For the first time in program history, two Portland Pilots baseball players, Will Labonte and Alex Via, have received NCBWA Freshman All-American honors, making the second team. This marks the second consecutive year the Pilots have had a Freshman All-American. Labonte and Via are the ninth and tenth players in the program to achieve this recognition. Their accomplishments highlight the team's continued growth under head coach Geoff Loomis, who has led the Pilots to this milestone for five seasons.

By the Numbers
  • Labonte recorded a 2.82 ERA, ranking 5th in the WCC and 38th nationally.
  • Via set a freshman record with 9 saves, ranking 2nd in the WCC and 26th nationally.
State of Play
  • The Pilots finished the 2026 season with a record of 27-25.
  • This is the fourth time in five seasons they've finished above .500.
What's Next

Looking forward, the Pilots aim to build on this momentum by continuing to develop their promising freshmen into key contributors for future seasons, potentially enhancing their competitive edge in the WCC.

Bottom Line

Portland Pilots baseball is on the rise, notably with outstanding performances from freshmen Labonte and Via, indicating a bright future for the program as they strive for even greater achievements in the coming years.