TUSCON, AZ (January 6, 2019) – Lubbock Christian University baseball players Hill Alexander, Chandler Casey and Andrew Pratt were recognized by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper as Preseason Players to Watch in the South Central Region, the publication announced on January 4.
 
Pratt, who was named to the American Baseball Coaches Association All-South Central Region Second Team last season, was honored as a preseason All-American, while Casey was named a Player to Watch and Alexander was tabbed one of 13 Newcomers to Watch for the 2019 season.
 
The list of top players for 2019 was prepared by the American Baseball Coaches Association's NCAA Division II All-America committee, which is chaired by Rudy Garbalosa of Lynn University.
 
Pratt led LCU last season hitting .384 (second in the conference and eighth in the region) with 72 hits (second in the conference and eighth in the region), 17 doubles (tied for second in the conference and ninth in the region) and conference co-leading 12 home runs (tied for eighth in the region). The Albuquerque, N.M. native was also first in the conference with a .661 slugging mark (eighth in the region) and second in total bases with 125 (eighth in the region). Defensively, Pratt threw out 19 runners from behind the plate as a junior. He was named First Team All-Heartland Conference for his performance.
 
Casey was also recognized on an All-Region team at the end of the 2018 season, earning a spot on the Division II Conference Commissioner's Association Second Team as a relief pitcher. Casey was on the mound for 52.1 innings in a team-leading 18 appearances. He posted a 2.06 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in that time. In three starts, the Lubbock native had a 2.84 earned run average with one complete game. He was 4-1 overall on the season.
 
Hill Alexander is new to the Chaparral baseball team this season, completing his baseball career with Lubbock Christian after playing with Division I Dallas Baptist last season. An outfielder, Alexander played in 35 games last season with the Patriots, hitting .274 in 73 at-bats with five doubles, three home runs and 12 runs batted in. He also walked 12 times for an on-base percentage of .386. Prior to his time at DBU, Alexander played two years at Midland College, where he was an Honorable Mention NJCA Division I All-American as a freshman in 2016.
 
The Chaparrals will open their 2019 campaign on Feb. 1, 2019 in the Edmond 1^st Pitch Invitational hosted by Central Oklahoma. They will play their home opener the following weekend at 4 p.m. on Feb. 8 against Cameron University.