Buratt named to All-Louisiana Second Team

NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Sports Writers Association recognized three Loyola University New Orleans baseball standouts on its 2026 All-Louisiana Baseball Team on Saturday, headlined by junior third baseman Jaxon Buratt's selection to the Second Team. Pitcher Jake Cohen and outfielder Nathan McDonald also received votes, earning honorable mention honors. 

 

The LSWA All-Louisiana Team recognizes the state's top collegiate baseball talent across all levels of competition, from NCAA Division I programs to NAIA and NJCAA schools. Voting is done by each university's sports information director and state-wide media. 
 

Buratt, a Prairieville, La., native, capped off a standout season by earning First Team All-SSAC honors and being named the SSAC Championship MVP. His performance across the year established him as one of the top third basemen in the state, regardless of classification, and his Second Team nod places him alongside standouts from LSU, Louisiana, Louisiana Tech and Southeastern.
 

Buratt started 51 of Loyola's 56 games this season and led the team in batting average (.367), hits (65), doubles (11) and triples (4), while adding 50 RBI, 46 runs scored, two home runs and a .482 on-base percentage. He turned in seven three-hit performances and 13 two-hit outings, and crossed the plate in 30 games. In the field, Buratt earned SSAC Gold Glove honors at third base with a .940 fielding percentage, 96 assists, 46 put-outs and 13 double plays turned. 
 

It's Buratt's second career LSWA All-Louisiana mention after receiving an honorable mention nod after his freshman season in 2024. 
 

Joining Buratt in the Saturday announcement were two Wolf Pack teammates who earned Honorable Mention recognition. Cohen was recognized for his contributions on the mound, while McDonald earned his spot after a productive season in the outfield.
 

Cohen anchored the back of Loyola's bullpen as the team's closer, making 18 appearances and earning First Team All-SSAC honors along with a spot on the SSAC Championship All-Tournament Team. Cohen set a program season and career record with 13 saves, while posting a 2.16 ERA and striking out 28 batters in 25 innings. He didn't allow a run in his first eight outings (10.2 innings) and struck out at least one batter in 15 of his 18 appearances, with multiple strikeouts in 10 appearances. 
 

McDonald was Loyola's everyday presence in the field and at the plate, leading the Wolf Pack with 53 starts while earning First Team All-SSAC honors. He paced the team in OPS (1.063), at-bats (184), home runs (12), RBI (51) and slugging percentage (.598), while also hitting .348 with 64 hits, 10 doubles and a .465 on-base percentage. McDonald opened the season with an 11-game hitting streak that included seven multi-hit games, and he homered in four of his first eight games. 
 

Those three helped Loyola to a 37-19 overall record and the team's second straight SSAC Championship title. The Wolf Pack went back to the NAIA postseason, marking the fifth time in the last six years the program has played in the national tournament. 
 

With Buratt being the only student-athlete in program history to be honored twice by the LSWA, the program has had 14 total individuals tabbed to an All-Louisiana team or honorable mention selection. Twelve of those 15 selections have been made since 2021 and under head coach Jeremy Kennedy. 
 

2026 LSWA All-Louisiana Baseball Awards

Hitter of the Year: Aidan Mouton, LSU Eunice
Pitcher of the Year: Lane Fenske, LSU Eunice
Newcomer of the Year: Cody Brasch, Louisiana
Freshman of the Year: Lane Fenske, LSU Eunice
Co-Coach of the Year: Matt Deggs, Louisiana; Jeff Willis, LSU Eunice
 

First Team
P - Lane Fenske, LSU Eunice, Fr
P - Cody Brasch, Louisiana, Jr
P - Brock Lucas, LSU Shreveport, Sr
P - Eric Nachtsheim, McNeese State, Sr
C - Andrew Clapinski, LSU Eunice, Fr
1B - Trey Hawsey, Louisiana Tech, So
2B - Aidan Mouton, LSU Eunice, R-So
3B - Alex Perry, Southeastern, R-Sr
SS - Steven Milam, LSU, Jr
OF - Derek Curiel, LSU, So
OF - Peyton Woods, Southeastern, Jr
OF - Jason Wachs, Tulane, So
DH - Nico Rijo-Berger, Nicholls State, Jr
UTL - Carlos Sanchez, LSU Shreveport, Jr 
 

Second Team
P - Kade Linn, Louisiana Christian, Gr
P - Declan Dahl, Louisiana Tech, Jr
P - Brody Trosclair, Northwestern State, Fr
P - Dylan Marionneaux, Northwestern State, Jr
C - Cade Arrambide, LSU, So
1B - Lee Amedee, Louisiana, Sr
1B - Marshall Louque, LSU Eunice, Fr
2B - KJ White, Southern, Sr
3B - Jaxon Buratt, Loyola, Jr
SS - Connor Cuff, Southeastern, Jr
OF - Mason Bordelon, LSU Eunice, R-So
OF - Jake Brown, LSU, Jr
OF - Matthew Cody, Louisiana Christian, Jr
DH - Frank Randol, Delgado, So
UTL - Kade Dupont, ULM, R-Sr
 

Honorable Mention
P - Jake Cohen, Loyola-New Orleans; Andrew Herrmann, Louisiana
C - Colt Brown, Louisiana
3B - Colby Lunsford, Louisiana Tech
SS - Quaterrion Walton, LSU Shreveport
OF - Danny Barbero, McNeese State; Nathan McDonald, Loyola-New Orleans; Milan Obradovich, LSU Eunice; Davis Mauzy, ULM
DH - Hayden Stringfellow, McNeese State
 

Loyola's All-Time All-Louisiana Selections

Josh Borges, 2008 First Team
Luis Anguizola, 2016 First Team
Michael Toscano, 2019 Honorable Mention
Michael Calamari, 2021 Honorable Mention
Payton Alexander, 2021 Honorable Mention
Luke Clement, 2022 First Team
Allen Dennis, 2022 Honorable Mention
Brandon Mooney, 2023 First Team
Stephen Still, 2024 Honorable Mention
Jaxon Buratt, 2024 Honorable Mention, 2026 Second Team
Garrett Felix, 2024 Second Team
Brandon Mooney, 2024 Honorable Mention
Jake Cohen, 2026 Honorable Mention
Nathan McDonald, 2026 Honorable Mention

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