PINEVILLE, La. – On any Senior Day, Louisiana College baseball coach Mike Byrnes beams with pride as his soon-to-be-graduates walk the gauntlet of teammates on prior to their home game. That pride might swell to greater heights this year as Byrnes eight seniors will share their moment with some special guests.

This year the Wildcat seniors will be honored alongside local autistic children as part of National Autism Awareness month.

“It is an honor for us to host any event like this,” Byrnes said. “This is what LC Baseball is all about, giving back to the community in any way possible.”

Prior to a noon doubleheader showdown with Ozarks, the children will take the field with LC players for their own special moment. The senior players will wait until between games to have their moment with their parents and teammates.

And it is quite the collection of players. Five of the eight LC seniors are in their fifth year and half are academic all-conference performers.

There's a reigning All-American and American Southwest Conference East Division Player of the Year in shortstop Jordan Marks and five former All-ASC performers.

All eight are on track to graduate by December. 

“This has been a great senior class as far as leadership both on the field and off,” Byrnes said. “They've been great role models for our younger players and handle a lot of stuff on their own so that the coaches don't have to. That is a tremendous plus for any team. I know they will all go on to be successful in whatever career path they choose. It's been a privilege to have them in the Wildcat baseball program.”

As much affection Byrnes has for his seniors, the players have an even greater respect for one another.

“This has been a great group to work with,” fifth-year pitcher Justin Reed said. “Every one of them is a hard worker who does things the right way on and off the field. I love and respect all of them.”

Jordan Meisner, a senior pitcher who will graduate cum laude in May with a degree in broadcast journalism, added, “(Senior Day) will be a special moment for all of us. It is an honor and a privilege for each us to have been a part of this program. It's a dream I've had since I was four years old, to follow in my dad's footsteps and attend Louisiana College while playing baseball.”

No to be lost in the shuffle, this weekend's games are critical for the Wildcats as they continue a push for the postseason.

Currently LC has an overall record of 13-17 with most of those losses coming out of conference and to top notch competition. Among the losses are a road game at LSU (No. 5 in NCAA Division I), two losses to LSU-Shreveport ( No. 1 in the NAIA), a 1-0 loss to Trinity (No. 4 in NCAA Division III) and a 2-1 loss to defending ASC Champion Concordia.

In ASC East Division play, though, LC is 6-6 and with a one-game lead and a tiebreaker advantage over fourth-place LeTourneau. To make the conference tournament, the Wildcats must finish in the top four in the East.

“It's a big weekend for us,” Reed said. “They're all big when you're trying to get into the postseason. Hopefully we can come out of the Ozarks series with a couple of wins and with some momentum heading into the last weekend of the season.”

2012 Louisiana College Baseball Seniors:

Steven Bowman, OF, Hammond, La. – Fifth-year senior  and two-year starter. Bowman has started all 30 games for LC, 29 in left field. Batting .245 with 13 runs scored and 10 RBI and .385 on-base percentage.

Colton Cole, 2B, Forth Worth, Texas – Actually just a junior on the field but is graduating a year early from LC's business program. Has batted .6667 in five games played.

Josh Foster, P, Houma, La. – Fifth-year senior has been limited this season due to injured throwing shoulder. No earned runs in two appearances.

Dustin Fulks, P, Simpson, La. – Fifth-year senior and former high school standout in Cenla, Fulks has the best ERA of LC regulars (2.95). Overall record of 4-2 with a complete-game 2-hitter this season. Has struck out 30 on the year, third-highest on the team.

Jordan Marks, SS, Alexandria, La. – Fifth-year senior and former high school standout in Cenla, the LSU-Alexandria transfer became only second LC baseball player in history to be named a D-III All-American. The 2011 American Southwest Conference East Division Player of the Year, Marks currently leads the team with a .330 batting average with 19 runs scored, 11 doubles and five homeruns. Also, the team's closer, Marks has registered four saves in seven appearances.

Jordan Meisner, P, Baton Rouge, La. – Soon-to-be cum laude graduate and three-time Academic All-Conference performer has balanced his senior year as a middle reliever with his career as a broadcast journalist with KALB-TV.

Justin Reed, P, Kinder, La. – Fifth-year senior has battled injuries each of the last three years but has still managed to rank among the top pitchers on the staff. LC's Friday-night starter, Reed has a 3-3 record with a 3.45 ERA and 32 strikeouts (second most on the team).

Greg Uzee, P, Gretna, La. – Has battled nagging shoulder injury and overcome surgeries to contribute as a fifth-year senior. A multiple-time Academic All-Conference performer, Uzee was part of a combined three-hitter earlier this season. In his six innings of that game, he allowed no hits.