Payson’s Loos receives first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference honors for EIU

CHARLESTON, Ill. — The work isn’t done, but the remarkable season Eastern Illinois University’s Lucas Loos has put together didn’t go unnoticed by the Ohio Valley Conference baseball coaches.

Loos, a Payson Seymour graduate and former John Wood Community College third baseman, earned first-team All-OVC honors, the league announced Tuesday. Loos was named as a utility player, which is appropriate since he started at three different defensive positions along with designated hitter.

A senior who transferred to EIU from Oakland University, Loos will lead the Panthers into the OVC Tournament as the sixth seed. EIU (20-32) plays SIU-Edwardsville (20-33-1) at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the first round in Marion, Ill.

Loos leads the Panthers in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.369), slugging percentage (.791), hits (76), runs scored (55), RBIs (59), doubles (22) and home runs (21). He is one double and one home run shy of tying the EIU single-season record in both categories.

Entering the OVC Tournament, Loos is tied for the conference lead in doubles while ranking second in slugging percentage, home runs and total bases, third in batting average and runs batted in, and seventh in on base percentage (.443).

Loos put together a streak of 46 consecutive games in which he reached base safely. The stretch began when he went 3 for 5 with a home run and three RBIs in a loss to Nicholls State on Feb. 25, and it ended with an 0-for-5 showing against Lindenwood in the final regular-season game last Sunday.