TRAFFORD, Pa. - On Wednesday, the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) released its All-Conference teams and year-end awards. After appearing in the first PAC Tournament in program history and reaching within a game of the championship matchup, six different Cougars were honored, with three players earning 1st-Team All-PAC.
The Cougars had three players named to the All-PAC First 1st Team: seniors 3rd baseman Cooper Baxter, 2nd baseman Eddie Rueda, and pitcher Matt Bamford. Baxter was also named to the PAC All-Tournament Team after slugging his way to a .286 batting average, 3 home runs (including a grand slam), 9 RBI, and 6 runs scored over the Cougars' four tournament games. Baxter followed up an All-PAC 2nd Team nomination last season, finishing 2026 with a .340 batting average, a team-leading 1.038 OPS, 48 hits, and career-best marks of 13 doubles, 3 triples, and 5 home runs in a single season. The Butler, PA, native finished ranked in the top 10 in the conference in OPS, slugging percentage, home runs, and triples while setting the single-season program record with 45 RBI. Rueda wrapped up his impressive two-year Cougars career, holding several key program records. The 2025 PAC honorable mention wrapped up his senior season, amassing 100+ career hits and holding the single-season program record in hits (65) and doubles (15). Rueda finished 2nd in the PAC in hits, 3rd in doubles, and in the top 10 in stolen bases. The iMater Charter product led the 2026 Cougars in batting average (.365) and total bases (89), adding to a .926 OPS, 38 RBI, 15 stolen bases, and a .426 on-base percentage. Bamford's 2026 season was one of the best single seasons by a pitcher in Cougars baseball history. Bamford finished with a 9-3 record, 2 complete games, 69.2 innings, 94 strikeouts, and a 3.88 ERA. The Belle Vernon, PA native led the PAC in strikeouts, finished 2nd in both innings pitched and wins, and ended with the 6th-best ERA. He also set the program record for both single-season and career strikeouts and wins. Bramford capped off his final season in the purple and grey by surpassing the 100-career-strikeout mark.
Senior outfielder Angelo DeLeonardis was the lone All-PAC 2nd Team selection, capping his illustrious Cougars' career. The 2024 All-PAC 1st Team and 2025 All-PAC Honorable Mention member has the Chatham baseball record for most runs scored in a career (122) and most stolen bases in a career (70), stealing at least 20 bags in each of the last three seasons. The Saxonburg, PA native, capped up his senior season, batting .350 with a .961 OPS, 54 runs scored, 57 hits, including 14 extra-base hits, and driving in 76. He led the Cougars in stolen bases (23), walks, setting a career high for a single season (33), and on-base percentage (.495). DeLeonardis set career bests in hits (57), doubles (8), and RBI (27). The former Knoch High School Knight led the PAC in runs, was 6th in hits, 4th in walks, and 3rd in stolen bases during the 2026 campaign. DeLeonardis finished his four-year career in the purple and grey as one of the most decorated Cougars in history, surpassing the 150-hit milestone.
The Cougars had two players named as All-PAC Honorable Mentions: senior pitcher Cason Bennett and junior Gianni Cantini. Bennett was also named to the PAC All-Tournament Team after securing the Cougars' first playoff victory in program history. The Vandalia, OH standout, twirled a complete game shutout in the 2026 PAC Tournament opener, scattering 9 hits while striking out 6. Bennett finished his senior season with a 7-2 record, appearing in 16 games, going the distance 3 times, striking out 57, and earning 3 saves. Bennett led the 2026 rendition of the Cougars in ERA (3.45), appearances (16), and shutouts (1). His 73.0 innings pitched led the PAC, and he finished 5th in wins and 6th in strikeouts. He also set the single-season record in ERA and innings pitched. Junior pitcher Gianni Cantini earned an All-PAC Honorable Mention. Cantini pitched to career bests in ERA (4.06), innings pitched (62.0), and strikeouts (51). The Monongahela, PA native, finished the season with a 5-2 record, including 1 complete game, appearing in 15 games, and pitching to a 1.47 WHIP. Cantini surpassed the 100 strikeout milestone, finishing top-10 in the PAC in ERA, innings pitched, strikeouts, and wins.
The six honorees all contributed to the winningest team in Cougars history, finishing the 2026 season as the first Chatham baseball team to eclipse the 30-win plateau.
