Five SAC Baseball Players Earn NCBWA All-American Honors

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association announced its 2026 Division II All-America teams on Wednesday, with five student-athletes from the South Atlantic Conference earning national recognition.

National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association recognized players from Catawba, Wingate, Lenoir-Rhyne and Newberry across the three All-America teams.

Leading the way for the SAC was Catawba's Brandon Crabtree and Wingate's Jalen Evans, who were both named to the Second Team. Crabtree, a junior first baseman from Pittsboro, N.C., hit .435 with 91 hits, 22 doubles, 14 home runs and 60 RBI during the 2026 season. Evans, a junior second baseman from Coats, N.C., batted .423 with 83 hits, 64 runs scored, 10 home runs, 52 RBI and 37 stolen bases.

Catawba relief pitcher Joe Burleyson also earned Second Team honors after posting a 2.12 ERA with 11 saves and 30 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched this season.

On the Third Team, Lenoir-Rhyne shortstop Matt Procopio and Newberry pitcher Nick Riedel collected All-America accolades. Procopio, a junior from Horseheads, N.Y., hit .436 with 78 hits, 15 doubles, eight home runs and 60 RBI. Riedel, a freshman from Tampa, Fla., finished the season with a 10-0 record and a 2.60 ERA while striking out 74 batters in 86.2 innings pitched.

2026 SAC NCBWA All-Americans

Second Team
1B – Brandon Crabtree, Catawba
2B – Jalen Evans, Wingate
RP – Joe Burleyson, Catawba

Third Team
SS – Matt Procopio, Lenoir-Rhyne
SP – Nick Riedel, Newberry