WORCESTER, Mass. — Senior outfielder CJ Egrie was named the 2026 Patriot League Baseball Player of the Year while also earning a bid on the All-League First Team as the conference office announced postseason awards Wednesday, May 6 following a collection of votes by the league's head coaches.
 
Egrie, the 2026 Preseason Patriot League Player of the Year and 2025 Patriot League Player of the Year becomes the first two-time honoree in program history and only the fourth player to earn conference Player of the Year honors twice in the Patriot League. He was joined on the All-League First Team by 2026 Preseason Patriot League Pitcher of the Year, classmate and fellow team captain, right-handed pitcher Jaden Wywoda.
 
Junior outfielder Gianni Royer, a 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League selection, was named to the second team for the second consecutive season. He was joined on the second team by first time honorees, junior infielder Alex Sandell and sophomore right-handed pitcher Jake Lenahan.

Egrie has appeared in 40 games for the Crusaders earning a start in 39 games. He leads the Patriot League and ranks second in the NCAA in stolen bases (40), which is the program's single-season record and second in the nation in stolen bases per game (1.00). The Patriot League regular-season batting champion (.319), Egrie slashed .319/.458/.404 for a team-best .862 OPS pacing the program in walks (29), on-base percentage (.458), and stolen bases. In the Patriot League rankings, Egrie ranks second in OBP, fifth in runs (38), and fifth in walks (29). He has 29 walks to 18 strikeouts in 2026 and has a .981 fielding percentage in right and center field with one outfield assist. In Patriot League games, Egrie leads the conference in stolen bases (25), ranks second in average (.340), third in hits (33), fourth in OBP (.448), tied for seventh in runs (19) and tied for ninth in walks (14).
 
The Holy Cross all-time leading base stealer with 92 steals, Egrie ranks third in Patriot League history. He has six 3+ stolen base games in 2026 including one 4 steal performance and is the only player in the Patriot League with 3 or more steals in a game this season
 
Wywoda, the NCAA leader in complete games (4), is back on the first team for the second straight season. A two-time Patriot League Pitcher of the Week in 2026, Wywoda ranks third in the Patriot League in innings pitched (73.2), strikeouts (64), and batting average against (.202), fourth in earned run average (3.54), and tied for fifth in wins (5). In Patriot League contests, Wywoda ranks second in innings pitched (53.0), third in BAA (.195), tied for third in wins (4), fourth in strikeouts (52) and fifth in ERA (2.89).

One of the best pitchers in program history, Wywoda ranks second in team history in innings pitched (251.1), third in strikeouts (205), fourth in wins (21), fourth in games started (39), seventh in appearances (57), and is tied for 10th in shutouts (3). He recently became the third player in program history to reach 200 career strikeouts.

Royer earns his second All-Conference honor in 2026 after starting and playing in 33 games for the Crusaders, missing some time due to injury. The junior outfielder leads the team in slugging percentage (.520), is tied for the team lead in home runs (5), while ranking second on the team in doubles (9) and total bases (66), and third in hits (40). Royer has a trio of 3+ hit performances this season including a five RBI showing in a win versus Lehigh on April 25.

Sandell earns his first all-conference honor as a member of the baseball program. The junior second baseman is having a career season appearing in all 48 games for Holy Cross making 46 starts. Sandell is hitting .288 with a .374 OBP and a .471 SLG for a .845 OPS. He is tied for third in the Patriot League in runs scored (40), tied for fourth in hits (49), tied for fourth in triples (3), and tied for seventh in doubles (10) which all lead the team. He is also tied for the team lead in home runs (5) with Royer. Sandell has made numerous highlight reel plays at the keystone for the Crusaders in 2026 and has a .995 fielding percentage committing only one error in 183 chances while posting a 1.000 fielding percentage off 112 chances in league contests. In conference games, Sandell leads the league in runs scored (27), while ranking fifth in OBP (.441), fifth in OPS (.947), sixth in slugging (.506), tied for sixth in hits (28) and 10th in average (.315).

After a standout season as a freshman, Lenahan has picked up where he left off as a sophomore en route to a second team choice as a reliever. The right-hander leads the team in appearances (16) and saves (2), ranks second in strikeouts (50), innings pitched (46.0) and WHIP (1.30), third in BAA (.231) and fourth in ERA (4.30). He Is tied for fourth in the Patriot League in saves (2) and ranks ninth in strikeouts (50). In Patriot League games, Lenahan is tied for third in saves (2), ranks sixth in ERA (3.06) and seventh in BAA (.228). Fourteen of his 16 appearances came out of the bullpen. His last two appearances have been starts as he has pitched 12.0 innings and has posted a 1.50 ERA and 0.92 WHIP with 12 strikeouts to two walks.

The No. 4 seed Crusaders (21-27, 13-13 PL) hit the road to take on regular-season co-champion, No. 1 Army West Point (28-18, 17-9 PL) in a best of three Patriot League Tournament semifinals series starting on Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. on Doubleday Field.

2026 Patriot League Baseball Major Awards
Player of the Year – CJ Egrie, Holy Cross, Sr., OF
Pitcher of the Year – Brady Bendik, Navy, Jr., RHP
Rookie of the Year – Josiah Overbeek, Army West Point, Fr., RHP/OF/DH
Defensive Player of the Year – Thomas Schreck, Army West Point, Sr., SS
Gene Depew Coaching Staff of the Year – Bucknell (Head Coach – Scott Heather)
 
2026 First Team All-Patriot League
SP: Jaden Wywoda, Holy Cross, Sr.
SP: Matt Archibald, Navy, Jr.
SP: Brady Bendik, Navy, Jr.
RP: Hadley Maxwell, Bucknell, Sr.
C: Brandon Doubek, Lafayette, Jr.
IF: Chris Barr, Army West Point, Sr.
IF: Thomas Schreck, Army West Point, Sr.
IF: Aidan Quinn, Lehigh, Sr.
IF: Tyler Cripe, Navy, Fr.
OF: Michael Trommer, Bucknell, Sr.
OF: CJ Egrie, Holy Cross, Sr.
OF: Chris Klug, Navy, So.
At-Large: Josiah Overbeek, Army West Point, Fr.

2026 Second Team All-Patriot League*
SP: Andrew Berg, Army West Point, Sr.
SP: Brady Hoar, Bucknell, Fr.
SP: Sam Fairhurst, Lehigh, Jr.
RP: Jake Lenahan, Holy Cross, So.
RP: Owen Basso, Lafayette, Jr.
C: Owen Walewander, Lehigh, Sr.
IF: Lleyton Coupe, Bucknell, So.
IF: Alex Sandell, Holy Cross, Jr.
IF: Evan Brown, Navy, Jr.
IF: Victor Izquierdo, Navy, Sr.
OF: William Parker, Army West Point, Sr.
OF: Billy Fluharty, Bucknell, Jr.
OF: Gianni Royer, Holy Cross, Jr.
At-Large: Patrick Walsh, Navy, Fr.

* Additional student-athlete selected to the Second Team due to a tie in the voting

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