FRISCO, Texas – Southland Conference regular season champion McNeese saw seven players recognized after the conference announced its 2024 all-conference teams and superlative award winners Monday.
Southeastern led the way with eight all-conference selections after posting a league-best 42 wins during the 2024 regular season. The Lions prepare to host the conference championship beginning Tuesday in Hammond.
The conference named UIW utility player Victoria Altamirano its Player of the Year award while Southeastern outfielder Ka'Lyn Wastson won Hitter of the Year and McNeese's Shaelyn Sanders claimed Pitcher of the Year. Lamar's Shenita Tucker claimed Alexis Dibbley of McNeese took Freshman of the year. McNeese's James Landreneau was named the conference's coach of the year.
Altamirano, also a member of the all-conference first team, started in all 47 UIW games this season while leading the conference in hits (71), RBI (52) and runs (53). She ranked second in the SLC with a .452 batting average for the season while finishing second in home runs (12) and doubles (17.)
Watson fueld a potent Southeastern offense with a .400 average, 66 hits and 50 runs, all bests for the Lions. She belted five home runs and tallied 35 RBI on the season, becoming the second Southeastern player to win the award after teammate Bailey Krolczyk claimed the honor last year.
Sanders proved a consistent force in the circle for the Cowgirls, posting a 19-9 record with a 1.68 ERA. She conceded only 43 runs and 41 walks, becoming the sixth McNeese player to win the Pitcher of the Year award.
Tucker, a transfer from Florida Southwestern, led the Cardinals in hits (48) and finished second on the team in batting average (.308). She is the third Cardinal to earn Newcomer of the Year accolades.
Dibbley had the second highest batting average for the Cowgirls while driving in five home runs and 20 RBI. She is the second McNeese player to win Freshman of the Year (Erika Piancastelli, 2015).
Landreneau led the Cowgirls to their third straight regular season title, finishing with a five-game advantage in the standings and a 22-2 conference record. This is Landreneau's third time winning the Coach of the Year award and the seventh time a McNeese skipper has secured that honor.
UIW totaled five selections behind the eight from Southeastern and McNeese's seven. Nicholls finished with two players on the teams while A&M-Corpus Christi pinned one selection and Lamar secured an honor.
Player of the Year: Victoria Altamirano, UIW
Hitter of the Year: Ka'Lyn Watson, Southeastern
Pitcher of the Year: Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese
Freshman of the Year: Alexis Dibbley, McNeese
Newcomer of the Year: Shenita Tucker, Lamar
Coach of the Year: James Landreneau, McNeese
FIRST TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Corine Poncho |
McNeese |
So. |
Basile, La. |
| 2B |
Mariana Torres |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Pflugerville, Texas |
| SS |
Chloe Magee |
Southeastern |
Fr. |
Watson, La. |
| 3B |
Maddison Guillen |
UIW |
Sr. |
Pearland, Texas |
| C |
Bailey Krolczyk |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Corpus Christi, Texas |
| UT |
Victoria Altamirano |
UIW |
So. |
Los Fresnos, Texas |
| DP |
Audrey Greely |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Geismar, La. |
| OF |
Reagan Heflin |
Nicholls |
So. |
Richmond, Texas |
| OF |
Ka'Lyn Watson |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Missouri City, Texas |
| OF |
Alexis Dibbley |
McNeese |
Fr. |
Moss Bluff, La. |
| P |
Cera Blanchard |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Metaire, La. |
| P |
Shaelyn Sanders |
McNeese |
Sr. |
Splendora, Texas |
SECOND TEAM
| Pos. |
Player |
School |
Class |
Hometown |
| 1B |
Lexi Johnson |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Reserve, La. |
| 2B |
Ryleigh Mata |
UIW |
Jr. |
Santa Fe, Texas |
| SS |
Baylee Lemons |
UIW |
Jr. |
Magnolia, Texas |
| 3B |
Rylie Bouvier |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Santa Fe, Texas |
| C |
Bella Perez |
McNeese |
Fr. |
Houston, Texas |
| UT |
Haylie Savage |
HCU |
Jr. |
Anglewood, Texas |
| DP |
Crislyne Moreno |
McNeese |
Jr. |
Converse, Texas |
| OF |
Jillian Guiterrez |
UIW |
So. |
Pearland, Texas |
| OF |
Abby Andersen |
Nicholls |
Sr. |
Mesa, Ariz. |
| OF |
Cam Goodman |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Marrero, La. |
| P |
Primrose Aholelei |
A&M-Corpus Christi |
Sr. |
Honolulu, Hawaii |
| P |
Ellie DuBois |
Southeastern |
Sr. |
Shreveport, La. |
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