The 2026 college season will be here before you know it as the majority of our NCAA D2 squads will begin their seasons the last weekend of January.

In the past, we have looked ahead to the season with season previews, but this year we are changing it up a bit with a fall report that will also provide a look to the season ahead.

SSBR recently sent out questionnaires to each head coach of the small college (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) and JUCO schools in the state. We asked them to provide who their top returners, top newcomers, and top performers were in the fall. We’ve compiled that information into the fall report with an outlook for the upcoming 2026 season.

Today’s team: Carl Albert State Vikings

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Level: NJCAA Division 2

Region: Region 2

2025 Overall Record: 37-19

2025 Region Record: 13-11 (4th in Div)

Head Coach: Paul Pulley

Head Coaching Experience: 6 years (all at CASC)

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Top Returning Players

• Connor Cox, LF/RF: Coming off good FR year and good Fall; Projects to be everyday guy at the top of the lineup
• Kip Christian, 2B/3B: Good FR year and followed with a solid Fall; Can hit for power; Should bat 2-4 in lineup
• Rayian Torres, INF: Plus defender that can play anywhere in the infield; Grinder at the plate; Doesn’t strike out much; Consistent competitive ABs
• Tucker Wooten, C: Good offensive year as a FR; Chance to be big piece of lineup
• Janwill Gutierrez, CF: Plus defender; Potential leadoff; Good runner
• Blake Vanderburg, SS/RHP: Very good defender; Shown promise on mound in the Fall
• Kaden Murray, RHP: Up to 93 mph with command of 4 pitches
• Chase Stephens, LHP: Solid FR year while battling health issues; Healthy now, high upside
• Jaxon Spangler, LHP: Swing and miss stuff; command has improved from 2025

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Top Newcomers

• Zane Griggs, RHP (Dewey HS): Velo up to 93 with 2 quality secondary pitches; Command improved in Fall; Potential to be rotation starter
• Eikel Joaquin, SS (Centro Educativo Metas, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic): Good defender; plus bat
• Grayson Chancellor, LHP (Saginaw HS, Ft Worth, TX): Mid to upper 80’s velo; 3 pitches for strike; plus change up/splitter

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Top Performers in Fall

• Connor Cox
• Kip Christian
• Jaxon Spangler
• Grayson Chancellor
• Zane Griggs
• Janwill Gutierrez

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Outlook

Head coach, Paul Pulley returns for his 7th season in Poteau and once again, he has his Vikings looking to be a contender in Region 2.

Kip Christian, Connor Cox, Raylan Torres, Tucker Wooten, Janwill Gutierrez, and Blake Vanderburg all return giving the Vikings a good nucleus to build their lineup around. Coach Pulley says they could use 1-2 more physical bats, however.

Kaden Murray, Chase Stephens, Jaxon Spangler, and Vanderburg return for the Vikings on the mound showing promise of improvement from 2025.

Carl Albert State has been a model of consistency the last few years. With the returners they have coming back and what appears to be some talent coming in on both the mound and at the plate, don’t be surprised if the Vikings take it a step (or more) further than the Region 2 Tournament in 2026.

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