COLUMBIA, Mo. – The American Midwest Conference (AMC) has announced the 2026 AMC Baseball All-Conference teams, season award winners, Academic All-Conference team, and the AMC Baseball Champions of Character Team. Columbia garnered a handful of accolades including three season awards, along with six named to the First Team, and three named to the Second Team.
Season Awards
Coach of the Year – Darren Munns earned his fourth AMC Coach of the Year honors after leading his squad to their fourth AMC regular season title with a 17-3-1 mark in league play.
Player of the Year – Tyler Renn has been one of the most dangerous hitters in the AMC this season, slashing .392/.508/.797 with a 1.305 OPS across 41 games. He has clubbed 15 home runs and driven in 51 runs, ranking second in the conference in both categories. This season, Renn also surpassed the program's all-time home run record, now sitting at 58 for his career. Behind the plate, Renn has been equally impressive, posting a .981 fielding percentage across 311 chances and throwing out 15 base stealers.
Pitcher of the Year / Newcomer Pitcher of the Year – Parker Anderson. In his first season as a Cougar, Anderson has been nothing short of dominant on the mound. He carries a 6-2 record with a conference-best 1.79 ERA and a crisp 1.06 WHIP over 60.1 innings pitched. His 67 strikeouts rank third among AMC pitchers, and he has surrendered just 12 walks all season.
First Team
Parker Anderson
Kolten Payne – A two-way standout, Payne earned both a First Team and Gold Glove nod. On the mound, he went 7-1 with a 3.52 ERA, a 1.13 WHIP, and 92 strikeouts over 64 innings across 11 starts. He also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on the mound, giving Columbia one of its most reliable and clean-fielding arms in the rotation.
Tyler Renn
Zac Fruend – Fruend has put together one of the most impressive offensive seasons on the roster, batting a team-high .434 with a staggering 1.413 OPS. He has slugged .887 on the strength of 17 home runs and 43 RBI, scoring 62 runs in 41 games.
Dylan Carlton – Carlton has been a consistent run producer all season, hitting .304 with 8 home runs, 4 triples, and 35 RBI across 39 games. He posted a 1.012 OPS and was flawless in the field, committing zero errors on 69 chances for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
Braden Hemmer – In just 29 games, Hemmer emerged as one of the hottest hitters on the team, batting .419 with a 1.214 OPS, 5 home runs, and 31 RBI, adding a .537 on-base percentage.
Second Team
Eric Fields – A versatile contributor both on the mound and in the field, Fields went 7-1 with a 3.51 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 56.1 innings, adding four saves out of the bullpen. He was equally reliable with the glove, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 21 chances.
Jack Dunn – Dunn hit .307 across 24 starts and tallied 15 RBI while playing a steady role in Columbia's infield. He handled 117 total chances with a .949 fielding percentage and turned 12 double plays on the season.
Joey Marcinkiewicz – Marcinkiewicz batted .361 with a 1.189 OPS in 33 games, providing pop in the middle of the order. He was equally dependable defensively, recording a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 46 chances.
Gold Glove Team
Kolten Payne, Tyler Renn, and Hunter Shoulta each earned Gold Glove recognition for their defensive excellence. Payne was spotless on the mound with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Renn anchored the defense from behind the plate with a .981 fielding percentage across 311 chances and threw out 15 base stealers on the year. Shoulta was a model of consistency in the outfield, posting a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on all 40 chances he handled.
Champions of Character Team
Noah Sperling was named to the Champions of Character Team. Each AMC school selects a member of their team to receive the NAIA Champions of Character Award. It is the student-athlete who they feel best exemplifies the NAIA 's five core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship, and servant leadership.
Academic All-Conference Team
