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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. \u2013 Portland Pilots right-handed pitcher\u00a0Will Labonte continues to earn national recognition, being named a semifinalist for the College Baseball Hall of Fame 2026 National Pitcher of the Year award. Donate Today\u00a0 Follow Along With the Action
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\nLabonte’s the first Pilot to be named a semifinalist for the award since Brett Gillis in 2022. Labonte is one of just two freshmen out of 43 pitchers as well and one of just two that hail from the West Coast Conference. It is one of four awards presented by CBF, including the Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year and the Buster Posey Collegiate Catcher of the Year award. Another Pilots player, Trey Swygart, was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List in February.
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\nLabonte has been an ace for the Pilots in his first year of collegiate action. Labonte has appeared in 10 games for Portland with nine starts, throwing a team-high 51.2 innings with a 2.26 ERA and 45 strikeouts. Labonte currently ranks second in the conference in ERA and 33rd nationally, with his ERA ranking third among all freshman.
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\nThe Montreal native has allowed the fewest earned runs of any freshman with over 50 innings thrown and is one of just two freshmen nationally to have thrown that many innings. No Pilot true freshman has thrown as many innings as Labonte since Eli Morse in 2018. Labonte has twice earned WCC Freshman of the Week honors and is the only Pilot to have earned multiple weekly honors this year
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\nThe Pilots are sitting at 22-16 overall and 8-7 in WCC play. They will take on the Santa Clara Broncos on the road for a three-game series starting on Friday, Apr. 24. That game is set to start at 6 p.m. on ESPN+. Check PortlandPilots.com for live stats and video options.
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\nAbout the College Baseball Foundation
\nThe purpose of the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) is to preserve, elevate, and advance the game; to inspire the next generation; to teach those who love college baseball about its rich history and traditions; to celebrate those who make college baseball special; and to honor those who have come before us, and built the foundation upon which college baseball thrives today.
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\nThe College Baseball Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Support for the College Baseball Hall of Fame will help preserve the rich history of the sport for future generations. All donations to the College Baseball Hall of Fame are tax deductible and can be made\u00a0via this link<\/a>\u00a0on the organization’s website.
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\nThe CBF presents the Brooks Wallace Award (Nation’s Most Outstanding Shortstop), the National Pitcher of the Year Award, the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, the Skip Bertman Coach of the Year Award, the George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award, and the Wayne Graham Award for Teaching Excellence.
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\nAbout the College Baseball Hall of Fame
\nEach year, more than 200 representatives nationwide vote on the College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. The voting body is comprised of national and regional college baseball media, active and retired coaches, former players, former inductees, college baseball historians and members of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) collegiate baseball committee. The College Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 2006. Since that time, 175 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and contributors have been selected for induction. Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for a full list of College Baseball Hall of Fame classes.
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\nThe College Baseball Hall of Fame will establish a physical location in Overland Park, Kansas in 2026. Located within the iconic Museum at Prairiefire, the College Baseball Hall of Fame will serve as a shared community asset, deepening connections to the nation’s favorite pastime through a dynamic and ever-evolving space for college baseball enthusiasts to celebrate the sport’s rich past, present, and future.\u00a0
\nGet Your Tickets Now!
\nSecure your spot now for any upcoming Portland Pilots ticketed home event by visiting\u00a0PortlandPilots.com\/Tickets<\/a>\u00a0or by downloading the Portland Pilots App. \u00a0For group and fan experience package information, email\u00a0pilotsboxoffice@up.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\nFans interested in making a contribution to University of Portland Athletics can do so by\u00a0clicking here<\/a>.\u00a0Your gift helps our over 300 student-athletes compete at the highest level \u2013 on and off the field – in the rapidly changing world of intercollegiate athletics.\u00a0All gifts to Pilot Athletics are 100% tax deductible.<\/p>\n
\nGet the latest news and information about your favorite University of Portland athletic programs by visiting\u00a0PortlandPilots.com<\/a>. You can also follow along for the most dynamic coverage and team-centric content by following us on\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, liking us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>, and following us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n