Press Release via LSUE Athletics
EUNICE, La. – The LSU Eunice Baseball duo of Blake Lobell and Dawson Willis were named to the 2024 NJCAA Division II Baseball All-American, the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) announced on Monday. Lobell, a first-team member, and the third-team selection Willis were part of the 36-man squad voted on by the NJCAA Division II Baseball Committee.
It’s the eighth time LSU Eunice has garnered multiple NJCAA All-Americans, the first since the Bengals grabbed a record three following the 2021 season.
“Blake and Dawson obviously played key roles in our Championship run, but their leadership and work ethic is what separates them,” LSU Eunice Baseball Head Coach Jeff Willis said. “They are two of our five captains this year and helped set the bar very high for what is expected of the team on the field, in the weight room, in the classroom, and in the community.”
Lobell becomes the 13th first-team NJCAA All-American in program history and the fifth pitcher to receive the honor.
The sophomore completed 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. His14-0 record was second most in wins in the NJCAA, behind teammate Owen Schexnaydre, adding a 2.04 earned run average, tossing three complete games in 101.2 innings.
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).
Willis was a main stay for the Bengals during his Cajun Prairie career, making 110 starts of 113 games at shortstop. The leadoff batter led NJCAA Division II in runs (90) and was top five in walks (70) and stolen bases (54). He would slash .329/.505/.525, all top four in the potent LSUE offense. He led the team in hits (72) and was second in runs batted in (52).
He paced LSUE with 21 multi-hit games and ended the season reaching base in the last 19 games of the season.
The NJCAA Division II World Series Most Valuable Player saved his best for last, leading the team with a .500 batting average (8-for-16) with seven runs scored and seven stolen bases while helping turn three double plays.
The University of Oklahoma bound infielder leaves the Cajun Prairie ranked tops in career runs (153), walks (101) and stolen bases (82), and third in on-base percentage (.492).
Both Lobell and Willis were named to the NJCAA All-Region 23 Team earlier this month to become eligible for the All-American team.
The Bengals now have 28 baseball student-athletes all-time to receive the All-American designation.
LSU Eunice captured 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.
2024 NJCAA Division II Baseball All-American Team
FIRST TEAM
| POS. | PLAYER | COLLEGE | CLASS |
| P | Cesar Morales | Frederick (MD) | So. |
| P | Blake Lobell | LSU Eunice (LA) | So. |
| P | Michael Carpenter | Madison (WI) | So. |
| C | Blaise Priester | Meridian (MS) | So. |
| INF | Colby Thorndyke | Brunswick (NC) | Fr. |
| INF | Aaron Piasecki | Kellogg (MI) | So. |
| INF | Landen Jonson | Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa | So. |
| INF | Hollis Porter | Pearl River (MS) | Fr. |
| OF | Easton Bryant | Chandler-Gilbert (AZ) | So. |
| OF | Harrison Bowman | Iowa Central | Fr. |
| OF | Kyle Koehler | Cuyahoga (OH) | So. |
| DH | Chris Arroyo | Pasco-Hernando State (FL) | So. |
SECOND TEAM
| POS. | PLAYER | COLLEGE | CLASS |
| P | Reigh Jordan | Wallace-Dothan (AL) | So. |
| P | Michael Savarese | Pasco-Hernando State (FL) | Fr. |
| P | Griffin Smith | Rock Valley (IL) | So. |
| C | Grant Pohlman | Lincoln Land (IL) | So. |
| INF | Copper Nicholson | Iowa Central | Fr. |
| INF | Coleman Parry | Miles (MT) | Fr. |
| INF | Miguel Cantu | Morton (IL) | So. |
| INF | Brady Thomas | Jones (MS) | So. |
| OF | Julio Guerrero | North Central Missouri | Fr. |
| OF | Bryce Fowler | Pearl River (MS) | So. |
| OF | TJ Williams | Heartland (IL) | So. |
| DH | Thomas Marsala | Hinds (MS) | So. |
THIRD TEAM
| POS. | PLAYER | COLLEGE | CLASS |
| P | Chance Key | Des Moines Area (IA) | So. |
| P | Luke Cooley | East Central (MS) | So. |
| P | Porter Conn | Lincoln Land (IL) | So. |
| C | Blade Carver | Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa | Fr. |
| INF | Andrew Holub | Wake Tech (NC) | So. |
| INF | Jackson Lindquist | Rock Valley (IL) | So. |
| INF | Tommy Poggi | Westchester (NY) | So. |
| INF | Dawson Willis | LSU Eunice (LA) | So. |
| OF | Derek Cerda | Western Oklahoma State | So. |
| OF | Corey Boyette | Heartland (IL) | So. |
| OF | Mo Little | East Central (MS) | So. |
| DH | Jake Radosevich | Lewis & Clark (IL) | Fr. |