The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) announced its 2026 NCAA Division III All-Defensive Teams for each region. Three NESCAC players earned a spot on the Region I squad – Keagan Ryan of Bates, Tyler Bernstein of Trinity, and Malcolm Whitfield of Tufts were honored.
Ryan, a junior captain for the Bobcats, started all 30 games in center field for the Bobcats and made just one error in 70 chances this season, while recording 65 putouts and four assists. Ryan, an All-NESCAC First Team selection, helped Bates post its most wins in a single season since 2014 (20) and the team’s best winning percentage since 2010.
Whitfield, a catcher, was the NESCAC Defensive Player of the Year for the second time in his career in 2026, becoming the first player in conference history to earn the honor twice.
The senior caught five runners stealing and had 296 fielding chances, and only had two errors on the season to record a .993 fielding percentage. Whitfield also posted a .280 batting average with 31 RBI and led the team with 21 stolen bases.
Whitfield helped the Jumbos to a marked turnaround in 2026, which resulted in Tufts claiming the 2026 NESCAC title and hosting an NCAA Tournament Regional for the first time in program history.
Bernstein, the NESCAC Player of the Year, logged a .958 fielding percentage with 55 putouts, 106 assists, and five double plays turned, and just seven errors on 168 chances at third base. For his career, Bernstein posted a .932 fielding percentage with 267 assists and 160 putouts.
In 2026, Bernstein led the Bantams with a 1.093 OPS with a .373/.466/.627 slash line in 41 games, while pacing Trinity in hits (59), home runs (10), runs batted in (42), and stolen bases (25). Bernstein led the NESCAC in runs scored, while ranking in the top 10 in batting average, OPS, hits, home runs, RBI, total bases (93), slugging percentage, and stolen bases. Berstein is the program's all-time leader in on-base percentage (.542) and stolen bases (84), while sitting second in walks (104), fourth in runs (154) and triples (9), eighth in sacrifice hits (13), ninth in home runs (17), and 10th in total bases (249) in 133 career games.
Bernstein helped Trinity register 27 wins and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019.
The 2026 ABCA NCAA Division III Region All-Defensive teams have been announced in all 10 regions. The teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America & Coach of the Year Committee.
The All-Defensive teams are voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and the process is led by the
ABCA NCAA Div. III All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for amateur baseball coaches. Its over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
| 2026 ABCA NCAA Div. III Region I All-Defensive Team |
| Pos. |
Player |
Cl. |
School |
State |
| C |
Malcolm Whitfield |
Sr. |
Tufts |
MA |
| 1B |
Ryan Shaw |
Sr. |
Saint Joseph |
CT |
| 2B |
Tyler Carlstrom |
Jr. |
Saint Joseph |
CT |
| 3B |
Tyler Bernstein |
Sr. |
Trinity College |
CT |
| SS |
Grady Schopps |
So. |
Salve Regina |
RI |
| OF |
Keagan Ryan |
Jr. |
Bates |
ME |
| OF |
Robbie Lamond |
Jr. |
Wheaton |
MA |
| OF |
Danny Rogers |
So. |
Salve Regina |
RI |
| P |
Jason Finkelstein |
Jr. |
Babson |
MA |
