SHREVEPORT – LSUS baseball’s 59-0 record, the first college baseball team to ever not lose a game, will likely live in the college record books for the rest of time.

But now there’s a physical monument to the Pilots’ accomplishment after the 2025 baseball team was inducted into the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars on Thursday.

The feat is immortalized in concrete with a home plate featuring 59-0, which will be installed in the hall of fame’s home in the Red River District in downtown Shreveport.

“The continued recognition is special, but this kind of recognition mirrors what these guys did this year,” said LSUS coach Brad Neffendorf, who welcomed the returners back for the first week of class. “Talking about the 59-0 record, something that may never happen again.

“So to have this in the ground forever, we’re extremely proud of this program and these guys for doing this with the amount of things on their daily plates like class and weights and their personal lives. I’m also proud for the city and the university, so many people that support us to have a piece and a hand in what we were able to do.”

Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars president John Lieberman unveiled the concrete home plate, the concrete engraved name block, a new introduction poster that will sit in the kiosk at one entrance of “The Walk,” and awarded a handsome marble and agate trophy for LSUS athletics to display.

“The Walk of Stars was created as a way to recognize and honor people from this area who’ve made it big at whatever they do, and by doing so, have helped attract attention this area,” Lieberman said. “Inductees have often attracted national and even international attention to this area, and there’s no question that the Pilots have attracted a whole lot of it – more than money can buy.

“The Pilots are only the second group to be inducted, joining the internationally acclaimed Centenary College choir.”

Closer Lex Meinderts, who hails from the Netherlands, said he’s seen what this season has meant to Shreveport.

“It’s truly an honor to be recognized in this way after putting in all that work to have the season we did,” Meinderts said. “I can’t wait to see it installed in the Walk of Stars and be able to touch it and step on it.

“It’s been crazy to see the impact on this area and to be a part of a team that you love so much and that feels like family.”

LSUS capped its season by winning the NAIA national championship tournament in Lewiston, Idaho, finishing with a 13-7 win against Southeastern (Fla.) in the title-clinching game.

Pitcher Isaac Rhode was named NAIA Pitcher of the Year to lead a vast number of player accolades.

Five players earned NAIA All-American status and five were voted to the All-Louisiana baseball team that included NCAA Division I champion LSU.

Neffendorf won a slew of coaching awards, which includes the Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year given to the nation’s best baseball coach regardless of division.

Neffendorf may not talk about his own role, but athletics director Lucas Morgan wanted to make sure the head coach received his flowers.

“Brad brings it every single day as the leader of this program,” Morgan said. “He teaches exactly what needs to be taught for these guys to be great players and great human beings.

“He deserves a ton of credit for the way he’s run this program, and we’re so happy to have him as a part of this program. We look forward to what the future looks like with him continuing to lead us.”

Winning games of any sort, but particularly baseball, requires attention to the smallest of details.

LSUS players lent a hand in the set up and tear down of the Northwest Louisiana Walk of Stars press conference set up on the steps outside the LSUS University Center.

One more way that LSUS baseball is passing on the support they’ve received from the community.

While the 59-0 record may be set in stone, the winning streak could continue.

LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith told the crowd he can’t wait to see the 2026 Pilots add to that total.

“No one has ever done this before, and quite probably no one will do it again if you know baseball,” Smith said. “This is going to be immortalized in concrete, which is exactly where it belongs.”

“But (the winning streak) continues because when we start play again, we can keep going. How many you think Brad?”

The baseball season typically starts in late January, and as one of the top NAIA programs in a warm climate, LSUS tends to have a heavy home schedule early.

The 2025 Pilots played their first seven games at home and first 11 in the state of Louisiana.

ABOUT WALK OF STARS: Started in 1997, The Walk of Stars award was created to recognize individuals from northwest Louisiana who are distinguished in their professional and/or civic endeavors or who have brought recognition and attention to the area.  The honorees may come from any profession or industry including, but not limited to, athletics, music, acting, business, politics, education and community service. 

Members include sports stars like Todd Walker and Dak Prescott, musical talent like Trace Adkins and Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and professionals who excelled in their field like architects Samuel and William Wiener and attorney Johnnie Cochran. 

There are now 36 individuals and two groups.