Press Release via LSUE Athletics
EUNICE, La. – LSU Eunice sophomore Blake Lobell has been named the 2024 NJCAA Division II National Pitcher of the Year, the National Junior College Athletic Association announced on Monday. Lobell was given the same honor by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA).
Lobell joins Zach Hester (2018) as the only two LSUE pitchers to earn the prestigious award. This latest award completes an incredible postseason haul for Lobell throughout this last month, being named All-Region 23, first-team All-American and the NJCAA Division II Gold Glove award winner for the pitching position – a first in LSUE history.
He was the 13th first-team NJCAA All-American in Bengal history and the fifth pitcher to receive that honor.
“Blake personifies the DDCS mantra of our team by his work ethic, leadership and desire to win in everything he does,” LSU Eunice Baseball Head Coach Jeff Wilis said. “Blake gave us a chance to win every time he was on the mound because of the work he did behind the scenes and is incredibly deserving of this award.”
One of five captains on the 2024 NJCAA National Championship Team, Lobell authored one of the most prolific single seasons for a pitcher in LSUE history. The sophomore ace led the team and all of the NJCAA with 129 strikeouts, the third most in a single season in LSUE history. Lobell would record five double-digit strikeout games, including a stretch from mid-March to early April that saw him punchout 10+ batters in four of five starts. He produced a season-high 13 strikeouts in a six inning out against North Iowa Area CC on March 15.
His 14-0 record was second most in wins in the NJCAA behind teammate Owen Schexnaydre, adding a 2.04 earned run average and tossing three complete games in 101.2 innings. Defensively, Lobell led the team in pickoffs with three while converting all eight defensive chances. He would hold runners on the basepaths as 5-of-11 stolen base attempts against Lobell were thrown out.
The right-hander was an All-Tournament team selection in the NJCAA Division II World Series, making two starts with a win and 14 strikeouts. During the Bengals’ postseason run, he totaled 24 punchouts in three starts with a 2.21 ERA.
The Southeastern Louisiana signee ends his LSUE career sixth in career ERA (2.33), ninth in wins (20) and seventh in strikeouts (177). Lobell was the lynchpin behind a Bengal pitching staff that set new season records in team ERA (2.43), strikeouts (635) and opponents’ batting average (.199).
Lobell was also a standout in the classroom, graduating this Spring with a Magna Cum Laude designation and a grade point average over 3.8 in his sophomore season. He was named to the NJCAA All-Academic Team in each of his two years on the Cajun Prairie.
He will join teammate Liam Watt on a NJCAA All-Star team next month, representing2 Team USA at the Haarlem Baseball Week in the Netherlands next month.
Lobell was a key cog in LSU Eunice’s run to the program’s eighth NJCAA Division II National Championship with a 56-8 record. The Bengals rolled through the Region 23 Tournament with an undefeated record, and finished the title run with a 9-3 win over Brunswick Community College.