Cromer Leads Six WashU Players On UAA All-Association Baseball Teams

WESTERVILLE, Ohio – The University Athletic Association (UAA) announced its 2026 Baseball All-Association Teams on Tuesday morning, and the No. 18 Bears were well represented with six players receiving honors.

First-year

Chance Cromer headlined the awards for WashU, earning UAA Rookie of the Year honors. Graduate

Chase Brickley, senior

Shane Pellegrino, senior

Isaac Zhang, and sophomore

Ryan Soong each earned a spot on the first team, while junior

Anthony Equale was named to the second team.

Cromer is the first Bear since Caleb Durbin in 2019 to win the award for WashU. He stepped into a starting role at second base and played in all 39 regular-season contests, making 38 starts. While WashU waits for an NCAA Tournament selection, Cromer currently has a .328 batting average while connecting on 45 hits, including 10 doubles and a pair of triples. He also scored 52 runs while bringing in 25 RBIs. He has walked 28 times while stealing 14 bases.

Brickley arrived in St. Louis after spending his undergraduate years at Colorado State. He finished the regular season with a 7-2 record in 12 appearances and 11 starts. In his 64.1 innings of work, he notched a 1.82 ERA along with 59 strikeouts and just 12 walks. He held opponents to a .218 batting average. He was named the UAA Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 23.

Pellegrino earns his third All-UAA selection after earning a spot on the First Team in 2023 and Second Team in 2024. He started all 39 games this season and has played and started all 160 games in his career. This season, he currently leads the UAA in batting average with a .397 while tallying 62 hits with 49 RBIs and 41 runs scored. He is slugging .628 for the season. He was named the UAA Hitter of the Week on Mar. 9.

Soong earns his first All-UAA nod this season after batting .349 in 34 games. During the regular season, he finished with 46 hits, 42 runs scored, and 29 RBIs. Of his 46 hits, he currently has seven doubles, five home runs, and a pair of triples. This currently gives him a .576 slugging percentage. He also walked 29 times. He was named the UAA Hitter of the Week back on Apr. 6.

Zhang earned his second straight All-UAA honors after earning a spot on the First Team a year ago, as well. This year, he is currently 5-0 in 13 appearances with 53.0 innings pitched. He has collected 40 strikeouts while walking just 17 batters. On Apr. 3, he pitched a complete game in WashU's 12-1 win over NYU at home.

Equale earns his first All-UAA nod with his Second Team selection. He has started all 39 games thus far this season while hitting .340 in 144 at-bats. He has tallied 49 hits, 38 RBIs, 34 runs scored, and 27 walks. He has collected 15 doubles, two home runs, and a triple this season.

WashU awaits its NCAA Tournament fate with the Div. III Selection Show on Monday, May 11 at 12 p.m. ET.

---

Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu.