Will Labonte, a freshman pitcher for the Portland Pilots, has cemented his place in program history after being named to the D1Baseball second‑team Freshman All‑American list, marking his fourth postseason All‑American selection and the first time a Pilots player has reached four such honors.
His 2026 campaign was defined by dominance on the mound: a 2.82 earned run average that stands as the best freshman ERA since Travis Radke’s 2012 mark, and 73.1 innings pitched, the most by a freshman since 2017. Those numbers placed him fifth in the West Coast Conference, 38th nationally among all pitchers, and sixth among freshmen across the country.
Beyond the statistics, Labonte’s consistency helped the Pilots close the season at 27‑25, delivering the program’s fourth winning record in the past five years and underscoring a sustained period of competitiveness.
Honors From Multiple Outlets
The recognition extended beyond D1Baseball, with the National College Baseball Writers Association, Perfect Game and Baseball America all selecting Labonte to their respective Freshman All‑American teams in June, a testament to the breadth of his impact.
Coach Mike MacIntyre praised the pitcher’s work ethic, noting that Labonte’s blend of durability and precision has set a new benchmark for future Pilots. As the program looks ahead, the freshman’s accolades signal a promising pipeline that could keep Portland among the nation’s most consistent mid‑major programs.