Georgia Gwinnett College junior Payton Fort headlines the 2026 Continental Athletic Conference baseball all-conference team as its Player of the Year, announced Wednesday before the postseason championship tournament begins on campus at the Grizzly Softball Complex.

Meanwhile, senior Shane Anderson earned Pitcher of the Year honors, Vick Gann shared the league's Freshman of the Year award, and Head Coach Tommy Goodale is the Coach of the Year in his debut season.

The team had eight first-team all-league honorees, two honorable mention selections and four Gold Glove winners.

Junior Peyton Castellow joined Anderson as first-team starting pitchers. Other all-conference award winners were senior relief pitcher Carson Judd, senior catcher Grant Pohlman, junior shortstop Peyton Watts, junior outfielders Jay O'Neill and Trey Smith and Fort at second base.

Senior relief pitcher Max Miller and junior first baseman Jackson Legg were honorable mention selections.

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.

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.

Castellow has a 6-0 record and 2.64 ERA across 12 starts. The left-hander has recorded 80 strikeouts in 64.2 innings.

Judd went 5-0 and compiled a 2.97 ERA in 13 mound appearances, including four starts.

Pohlman has 13 doubles and drove in 37 runs while starting 48 of the team's 49 games. He is hitting at a .336 clip and connected on four home runs.

Watts paces the offensive attack with a .442 batting average. The shortstop has scored 57 runs and had 16 doubles.

Smith leads the Grizzlies with nine homers and 61 RBI while also batting .371 in 47 games. He has scored 48 runs and recorded 13 doubles.

O'Neill has hit seven home runs while scoring 55 runs to go along with his .347 batting average.

The five-team 2026 CAC Baseball Championship is scheduled to continue through Saturday, May 2, at GGC in Lawrenceville.
 
Georgia Gwinnett College's 2026 Continental Athletic Conference Baseball All-Conference Team Honorees

Player of the Year: Payton Fort
Pitcher of the Year: Shane Anderson
Freshman of the Year: Vick Gann
Coach of the Year: Tommy Goodale

First Team
Starting Pitcher – Shane Anderson
Starting Pitcher – Peyton Castellow
Relief Pitcher – Carson Judd
Catcher – Grant Pohlman
Second Base – Payton Fort
Shortstop – Peyton Watts
Outfielder – Jay O'Neill
Outfielder – Trey Smith

Honorable Mention Team
Relief Pitcher – Max Miller
First Base – Jackson Legg

Gold Glove
Pitcher – Lance Bratlien
Catcher – Grant Pohlman
Left Field – Jay O'Neill
Center Field – Vick Gann

Champion of Character
Ozzie Patterson