TYLER, TEXAS – UT Tyler baseball was well represented at the Lone Star Conference postseason awards banquet on Wednesday night, bringing home multiple major awards and a strong list of all-conference selections following a historic season.
The Patriots were highlighted by senior catcher Cole Ketzner, who was named the Lone Star Conference Player of the Year after an outstanding season at the plate and behind it. Ketzner becomes the first player in program history to earn LSC Player of the Year honors since UT Tyler's transition to NCAA Division II. He hit .399 while adding 12 homers, 13 doubles, and a league-leading 62 RBI. He reached base at a .505 clip and slugged .709, while also delivering defensively with just one error and 6 runners caught stealing. Ketzner was also named to the All-LSC First Team.
Senior right-hander Julio Garcia earned LSC Pitcher of the Year honors, adding to UT Tyler's dominance in the top awards. Garcia finished the regular season with a 8-2 record and a conference-best 2.55 ERA over 60.0 innings pitched. He recorded 48 strikeouts while issuing just 9 walks and tossed 3 complete games, including one combined shutout. Garcia was also a First Team All-LSC selection.
UT Tyler's success extended beyond individual accolades, as the Patriots coaching staff was named LSC Coaching Staff of the Year after guiding the program to 40 wins and its first Lone Star Conference regular season title in program history. The honor marks the first time the Patriots coaching staff has received the award since the program's transition to Division II.
The Patriots placed multiple players on the All-LSC teams, led by four First Team selections. Garcia, Caden Copeland, Coleson Abel, and Ketzner each earned First Team honors. Copeland turned in a strong season on the mound with a 3.83 ERA over 47 innings of work, while Abel was dominant out of the bullpen with 2.01 ERA over 40.1 innings where he struckout 54 oponnents.
UT Tyler added two Second Team selections in Tanner Hornback and Connor Clark. Hornback was a consistent presence in the lineup at second base, hitting .372 on the year and a team high .527 on base percentage, while Clark made an impact in the outfield with a .337 average and a program record 30 stolen bases.
Two more Patriots earned Third Team recognition, as Kaston Mason and Luke Smith were honored for their contributions this season. Mason posted .338 average with 43 RBI and 11 doubles, while Smith added a .361 average and 10 doubles as a key piece in the lineup.
Defensively, UT Tyler had two players recognized on the LSC All-Defensive Team. Dylan Blomquist earned the nod on the mound, while Connor Clark added a second honor in the outfield. Both players were perfect in the field, each recording a 1.000 fielding percentage.
The Patriots also excelled in the classroom, with Caden Copeland and Tanner Hornback earning spots on the LSC All-Academic Team, recognizing their success both on the field and academically.
In total, UT Tyler claimed two major individual awards, the Coaching Staff of the Year honor, four First Team selections, two Second Team picks, two Third Team honorees, two All-Defensive selections, and two All-Academic nods, capping off one of the most successful seasons in program history.
UT Tyler will now turn its focus to postseason play as the Patriots prepare to host the Lone Star Conference Tournament for the first time in program history, with play set to begin Thursday.
