Georgia Gwinnett College’s Payton Fort Named 2026 CAC Baseball Player of the Year

Georgia Gwinnett College junior Payton Fort headlines the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference baseball all-conference team as the league's Player of the Year, announced on Wednesday before the postseason championship tournament begins in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Joining Fort as special all-conference award winners were GGC senior Shane Anderson, as the Pitcher of the Year; Westcliff University junior Ryan Duron, as Newcomer of the Year; Florida National University's Alejandro De Armas and GGC's Vick Gann, as co-Freshmen of the Year.

Georgia Gwinnett's Tommy Goodale was named the CAC's Coach of the Year in his debut season as a head coach.

Fort leads the No. 2-ranked Grizzlies with 58 runs scored while batting .416 after starting all 49 games. He also has seven home runs and 58 runs batted in.

Anderson has a 6-0 record, with three saves, and 3.40 earned run average across 15 mound appearances. The right-hander has struck out 63 batters across 47.2 innings. He was named the NAIA National Pitcher of the Week in early March.

Duron ranks among the NAIA national leaders with 75 hits. He has a .426 batting average, nine home runs and 57 RBI while starting 46 games for the Warriors this spring.

De Armas was a force at the plate for the Conquistadors, batting .349 with eight homers and 32 RBI. He has started 37 games and posted a .586 slugging percentage.

Gann is batting .404 and has collected 38 hits and 23 RBI while scoring 40 runs. The outfielder also has been successful in 16-of-17 stolen base attempts.

Goodale led the Grizzlies to a 43-6 record and the top seed for this week's CAC Baseball Championship tournament. The team has been ranked No. 2 in each NAIA national poll this spring.

The five-team 2026 CAC Baseball Championship is scheduled to begin on Wednesday at Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

2026 Continental Athletic Conference Baseball All-Conference Team

Player of the Year: Payton Fort, Georgia Gwinnett College

Pitcher of the Year: Shane Anderson, Georgia Gwinnett College

Newcomer of the Year: Ryan Duron, Westcliff University

Freshman of the Year: Alejandro De Armas, Florida National University

Freshman of the Year: Vick Gann, Georgia Gwinnett College

Coach of the Year: Tommy Goodale, Georgia Gwinnett College

First Team

Starting Pitcher – Shane Anderson, Georgia Gwinnett College

Starting Pitcher – Peyton Castellow, Georgia Gwinnett College

Starting Pitcher – Cameron Witte, Westcliff University

Relief Pitcher – Angel Colon, Fisher College

Relief Pitcher – Carson Judd, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Grant Pohlman, Georgia Gwinnett College

First Base – Jack Varney, Westcliff University

Second Base – Payton Fort, Georgia Gwinnett College

Shortstop – Peyton Watts, Georgia Gwinnett College

Third Base – Ryan Duron, Westcliff University

Extra Infielder – Abel Gutierrez, Florida National University

Outfielder – John Batista, Fisher College

Outfielder – Jay O'Neill, Georgia Gwinnett College

Outfielder – Trey Smith, Georgia Gwinnett College

Designated Hitter – Patrick Morgan, Westcliff University

At-Large – Danny Gonzalez, Carolina University

At-Large – Cameron Gribble, Carolina University

At-Large – JJ Torrente, Simpson University

Honorable Mention Team

Starting Pitcher – Jasean Brown, Carolina University

Relief Pitcher – Max Miller, Georgia Gwinnett College

Relief Pitcher – Justin Guzman, Westcliff University

Catcher - Alejandro De Armas, Florida National University

Catcher – Kolby Wagatsuma, Westcliff University

First Base – Jackson Legg, Georgia Gwinnett College

First Base – Cayden Lee, Simpson University

Second Base – Peyton Horn, Carolina University

Third Base – Federico Moran, Hesston College

Third Base – Owen Hayes, Simpson University

Extra Infielder - Christopher Rivera, Florida National University

Outfielder – Nick Malvini, Westcliff University

Designated Hitter – Kaleb Wise, Hesston College

Gold Glove Honorees

Pitcher – Lance Bratlien, Georgia Gwinnett College

Catcher – Grant Pohlman, Georgia Gwinnett College

First Base – Kreyton Johnson, Hesston College

Second Base – Aden Munoz, Simpson University

Shortstop – Eric Mora, Simpson University

Third Base – Nathan Wesley, Carolina University

Left Field – Jay O'Neill, Georgia Gwinnett College

Center Field – Vick Gann, Georgia Gwinnett College

Right Field – Nick Malvini, Westcliff University

Champion of Character Award Winners

Jase Brooks, Carolina University

Evan Dalmau, Florida National University

Ozzie Patterson, Georgia Gwinnett College

Gage Hoyle, Simpson University

Haiden Letzing, Westcliff University