CCAA student-athletes claimed the first two National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) West Region Player of the Week honors for the 2026 season. Cal Poly Pomona's Jack Sanders was named the NCBWA West Region Player of the Week, and Stanislaus State's Austin Balentine earned the NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week.
 
Jack Sanders had the greatest single-game performance in CPP baseball history on Saturday, going 6-for-7 with six runs scored, nine RBI, and three home runs (including a grand slam) to tie four school records. His six hits and six runs scored also tied the CCAA single-game record. The Broncos swept Azusa Pacific in three games, seeing Sanders bat .533 with a 2.030 OPS. He would follow that performance by going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored in the series finale. Through opening weekend, Sanders leads the CCAA in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage, and OPS.
 
Austin Balentine delivered a dominant performance in Stanislaus State’s 2026 season opener on Friday, earning the win in a 5–0 shutout of Central Washington at Warrior Field. The right-hander fired six scoreless innings while facing the minimum, allowing no hits and no walks. The lone baserunner reached on a defensive error and never advanced past first base. Balentine struck out four on just 65 pitches while recording eight flyouts and six groundouts. His six innings pitched tied for the most in the CCAA during the opening weekend of the 2026 season.
 
Both Sanders and Balentine will continue their seasons this weekend after leading their teams to 3-0 starts. Cal Poly Pomona will welcome Colorado Mesa for a four-game series starting on Friday, Feb. 6. Stanislaus State will travel to Vanguard for a three-game set, also starting on Friday.