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Will Labonte hurls a pitch against Holy Cross.
2025 Steven Gibbons

Baseball

Will Labonte Named to 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Watch List

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Portland Pilots pitcher Will Labonte has been named to the 2026 National Pitcher of the Year Watch List presented by the College Baseball Foundation.

Labonte is the first Pilot pitcher to earn any kind of Pitcher of the Year recognition from CBF since Chris Clements in 2019. It is one of four awards presented by CBF, including the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year award. Another Pilots player, Trey Swygart, was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List in February.

Labonte is one of just five freshmen named to the watch list and one of just five players from the WCC. Labonte has allowed just one run in four appearances for Portland, posting a 1-0 record in 19.2 innings. He holds an ERA of just 0.46 with 15 strikeouts, with his ERA ranking second in the conference and 11th nationally. He is one of just three freshmen in the nation to have allowed one run or fewer, with his ERA ranking second among those three. He's thrown more innings than all three of those pitchers.

The Pilots sit at 8-6 on the year after sweeping four games against the Holy Cross Crusaders last weekend. This weekend they'll host the UConn Huskies for a three-game series at Joe Etzel Field. The series begins on Friday, March 13, with first pitch set for 6 p.m. Check PortlandPilots.com for tickets, live stats and video options.

About the College Baseball Foundation
The purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate, and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.
 
The College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made via this link on the organization's website.
 
The CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation's Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence.
 
About the College Baseball Hall of Fame
Each year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 175 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click here for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
 
The College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location in Overland Park, Kansas in 2026. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation's favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport's rich past, present, and future. 
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