Coming off a season where The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team came up just short of qualifying for the LSC Championship – finishing in ninth place.

The Falcons enter the 2024 season looking to build on the momentum they ended last season with, in hopes of qualifying for the LSC Championship – which is predicted to happen this season according to the Lone Star Conference Baseball 2024 Preseason Poll, that was released today (Jan. 23). The Falcons are projected to finish in eighth place and had two players named as LSC players to watch.

Senior outfielder Ethan Flodstrom, started in 41 of 43 games he played, recording 10 doubles, two triples and one home run. Scoring 44 runs, drove in 43 runs, drew 23 walks, stole 10 bases and batted .407. Had 20 multiple-hit games with a hitting streak of nine games and 15 multiple run games and nine RBI games.

He also had the second best on-base percentage in UTPB history (.497) and was among the top 10 in batting average, hits (61) and RBI's and had a career-high four hits against Sul Ross State (Apr. 4). In the series vs. Oklahoma Christian (Apr. 28-30), he had eight extra base hits, scored seven runs, drove in 14 and batted .667 (12-of-18) with three hits in each game, which earned him Lone Star Conference Batter of the Week.

In the field he handled 118 chances without an error (one of only three players in the Lone Star to accomplish this). Those accolades resulted in him being named Lone Star All-Defensive and All-Lone Star Conference first team. Flodstrom also excels in the classroom resulting in him making the Lone Star Conference Commissioners Honor Roll for both semesters.

"We are excited to show the conference what we can do this year and keep taking steps forward to compete for a championship," said Flodstrom.

Senior Pitcher Creede Jeffers also was named as a player to watch. Creede in 18 appearances on the mound during the 2023 season recorded 6 wins, struck out 60 batters, had three saves and 1 shutout and 1 complete game in the 55.1 innings pitched.

Against  Eastern New Mexico (Mar. 25) he struck out a school record 12 batters and recorded his lone shutout and complete game of the season in the 7-0 victory over the Greyhounds.

While Flodstrom and Jeffers were the only players highlighted as players to watch in the LSC poll. Jeffers believes "We're ALL players to watch."

The Falcons will be home when they return to the diamond on Friday (Feb. 2), taking on St. Mary's at 1 p.m.,  in a four-game series that will take place over three days (Feb. 2-4).
 
2024 LSC BASEBALL PRESEASON POLL                      

Preseason Poll
Rank	Team	1st	Total
1	Angelo State	38	503
2	UT Tyler	1	450
3	St. Edward's		396
4	Lubbock Christian		388
5	West Texas A&M		379
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville		313
7	St. Mary's		257
8	UT Permian Basin		217
9	Eastern New Mexico		188
10	Texas A&M International		162
11	Oklahoma Christian		127
12	Cameron		97
13	UAFS		72