FHSU Athletics
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Fort Hays State baseball team had three student-athletes earn All-MIAA honors for their performance during the 2026 season, announced Tuesday (May 5) by the conference office. Derek Woolwine was a second-team selection for a second year in a row, while both Brandon Chavez and Antonio Avila were honorable mention selections. Chavez also received the gold glove award at pitcher.
Woolwine picked up his second team honor at the utility position after taking home second team recognition at designated hitter last season. The senior started 18 games at second base, 18 at designated hitter and five games at first base.
He finished the season ranked fifth in the MIAA in slugging percentage (.685), sixth in doubles (17), eighth in OPS (1.158) and 10th in home runs (11). The Boulder, Colo. native also led the Tigers in RBI (45) and walks (30) while ranking third in runs scored (36). He was one of the toughest players in the conference to strike out, ranking fifth in the league with a strike-out rate of once every 11.9 at-bats. Woolwine collected 12 multi-hit games, including two contests with four base knocks.
A first-team all-conference selection last season, Chavez got out to a hot start to the season before being sidelined due to injury for six weeks. Despite missing that much time, the junior still ranked fifth in the conference and in the top 100 in Division II with 66 strikeouts in 45.1 innings of work. His average of 13.1 strikeouts per nine innings would have ranked fifth in the country had he reached the innings threshold of 1 inning pitched per team game (i.e. 49 for FHSU).
Chavez led the team with an ERA of 4.76 and was third overall with an opposing batting average of .268 while posting a 3-3 record. The Laramie, Wyo. native struck out seven or more batters six times, including four games with nine or more punchouts and a season-high of 11. He also earned the pitcher's gold glove award after going a perfect 8-for-8 on defensive chances on the mound.
Avila led the Tigers in batting average (.363), hits (66), runs (50), doubles (17) and total bases (108). He recorded a base hit in 37 of his 46 games played, including 21 games with multiple base knocks. The Rio Rancho, N.M. senior turned in a 19-game hitting streak over the heart of the season, the longest for a Tiger since 2015.
The Tigers will play in the postseason for a third year in a row beginning Wednesday (May 6) when they take on Missouri Western in the opening round of the 2026 MIAA Championship Tournament. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. from Edmond, Okla.
2026 MIAA Baseball All-MIAA Teams
Player of the Year: Degan Brewer, Pittsburg State
Pitcher of the Year: Colby Deaver, Emporia State
Freshman of the Year: Evan Abbott, Emporia State
Steve Anson MIAA Baseball Head Coach of the Year: Chris Klimas, Rogers State
ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Sawyer Allen – Central Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Colby Deaver – Emporia State*
Starting Pitcher: Owen Schneider – Missouri Southern
Relief Pitcher: Grant Huffman – Emporia State
Catcher: Grant Nottleman – Pittsburg State
First Base: Noah Steele – Emporia State
Second Base: Logan Myers – Emporia State*
Shortstop: Jadyn McNealy – Pittsburg State
Third Base: Will Doherty – Missouri Southern
Outfield: Eric Bacon – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Dagen Brewer – Pittsburg State*
Outfield: Brayden Luikart – Missouri Southern
Designated Hitter: Drake Lee – Central Oklahoma
Utility: Andrew Ramirez – Rogers State
*Unanimous Selection
ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Greyson Chappel – Central Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Ben Haug – Northwest Missouri
Starting Pitcher: Zack Voss – Pittsburg State
Relief Pitcher: Ricardo Landeros – Rogers State
Catcher: Jacob Filip – Missouri Southern
First Base: Jeremiah Cabuyaban – Northwest Missouri
Second Base: Kade Goeke – Rogers State
Second Base: Jason Lazo – Missouri Southern
Shortstop: Wilmer Jimenez – Northwest Missouri
Shortstop: Cole Kreisel – Central Missouri
Third Base: Sammy Harris – Rogers State
Outfield: Frank Gall – Northwest Missouri
Outfield: Ian Luce – Washburn
Outfield: Isaac Webb – Pittsburg State
Designated Hitter: Andres Contreras – Rogers State
Utility: Derek Woolwine – Fort Hays State
(Team Reflects Ties in Voting)
ALL-MIAA THIRD TEAM
Starting Pitcher: Damon Anderson Wolf – Rogers State
Starting Pitcher: Dillon Dibrell – Rogers State
Starting Pitcher: Zach Horwith – Rogers State
Relief Pitcher: Bradyn McClure – Pittsburg State
Relief Pitcher: Gavin Williams – Central Missouri
Catcher: Trevor Spainhoward – Rogers State
First Base: Chase Wilcox – Central Missouri
Second Base: Seth Winkler – Missouri Western
Shortstop: Klete Finley – Northeastern State
Third Base: Nicolas Ely – Newman
Outfield: Evan Abbott – Emporia State
Outfield: Nathan Gutierrez – Rogers State
Outfield: Micah Kobuszewski – Missouri Western
Designated Hitter: John Connors – Northwest Missouri
Utility: Jack Borgmann – Washburn
Utility: Cole Funkhouser – Central Missouri
(Team Reflects Ties in Voting)
GOLD GLOVE TEAM
Pitcher: Brandon Chavez – Fort Hays State
Catcher: Grant Nottleman – Pittsburg State
First Base: Chase Wilcox – Central Missouri
Second Base: Logan Myers – Emporia State
Shortstop: Cole Kreisel – Central Missouri
Third Base: Issac Sobieszezyk – Missouri Western
Third Base: Sammy Harris – Rogers State
Outfield: Eric Bacon – Pittsburg State
Outfield: Ian Luce – Washburn
Outfield: Brayden Luikart – Missouri Southern
(Team Reflects Ties in Voting)
HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Sam Wyrick (Relief Pitcher); Ryker Edwards (Outfield)
Central Oklahoma: Carson Taylor (Third Base); Colton Ayres (Outfield); Elijah Alexander (Utility)
Fort Hays State: Brandon Chavez (Starting Pitcher); Antonio Avila (Outfield)
Missouri Southern: Michael Mulhollon (Starting Pitcher); Marcus Young (Relief Pitcher); Jackson Gamble (Relief Pitcher); Blake Jones (First Base); Cy Darnell (Shortstop); Aiden Hinkle (Outfield); Ethan Clark (Designated Hitter)
Missouri Western: Cole Evans (Starting Pitcher); Cam Saleh (Starting Pitcher); Miguel Cantu (First Base); Luke Shannahan (Third Base)
Newman: Kaynan Kaku Jr. (Outfield)
Northwest Missouri: Jordi Ventura (Outfield)
Rogers State: Jake Mitchell (First Base); Luis Fuentes (Outfield)
Washburn: Kai Bennett (Starting Pitcher); Maclane Finley (Starting Pitcher); Jackson Mervosh (Second Base); Trenton Barry (Third Base); Levi Risenhoover (Outfield); Brandt Beeby (Designated Hitter)