The 2026 season is here and so are the weekly SSBR awards. In 2024 we began bringing attention to individual performances turned in by those on small college (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) teams and junior colleges.

Each week we send out nomination forms to the head coaches of each team in the various divisions above. We ask them to nominate only 1 position player and 1 pitcher with their stats for the week and any context they feel would help their player. We look at those nominations and choose the player or pitcher in each category that we feel had the best week. Also, each player or pitcher nominated will get recognized even if they don’t win.

Below you will see the winners for Small College (NCAA D2, NAIA, NCCAA) and JUCO.

Let’s take a look at the winners for Week 4 (Feb 23-Mar 1).

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Small College

Player of the Week

Josh Bay, Southern Nazarene

The Shattuck alum is a redshirt freshman after spending a year at Murray State College. Bay got off to blazing start before cooling off the last few weeks.

He’s not so cold anymore. After seeing his batting average dip to .255, Bay raised his average 133 points last week in his 4 games. (Getting 13 hits in 16 ABs will do that.)

On the season, Bay is batting .388 with 9 HRs and 24 RBI in 18 games.

Bay’s line for the week

• (4 games) .813/.813/1.688, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 2 2B, 7 R

Other nominees:

• Connor Martin, USAO

Pitcher of the Week

Brian Ereu, USAO

Ereu is no strangers to the SSBR Weekly Awards as he has been named the Small College Pitcher on more than one occasion over the years. However, this is the first time in 2026 he’s garnered the award.

The NAIA Preseason All American had gotten off to a slow start as his team. This past weekend, however, Ereu and the Drovers showed why they are one of the top programs in the SAC.

Opening a big series with rival Southwestern Christian, Ereu set the tone for the weekend as he pitched a complete game shutout and the Drovers went on to sweep the Eagles.

For the week:

• G 1/GS 1; 1-0, CG, 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K

Other nominees:
– Logan Sandoval, NWOSU

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Junior College

Player of the Week

Carlos Martinez, Western OK State College

The Pioneers have been a solid team so far in 2026. They have not lost a series so far this season including a 3-1 series win vs North Central Texas College this past weekend (they also took care of Clarendon in the midweek).

Martinez was a huge reason for the Pioneers success this past week. Not only did he provide the average and on base percentage at the plate, he provided the power as well slugging 4 bombs himself.

For the week:

• (5 games) .500/.550/1.167, 4 HR, 10 RBI, BB, HBP, 7 R, SB

Other nominees:
– Eikel Joaquin, Carl Albert State
– Noah Smith, NOC Enid
– Michael Barham, Murray State

Pitcher of the Week

Kaden Murray, Carl Albert State College

The Vikings had been up and down over their first 12 games sitting at 6-6. Coming into their 4 game series with Labette, the Vikings were looking for some momentum as Region play is only 2 weeks away.

Murray did what he needed to do for the Vikes as he pitched a gem and threw a complete game in game 1 of the first DH and the series. He was so good, that he needed only 88 pitches in his 7 inning complete game.

• G 1/GS 1, 1-0, CG, 7 IP, 4 H, ER, 0 BB, 11 K

Other nominees:
– Jackson Papenfus, NOC Enid
– Tayte Dome, Murray State College
– Jelyem Sepulveda, Western

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