Photo by: Diego Mazun
Seven Lancers Honored with WAC Postseason Awards
5/19/2026 2:00:00 PM | Baseball
MESA, AZ --- The Western Athletic Conference (WAC) announced the recipients of its baseball postseason awards on Tuesday. Seven Lancers have earned an all-conference designation, while three of CBU's finest have received major awards.
CBU enters the 2026 WAC Baseball Tournament in Mesa, AZ, as the second seed. The Lancers won a DI-era record 43 games this season and finished the conference season 11-7.
Highlighting the list of WAC award winners is sophomore shortstop Chris Ramirez. Ramirez has been named the 2026 WAC Player of the Year, becoming the third player in program history to win the WAC's highest honor (Nicholas Dumesnil, 2025; Damon Keith, 2021). Ramirez was also named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. CBU has won the WAC's top defensive honor in three consecutive seasons.
Ramirez, a First-Team All-Conference selection as well, enters the postseason batting .386 with seven home runs, 21 doubles, and 42 RBI. He ended the regular season with 91 hits, the second most in the nation, which ties the record for the most hits in a season during CBU's DI era.
Joining Ramirez with a major postseason award is right-hander Michael Malki. Malki was named the 2026 WAC Pitcher of the Year after finishing 11-0 with a 2.73 ERA and 105 strikeouts. Malki is the CBU DI era record holder for wins in a single season, and he enters the postseason tied for the most wins in the nation.
Malki, another First-Team All-WAC selection, is the third WAC Pitcher of the Year in CBU history (Liam Rocha, 2023; Logan Rinehart, 2019).
Cole Hansen has also been recognized as the WAC Freshman of the Year. Hansen is the third CBU student-athlete to win the award, joining Ramirez (2025) and CJ Culpepper (2021). The freshman, who was also named Second-Team All-WAC, enters the postseason batting .370 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, and 44 RBI.
Right-hander Zachary Yates was CBU's third First-Team All-WAC selection. The reliever recorded a team-high seven saves to pair with a 1.77 ERA in his first season at the Division I level. Yates struck out 53 in 40.2 innings of work.
The Lancers also had three Second-Team All-WAC selections. Joining Hansen are Connor Ross and Bryce McFeely. Ross paired his .321 average with 15 home runs and 49 RBI. McFeely also hit 15 home runs to pair with a .314 average and a team-high 57 RBI.
Ramirez and catcher Matt Chavez were selected to the All-Defensive Team.
The 2026 WAC Tournament will get underway on Wednesday from Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ. As one of the top two seeds in the field, CBU will begin its postseason charge on Thursday against either Utah Tech or UT Arlington.
CBU enters the 2026 WAC Baseball Tournament in Mesa, AZ, as the second seed. The Lancers won a DI-era record 43 games this season and finished the conference season 11-7.
Highlighting the list of WAC award winners is sophomore shortstop Chris Ramirez. Ramirez has been named the 2026 WAC Player of the Year, becoming the third player in program history to win the WAC's highest honor (Nicholas Dumesnil, 2025; Damon Keith, 2021). Ramirez was also named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second season in a row. CBU has won the WAC's top defensive honor in three consecutive seasons.
Ramirez, a First-Team All-Conference selection as well, enters the postseason batting .386 with seven home runs, 21 doubles, and 42 RBI. He ended the regular season with 91 hits, the second most in the nation, which ties the record for the most hits in a season during CBU's DI era.
Joining Ramirez with a major postseason award is right-hander Michael Malki. Malki was named the 2026 WAC Pitcher of the Year after finishing 11-0 with a 2.73 ERA and 105 strikeouts. Malki is the CBU DI era record holder for wins in a single season, and he enters the postseason tied for the most wins in the nation.
Malki, another First-Team All-WAC selection, is the third WAC Pitcher of the Year in CBU history (Liam Rocha, 2023; Logan Rinehart, 2019).
Cole Hansen has also been recognized as the WAC Freshman of the Year. Hansen is the third CBU student-athlete to win the award, joining Ramirez (2025) and CJ Culpepper (2021). The freshman, who was also named Second-Team All-WAC, enters the postseason batting .370 with seven home runs, 13 doubles, and 44 RBI.
Right-hander Zachary Yates was CBU's third First-Team All-WAC selection. The reliever recorded a team-high seven saves to pair with a 1.77 ERA in his first season at the Division I level. Yates struck out 53 in 40.2 innings of work.
The Lancers also had three Second-Team All-WAC selections. Joining Hansen are Connor Ross and Bryce McFeely. Ross paired his .321 average with 15 home runs and 49 RBI. McFeely also hit 15 home runs to pair with a .314 average and a team-high 57 RBI.
Ramirez and catcher Matt Chavez were selected to the All-Defensive Team.
The 2026 WAC Tournament will get underway on Wednesday from Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, AZ. As one of the top two seeds in the field, CBU will begin its postseason charge on Thursday against either Utah Tech or UT Arlington.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
INF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballMen's Basketball Highlights vs GCU
Saturday, February 08
2023 VB Hype Video
Thursday, August 31
