Contact: Nicholas Osterloo, Director of Athletics Communication, 630-637-5324

ABCA All-Region 8 Teams

May 26, 2026 - North Central College baseball added another round of postseason recognition Tuesday as three Cardinals were included on the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) All-Region 8 Teams. Second baseman Jackson Bland earned a First Team selection, while outfielder Parker Wyatt and pitcher/infielder Payton Diaz were voted to the Third Team.

Bland collected his second career ABCA honor after previously landing on the Third Team in 2024. He closed the season hitting .357 and led the Cardinals in OPS at 1.152, finishing with 55 hits, 48 runs, 43 RBIs, 11 doubles, eight home runs and seven triples. His 30 walks also paced the lineup, and he produced six three-hit games.

Diaz contributed on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he hit .361 with 13 doubles, three home runs and a .985 OPS across 40 games. On the mound, he emerged as one of the Cardinals' most reliable arms, striking out a team-high 42 batters in 53 innings and posting a 4-4 record in 11 appearances.

Wyatt turned in one of the Cardinals' most productive offensive seasons, leading the team with 59 hits, 17 doubles, 58 RBIs and 106 total bases. He hit .369 with 46 runs, 20 walks, eight home runs and three triples for a 1.112 OPS. He recorded at least one hit in 31 of 40 games and finished with a team-best 13 multi-RBI performances. His 58 RBIs rank 41st nationally in Division III.

As a First Team selection, Bland advances to the ABCA All-America ballot. The organization will announce its Division III honorees Thursday.