WACO, Texas – As part of the Heartland's 20th Anniversary celebration, the league is honored to announce the 20th Anniversary Heartland Conference Baseball Team.
Honorees include Heartland record holders, all-Americans and Heartland individual award winners. In order to qualify for the team, student-athletes must have been awarded at least one Heartland Player of the Year or Pitcher of the Year, and one all-American honor or been awarded multiple Heartland Player of the Year awards or multiple all-American honors and have played for a full Heartland Conference member entering the 2019 season.
St. Edward's led all programs with eight players named to the team followed by St. Mary's with seven, Lubbock Christian, Newman, Rogers State and Incarnate Word with one.
20TH ANNIVERSARY HEARTLAND CONFERENCE
BASEBALL TEAM
JD Arrowood – St. Edward's
Arrowood was one of the top hitters in Heartland Conference history earning All-America honors with the Hilltoppers in back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016. Arrowood was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 2015 before returning to SEU for this final season.
Guillaume Blanchette – Lubbock Christian
Blanchette was stellar in his short time in the Heartland Conference helping the Chaps establish themselves as a conference power quickly in their transition to Division II. Blanchette was named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and earned All-America honors that same season.
Tyler Bugner – Newman
Bugner was one of the top hitters in conference history by the time his career came to a close earning Freshman of the Year honors in 2014 and Player of the Year honors in 2016 before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies as a junior in 2016. Bugner was also a two-time All-American in 2015 and 2016.
Patrick Colgan – St. Edward's
Colgan was named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year in 2007 and earned All-America honors the same season for the Hilltoppers.
Brandon Easterling – St. Edward's
Easterling was another in a long line of top-flight pitchers in conference history earning Heartland Pitcher of the Year honors in 2014 as well as All-America honors the same season. Easterling was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 2014.
O.J. Garza – St. Mary's
Garza was an instrumental part to the Rattlers' national title team in 2001 and was named an All-American that season. Garza was also named to the national all-tournament team by the NCAA that season.
Bradley Goldsmith – St. Edward's
Goldsmith was the Heartland Player of the Year in 2007 and earned All-America honors in both 2007 and 2008.
Jesse Gutierrez – St. Mary's
Gutierrez was an all-American in 2001 leading St. Mary's to the conference's only national title in baseball and was also named the DII Tournament MVP that season. Guttierez was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the 2001 draft advancing as high as Triple-A.
Kirk Jewasko – Incarnate Word
Jewasko was in the conference just two seasons but made a big impact earning Freshman of the Year honors in 2009 before being named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year and an All-American in 2010 for the Cardinals.
STEPHEN JOHNSON – St. Edward's
Johnson was a consensus first-team All-American in 2012 while with the Hilltoppers before being drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2012.
WES KOENIG – St. Edward's
Koenig was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2014 and was named an All-American the same season for the Hilltoppers.
TANNER LAWSON – St. Edward's
Lawson was named the Heartland's Pitcher of the Year in 2018 and was named an All-American the same season before being drafted by the Atlanta Braves.
Chris Miguel – Rogers State
Miguel was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2017 and was named an All-American the same season. Miguel was the first RSU baseball player to earn All-America honors for the Hillcats in the Division II era.
Tyler Migl – St. Mary's
Migl was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year in 2011 and was named an All-American the following season in 2012 for the Rattlers.
Dexter Moreno – St. Edward's
Moreno was named the Heartland Player of the Year in 2010 for the Hilltoppers and was also named a Division II Gold Glove winner that same season.
Carl O'Neal – St. Mary's
O'Neal was a two-time Heartland Pitcher of the Year winning the award in back-to-back seasons in 2012 and 2013. He also earned All-America honors in the same two seasons and was inducted into the Heartland Conference Hall of Fame in 2018.
Sammy Rivas – St. Mary's
Rivas was named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year in 2011 and earned All-America honors the next season in 2012.
Scott Shimek – St. Mary's
Shimek was named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year in 2008 and earned All-America honors for the Rattlers that same season.
Jeff Wigdahl – St. Mary's
Wigdahl was named the Heartland Pitcher of the Year in 2004 and earned All-America honors the same season for StMU.
