The Liberty League has announced its 2026 Baseball major awards and All-League teams following a vote by the conference's 11 head coaches prior to the conference tournament.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ethan Fantel, Sophomore, First Base, Ithaca College
Ithaca College sophomore Ethan Fantel was recognized as the Liberty League Player of the Year. It is the first time a player from Ithaca has garnered the accolade. Fantel played in all 35 games for the Bombers this season and finished the year with a team-best .444 batting average, .742 slugging percentage, and .584 on-base percentage. He totaled 55 hits in 124 at-bats, including 14 doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. He scored 34 runs, plated 35, and totaled 92 bases. He also paced the Liberty League in batting average, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage, as well as RBIs and walks. He was also among the conference’s top 10 in home runs (T-2nd), hits (4th), doubles (T-6th), and hit by pitch (10th, 11). He closed out the year among Division III’s top 20 in on-base percentage (4th), RBI per game (1.66, 7th), walks per game (1.00, 15th), and batting average (20th).
PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Teck Nash, Senior, Hobart College
Hobart College senior Teck Nash was selected as the Liberty League Pitcher of the Year. He is the first Statesman to win the award. In 77 innings of work, Nash went 7-1 across 13 starts, compiling a 3.39 earned run average. He tossed three complete games, struck out a team-best 48, and issued only nine walks while holding opposing batters to a .262 average. He tops the Liberty League in innings pitched while ranking second in wins and walks. He was also among the conference’s top-10 pitchers in ERA (6th) and strikeouts (8th). In Hobart’s first-ever Liberty League Tournament game, Nash threw a season-high 116 pitches (83 for strikes). He allowed eight hits and recorded four strikeouts. With that victory, he broke Hobart’s single-season record for innings pitched and wins. In Division III, he is ranked seventh in total starts and 30th in strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.33) this year. Nash leads Hobart’s career list in total innings pitched (222.0), and he is currently third in career strikeouts (134) and career wins (13) as well as fourth in complete games (6).
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Jack O’Neil, Shortstop, Hobart College
Hobart College first-year Jack O’Neil was named the Liberty League Rookie of the Year. He is the first Statesman to claim Liberty League Rookie of the Year honors. O’Neil made an immediate impact for Hobart in his debut season, recording at least one hit in his first seven games. He has started 40 of 43 games this season and holds a .365 batting average to go along with 31 hits, 48 runs scored, and 30 RBI. The four-time Liberty League Rookie of the Week selection has 18 multi-hit games and scored three runs in a game six times. He leads the team and league in stolen bases with 27 on 34 attempts (.794). O’Neil is also among the league’s top 10 batters in at-bats (2nd, 156), runs scored (3rd), hits (3rd), and triples (T-7th).
COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR: Hobart College
The Hobart College Baseball Coaching Staff was tabbed the Liberty League Coaching Staff of the Year. Head Coach Brad Cook and his assistant coaches guided the Statesmen to a 30-13 overall record and a 9-5 mark against league opponents. Hobart made its first Liberty League Tournament appearance this year in the program’s fourth season since returning to varsity status. The Statesmen earned the third seed and advanced to the final day of the 2026 tournament. They also forced a decisive game seven before finishing as the tournament runner-up. Hobart earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, and it will be the program’s first appearance since 1992 and second all-time. Hobart paces the league in runs (360), hits (423), triples (22), RBI (319), walks (212), and fielding percentage (977). The pitching staff is ranked second in ERA (4.88) and innings pitched (345.0). In Division III, the Statesmen are second in triples (22), fifth in fielding percentage, 22nd in WHIP (1.38), 24th in shutouts (4), and 25th in walks allowed per nine innings pitched (3.42).