compliments of www.thesunconference.com
TAMPA, Fla. – The 2026 All-Sun Conference Baseball Specialty Award winners were announced Wednesday afternoon following a vote of the league's head coaches.
Webber International's Keegan Martin was named Player of the Year after appearing in all 50 games this season. He ranked fourth in the Sun Conference in batting average and led the league in OPS, runs, hits, doubles, extra-base hits, total bases, walks, and on-base percentage, while also ranking third in slugging percentage.
Martin drove in 45 runs from the leadoff spot and recorded the fewest strikeouts among players with more than 160 at-bats, contributing consistently throughout conference play.
St. Thomas' Ismael Cordoba was named Pitcher of the Year after appearing in 13 games and logging 70 innings this season, including 38.2 in conference play. He posted a 2.31 ERA, allowing just 18 runs, and recorded 72 strikeouts for a 9.26 strikeouts-per-nine average.
Southeastern's Armani Cozza was named Freshman of the Year after finishing the regular season with a .402 batting average, leading both all freshmen and the Sun Conference. He totaled 53 hits, including 13 doubles, one triple, and four home runs, while driving in 41 runs. In conference action, Cozza ranked fourth in RBIs (30) and eighth in batting average (.389).
Webber International's Ty Mathews was named the Sun Conference Champions of Character award recipient for his leadership on and off the field. Mathews spent three months in Zambia in 2025 on a missions trip, serving as a nurse in hospitals and surrounding communities. During that time, he assisted in surgeries, helped deliver babies, and administered vaccinations through community outreach efforts.
Webber International's Collin Martin was named the 2026 Rick Smollak Coach of the Year after leading the Warriors to their first Sun Conference Regular Season Championship. Webber finished the regular season 35-15 overall and 21-6 in conference play, earning the No. 1 seed in the Sun Conference Tournament and a No. 8 ranking in the final NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
Under Martin's leadership, 10 players earned All-Sun Conference honors, including six First Team selections.
The 2026 Sun Conference Baseball Tournament kicks off Thursday, April 30 at 11:00 a.m. For more information on this year's championship, click here.
Specialty Awards
Award • Name • School
| Award |
Name |
School |
| Player of the Year |
Keegan Martin |
Webber Int'l |
| Pitcher of the Year |
Ismael Cordoba |
St. Thomas |
| Freshman of the Year |
Armani Cozza |
Southeastern |
| Champion of Character |
Ty Mathews |
Webber Int'l |
| Coach of the Year |
Collin Martin |
Webber Int'l |
First Team All-Conference
Position • Name • School
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
| C |
Steven Nitch |
Webber Int'l |
| C |
Eddie Novoa* |
St. Thomas |
| 1B |
Ty Mathews |
Webber Int'l |
| 2B |
Keegan Martin |
Webber Int'l |
| 3B |
Jeremy Garcia |
Keiser |
| SS |
Nathaniel Hopkins |
Southeastern |
| SS |
Jake Olsen |
Keiser |
| OF |
Daytan Biegel |
St. Thomas |
| OF |
Cooper Ciesielski |
Southeastern |
| OF |
Armani Cozza |
Southeastern |
| OF |
Jalen Martinez |
Webber Int'l |
| OF |
Don McKnight III |
Florida Memorial |
| SP |
Ismael Cordoba |
St. Thomas |
| SP |
Byler Reither |
Southeastern |
| SP |
Austin Taylor |
Keiser |
| SP |
Mason Veronezi |
Webber Int'l |
| RP |
Zach Hessler |
Webber Int'l |
Second team All-Conference
Position • Name • School
| Pos. |
Name |
School |
| C |
Gregory Leal |
Florida Memorial |
| C |
Matthew Merk |
New College |
| 1B |
Kyle Magdic |
Ave Maria |
| 2B |
Luis Morera* |
St. Thomas |
| 3B |
Cade Parry |
Southeastern |
| 3B |
Wilber Puertas |
Florida Memorial |
| SS |
Austen Jaslove |
Webber Int'l |
| SS |
Michael Kelly |
Ave Maria |
| OF |
Pheron Charlton |
Florida Memorial |
| OF |
Charlie Collins* |
Southeastern |
| OF |
Mike Cuello |
Webber Int'l |
| OF |
Tugg Hollandsworth |
Webber Int'l |
| SP |
Corbin Gilmore |
New College |
| SP |
Kyle Keyes* |
Keiser |
| SP |
Austin Peddycoart |
Southeastern |
| SP |
Ryan Young |
Ave Maria |
| RP |
Gregory Bori |
Webber Int'l |
* - Repeat All-Conference honorees from last year
