demon chosen on the two 14-player teams. Central Arkansas led all teams with five selections.
 
Northwestern State opens its 2020 season at home against Wichita State on Feb. 14. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
 
2020 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
 
First Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Ryan Flores*	UIW	1B	Jr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Nate Fisbeck*	McNeese	2B	Sr.	The Woodlands, Texas
Beau Orlando	Central Arkansas	3B	Sr.	Houston, Texas
JC Correa*	Lamar	SS	Sr.	Santa Isabel, Puerto Rico
Gavin Johnson	Sam Houston State	C	R-Sr.	San Antonio, Texas
Clayton Rasbeary*	McNeese	DH	Sr.	Rockwall, Texas
Colton Cowser*	Sam Houston State	OF	So.	Cypress, Texas
Sean Arnold*	UIW	OF	Sr.	Bryan, Texas
Brandon Bena*	Houston Baptist	OF	Sr.	Omaha, Neb.
Noah Cameron*	Central Arkansas	SP	So.	St. Joseph, Mo.
Will Dion	McNeese	SP	So.	Sulphur, La.
Kyle Gruller*	Houston Baptist	SP	Sr.	Cypress, Texas
Conner Williams	Central Arkansas	RP	Sr.	Conway, Ark.
Itchy Burts*	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	U	Sr.	League City, Texas

 
Second Team

Name	School	Pos.	Class	Hometown
Preston Faulkner	Southeastern Louisiana	1B	Jr.	Denham Springs, La.
Logan Berlof*	Lamar	2B	Sr.	McKinney, Texas
Anthony Quirion	Lamar	3B	Sr.	Dixville, Quebec, Canada
Reid Bourque	McNeese	SS	Jr.	Moss Bluff, La.
Chris Sandberg	Nicholls	C	Sr.	Los Angeles, Calif.
Lee Thomas*	UIW	DH	Sr.	Katy, Texas
Jack Rogers*	Sam Houston State	OF	Jr.	Spring, Texas
Tyler Smith*	Northwestern State	OF	Sr.	Franklinton, La.
Josh Ragan*	Central Arkansas	OF	Sr.	Irving, Texas
John Gaddis	Texas A&M-Corpus Christi	SP	Jr.	Corpus Christi, Texas
Gavin Stone	Central Arkansas	SP	Jr.	Lake City, Ark.
Luke Taggart	UIW	SP	Sr.	Portland, Texas
Jeremy Rodriguez	Stephen F. Austin	RP	Sr.	Cypress, Texas
Jake Dickerson*	McNeese	U	Sr.	Beaumont, Texas

 
* - Member of 2019 All-Southland Conference teams