The College Sports Communicators recently unveiled its All-Academic Team, and the University of Portland’s baseball program celebrated a rare triple representation. Carter Gaston, Cole Katayama-Stall, and Jonas Salk each earned spots on the honor roll, underscoring the program’s blend of athletic competitiveness and scholarly achievement.
What it takes to make the All-Academic Team
To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a minimum 3.5 GPA and either appear in at least 90 percent of their school’s games or start in 66 percent of contests. Pitchers face an additional benchmark, needing a minimum of 17 appearances or 35 innings pitched during the season.
Carter Gaston stands out as the most decorated of the trio, securing his third All-Academic nod — the most in Pilots history. He logged 35.2 innings across 11 outings, posting a 4-3 record and a 4.79 ERA. Over his career he sits tied for seventh in program wins with 18, and he holds the single-season win record set in 2024 with 11 victories.
Cole Katayama-Stall was a offensive catalyst for the Pilots, leading the team with 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 39 RBIs while batting .506 in slugging percentage. He also topped the West Coast Conference in stolen bases with 13, ranking third in walks (37) and seventh in home runs (10) within the league.
Jonas Salk appeared in all 52 games this season, batting .218 with six homers, 11 doubles and 32 RBIs. He tied for the team lead in doubles and was hit by pitch 15 times, a figure that placed him third in the conference. Salk finishes his collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in hit‑by‑pitch with 48, while ranking ninth in career home runs (24) and sharing 12th in RBIs (110).
The Pilots closed out the 2026 campaign with a 27-25 overall record, marking the fourth time in five seasons that the team has posted a winning record and crossed the 25‑win threshold. The accomplishment reflects a sustained culture of excellence that blends competitive performance with academic rigor.