TUCSON, Ariz. (January 14, 2018) - Collegiate Baseball (@CBnewspaper) released their 2018 NCAA Div. II Preseason All-American Teams and Lubbock Christian University was recognized with Ricky Contreras (pitcher), Daniel Crooks (pitcher) and Ryan Rogers (designated hitter) each receiving Preseason All-American honors out of the South Central Region. The publication also named Keaton Greenwalt (infield) to the South Central Region Watch List and Ryan Johnson (pitcher) to the South Central Region Newcomers Watch List.
 
Contreras, a junior pitcher, completed a 10-2 season in 2017 with a 2.67 ERA. He made 16 starts (tied for fifth nationally), with seven going the distance to rank fourth nationally in complete games. The Lubbock, Texas native led the Heartland Conference and ranked 12^th nationally in victories on the mound with 10. A two-time Heartland Conference First Team selection and 2017 Heartland Conference Pitcher of the Year, Contreras was also an ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA All-Region recipient. He is 17-4 in his LCU career.
 
Crooks went 9-2 on the mound in 2017, with a 2.88 ERA leading to ABCA and D2CCA All-Region accolades. The Midland, Texas native led the Chaps in strikeouts (96) and in holding opponents to a .211 batting average. He allowed an average of 6.5 hits (led the conference) and 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings during the season to lead the team in each category. The 2018 campaign will mark his senior season.
 
Rogers was an ABCA, D2CCA and NCBWA All-Region selection last season. The senior from Littlefield, Texas claimed All-Conference honors in 2017 with a .357 hitting mark on the season. He led the team with 17 doubles (fourth in the conference) and 46 RBI (sixth in conference).
 
Greenwalt made 16 appearances (mostly as a defensive replacement and pinch runner) in his freshman season in 2017. The middle infielder had six at-bats on the season and produced a pair of hits. Each hit came with the bases loaded and he completed the season with three RBI. The Melrose, N.M. native had a .500 on-base percentage on the season.
 
Johnson redshirted last season for LCU. He played junior college baseball at Crowder College his freshman season (2011) and Southern Idaho his sophomore season (2013). At Crowder, he was a two-way player, hitting .333 with 28 RBI and also producing a pace of 1.4 strikeouts per inning, helping lead Crowder to the NJCAA World Series. Prior to his junior college career, the pitcher from Winnipeg, Manitoba played amateur baseball with St.James A's and on the Manitoba Junior National Team. He returned to Canada this past summer and competed with the Weyburn Beavers of the Western Major Baseball League (collegiate summer league), where he went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He had a league leading 41 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.
 
Contreras becomes the first two-time Preseason All-American nominee honored by Collegiate Baseball (the publication has also carried the name as College Baseball Newspaper and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper) in program history. Since joining NCAA Div. II, LCU has had five players honored with Preseason All-American honors. Last season, Contreras was joined by infielder Brandon Rix. The Chaps begin their 2018 season Feb. 9 at home hosting Regis (Colo.) for a four-game series.