DALLAS – Conference USA named three Bulldogs to its Preseason All-Conference Team on Thursday morning – seniors Parker Bates, Taylor Young and Hunter Wells. Bates was also tabbed as the conference's Preseason Player of Year as the Bulldogs were predicted second in the West Division in the Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Bates, who has twice already been named the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year before this season (D1Baseball and Collegiate Baseball), adds yet another preseason honor to his name after posting a .422/.531/.891 (AVG/OBP/SLG) triple-slash line during the shortened 2020 season. The Tyler, Texas native led the C-USA in hits (27), RBI (28), home runs (eight) and slugging percentage (.891) a season ago.
 
Young, who was the sole Bulldog named to the 2020 Preseason All-Conference USA Team, started all 17 games and led the team with 21 runs scored. Young finished with a .309 batting average, five home runs, four doubles and a .420 on-base percentage.
 
Wells earns the all-conference nod after also starting all 17 games this past season, recording a .324 batting average and leading the team with 12 walks. The senior tallied 15 RBI and the seventh triple of his career, sitting just two away from tying the program record.
 
The Bulldogs were predicted second in the West Division in the preseason poll after finishing 11-6 in 2020. LA Tech earned two victories over top-25 opponents and went 5-1 against in-state foes. Head coach Lane Burroughs' squad notched two first-place votes in the preseason poll. Southern Miss and Florida Atlantic topped the West Division and East Division, respectively, with 10 votes apiece.
 
Coaches selected Southern Miss' Walker Powell as the C-USA Preseason Pitcher of the Year. The Bulldogs ranked second in the league with three members on the all-conference team. Southern Miss topped the list with four honorees, three of were pitchers.
 
LA Tech opens its 2021 season on Feb. 19 against Notre Dame in Baton Rouge. First pitch for opening day is set for 1 p.m. at Alex Box Stadium.
 
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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

EAST
1.         Florida Atlantic (10)     
2.         Old Dominion (1)
3.         FIU (1)
4.         WKU
5.         Charlotte
6.         Marshall

WEST
1.         Southern Miss (10)       
2.         Louisiana Tech (2)
3.         Rice
4.         Middle Tennessee
5.         UTSA
6.         UAB
   (first place votes in parentheses)

2021 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Parker Bates, Louisiana Tech (Senior, OF)

2021 PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Walker Powell, Southern Miss (Senior, RHP)

2021 ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

SP        Gabe Shepard               So.       Southern Miss
SP        Hunter Gregory             Jr.        Old Dominion
SP        Walker Powell              Sr.        Southern Miss
RP        Hunter Stanley              Sr.        Southern Miss
C          J Paul Fullerton             Sr.        UAB
IF         Derek Cartaya               R-Sr.    FIU
IF         Brett Coker                   So.       Middle Tennessee
IF         Braden Comeaux          Sr.        Rice
IF         Hunter Wells                Sr.        Louisiana Tech
IF         Taylor Young               Sr.        Louisiana Tech
OF       Parker Bates                 Sr.       Louisiana Tech
OF       Bobby Morgensen         Sr.        Florida Atlantic
OF       Gabe Montenegro         Jr.        Southern Miss
DH/UT Mitchell Hartigan          So.       Florida Atlantic
DH/UT Davis Sims                   Sr.        WKU