By: Jason Pugh, Assistant AD for Media Relations
NATCHITOCHES – Tyler Smith found himself right where he was a year ago only this time he has some familiar company.
For the second straight season, Smith was named to the Preseason All-Southland Conference Baseball Team, but this time, he is not the only Demon on the squad, which was announced Wednesday morning by the conference office.
Fellow fifth-year senior Marshall Skinner also earned preseason honors as both Demons find themselves part of the second team – Smith in the outfield and Skinner behind the plate.
A Covington High School product, Smith enters his senior season one home run shy of moving into the career top 10 and stands in striking distance of top-10 career marks in RBIs, hit by pitches and games played. His seven career triples stand 10th in school history.
During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, Smith homered twice in 11 games and led the Demons in slugging percentage .514. Smith was the lone Demon named to the 2020 Preseason All-Southland second team after finishing the 2019 season as a third-team all-conference selection.
Skinner earned his first career Southland honor after hitting .333 with a home run and 13 RBIs while starting all 16 games in 2020.
A Blinn College product, Skinner hit safely in nine straight games to open the 2020 season and finished with six multi-hit games. His home run came on opening night, breaking a scoreless tie in what became an 11-0 Northwestern State win against Wichita State.
The Demons open their 2021 season on Feb. 19 at Southern Miss, starting a three-game series against the Golden Eagles at Pete Taylor Park.
2021 Southland Conference Preseason All-Conference Baseball Teams
First Team
Second Team
* - Member of 2019 All-Southland Conference teams
