The 2026 Western State Conference (South) has revealed that Glendale (CA) boasts the highest number of alumni playing four-year baseball, with 27 former players currently active. This figure is part of a broader dataset showing that 160 alumni from nine colleges within the conference are competing across various NCAA divisions and other leagues. Despite Glendale's lead, Citrus achieved the best overall win percentage in the conference at .717, underlining a significant gap between win-loss performance and alumni transition rate.

By the Numbers
  • Glendale (CA) leads with 27 alumni in four-year baseball.
  • Citrus recorded a win percentage of .717 with 33 wins and 13 losses.
  • A total of 160 alumni are active across all nine colleges in the conference.
State of Play
  • Glendale (CA), Antelope Valley College, and LA Valley are the top three colleges for alumni in four-year programs.
  • Citrus has the highest win percentage despite only being seventh in total alumni.
  • The overall performance of all nine colleges varies significantly, with win percentages ranging from .175 to .717.
What's Next

As the season progresses, tracking the migration of players from JUCO to four-year programs will be critical for these colleges. Analyzing alumni success rates might drive recruitment practices and impact future performances. Insights from this data could also inform coaching strategies and funding for athletic programs.

Bottom Line

Coaches and athletic departments should consider both win-loss records and alumni transition rates when evaluating program success. Glendale's alumni success speaks to its recruitment effectiveness while Citrus illustrates a need for alignment between on-field performance and alumni development strategies.