TRAFFORD, Pa. – Following another Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship, the Washington & Jefferson College baseball team was well represented on the 2026 All-Conference Teams, which were released by the conference on Wednesday evening. Senior outfielder/designated hitter Josh Dezenzo (Alliance, Ohio/Marlington) and junior pitcher Brendan Cruz (Carnegie, Pa./Chartiers Valley) both picked up major awards, as Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year, respectively.

The All-PAC teams and award winners and determined through voting by the league's 12 head coaches. The award winners and teams were first revealed during an announcement show that aired on the PAC Sports Network.

Eight of the nine honorees received All-PAC laurels for the first time. Cruz and Dezenzo were joined by senior catcher/pitcher Luke Alvarez (Elizabeth, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) as First Team honorees. Senior pitcher Anthony Pass (Clinton, Pa./West Allegheny), junior second baseman Teddy Platt (Venetia, Pa./Peters Township), junior outfielder Andrew Miko (Portage, Pa./Portage) and sophomore shortstop Keegan Carr (Irwin, Pa./Norwin / Indiana University of Pennsylvania) landed on the Second Team. Sophomore first baseman Jack Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) and freshman third baseman Seth Rosenfeld (Ellicott City, Md./Long Reach) were tabbed with Honorable Mention status.

Cruz was voted PAC Pitcher of the Year honors following a remarkable junior campaign. This marks the second-straight year, and 11th time overall that W&J has received the PAC Pitcher of the Year award. Cruz leads all of NCAA Baseball in earned run average (0.93) and WHIP (0.71) regardless of division. He sports a perfect 10-0 record in 12 appearances this season. His 10 wins rank him tied for second most in Division III. Cruz is one of just three pitchers nationally with at least 10 wins and zero losses. He is also the conference leader in opponent batting average (.140), fewest hits allowed (33), runs allowed (10) and earned runs allowed (7). Cruz has allowed just four extra base hits in his 68 innings of work this spring. He has a pair of complete game efforts including his three-hitter in the victory over Grove City to open PAC Tournament play last Wednesday (May 6). Cruz also earned a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team for his efforts last week. 

Dezenzo is the fifth W&J winner of the PAC Player of the Year award in the last six years. He also earned First Team All-PAC honors for the first time after finding his way into the W&J record books. His 23 doubles are a single-season program record and rank him third in Division III. Dezenzo leads the conference in on-base percentage (.532) and doubles. He ranks second in the league in batting average (.423), OPS (1.328) and slugging percentage (.796). Dezenzo is also the team leader in runs scored (49) and total bases (109). His eight home runs this spring currently rank as fourth most in the conference. Dezenzo has 24 career home runs, which are the second most in program history. Overall, he had two or more hits in 18 games this year and reached base in 39 of the 41 games he played. This honor adds to a bevy of accolades this year for Dezenzo, who was a two-time PAC Hitter of the Week, two-time selection for D3baseball.com Team of the Week and the NCBWA Division III Hitter of the Week for April 8th. He had a hand in the Presidents securing the conference title last week, finishing with four hits, four RBIs and three runs scored in W&J's 4-0 run through the Tournament. 

Alvarez put together a historic 2026 campaign. The multi-faceted player helped lift the Presidents to the conference crown through his work as another power bat in the lineup, his defensive efforts at catcher and his role as the team's closer on the mound. Alvarez, the 2026 PAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player, ranks fourth in all of Division III with 16 home runs. The total established a new single-season school record earlier this month. Alvarez leads Division III Baseball with a .966 slugging percentage and home runs per game (0.48). Alvarez is also the team leader with 42 RBI and 1.443 OPS (on base plus slugging). Alvarez has six multi-home run games in 2026 including in Saturday's title round win over Grove City. Despite never recording an appearance as a pitcher in his first three seasons at W&J, the senior has compiled a stellar 0.56 earned run average, allowing just one run in 16 innings of work. Alvarez has recorded 22 strikeouts, issued just two walks and limited opponents to a .158 batting average. He has also registered four saves this season.

Pass secured All-PAC honors for the second time in his collegiate career. The senior compiled a 7-2 record with a 4.50 earned run average. Pass leads the team and ranks sixth in the conference with 57 strikeouts. Among qualified pitchers, he has issued a conference-low 10 walks. Pass matched his career high with a 12-strikeout performance in a victory over the University of Rochester on March 13.

Platt emerged as a steady reliable presence in the lineup. He compiled a .321 batting average to go along with 32 runs scored, 31 RBI and a team-high 16 stolen bases while starting all 43 games in 2026. Platt recorded a career-high four hits in a game one victory over Allegheny on April 4. In the win over the Gators, Platt hit for the cycle with a single, double, triple and home run in the game.

Miko has started all 40 games he has appeared in and has served as the team's primary cleanup hitter in the order. The junior has a .323 batting average with six home runs this spring. Miko has scored 41 runs and collected 36 RBI. He combined for five hits and seven RBI in the team's sweep of Hiram on April 11.

In his first year as a President, Carr has made an immediate impact for the Presidents as their leadoff hitter. Carr has put together a .365 batting average in 41 games (40 starts). The sophomore shortstop ranks among the top 10 in the conference in hits (54), runs scored (48) and on-base percentage (.475). Carr has drawn 28 walks and has added 10 stolen bases.

Anderson has locked down the first base position. The sophomore has a .333 batting average with 34 RBI and 29 runs scored. Anderson has slugged five home runs in 2026. He has reached base at a .440 clip. Defensively, Anderson has compiled a .997 fielding percentage with just one error committed this spring. This past weekend, Anderson earned a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team.

Rosenfeld secures All-PAC honors in his rookie campaign with the Presidents. He has compiled a .306 batting average over 40 games (37 starts). Rosenfeld has five home runs, 28 RBI and 34 runs scored. He has an on-base percentage of .413. He earned a spot on the PAC All-Tournament Team following a strong close to the tournament with six hits over the final two games.

Senior pitcher Nate Ratica (McKeesport, Pa./Elizabeth Forward) represented the Presidents on the PAC Sportsmanship Team. 

The Red and Black claimed their 17th conference title in program history with an 11-2 win over Grove City this past Saturday afternoon. The Presidents posted a dominant run through the tournament with a perfect 4-0 record and outscoring its opponents by a 33-8 margin. W&J will be making its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament. 

W&J enters NCAA Regionals with a 32-11 overall record. This marks the 14th time that W&J has surpassed 30 wins in a season, all of which have come under head coach Jeff Mountain. The Presidents will host NCAA Regionals at Ross Memorial Park later this week. W&J will take on UChicago to open regional play on Friday, May 15. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.