FRISCO, Texas – Outfielder Balin Valentine of Northwestern State and LHP Hunter Hesseltine of Lamar were named the Jersey Mike's Southland Baseball Players of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

Valentine is the first Demon to collect the hitting award this season while Hesseltine is a second-time winner of the pitching award and one of three recipients from Lamar in 2024. 

Hitter of the Week: Balin Valentine, Northwestern State - Jr. - OF - Wylie, Texas (Brookhaven CC)
Valentine hit safely in all four games last week, extending his career-long hit streak to 11 games and collecting multiple hits in three of the four games. The junior drove in a career-high five runs in Tuesday's win against Grambling and followed that with a home run and four RBIs in Friday's series opener against HCU. Valentine has knocked in 22 runs in conference games, second in the league, and his five homers in league play are tied for third.

Pitcher of the Week: Hunter Hesseltine, Lamar - Jr. - LHP - Topeka, Kansas (Barton CC)
Hesseltine went seven strong, allowing seven hits and one run in his appearance against UIW on Sunday. The performance lifted the Cardinals to an SLC series sweep of their conference foe. 

2024 Southland Baseball Players of the Week