Over the past ten days, a panel of NCBA directors and writers have been reflecting on the past season and doling out All-Region honors, culminating in the release of the All-American team this past Thursday, June 25.
After a spectacular turnaround season that saw the Cardinal match a program record for wins and make the regional playoffs after being left out of the postseason in the '24-'25 campaign, several members of the squad were recognized for their outstanding performances. The club compiled three All-American honors and six All-Region Honors across five different players, including three players who had not received All-Region awards in the past. The awards ranged from graduating fifth-year veterans to freshman, demonstrating the strength and balance of the Stanford lineup and the team's staying power as one of the most feared and talented programs in the Pacific Region. Three of the five award recipients will be returning for the '26-'27 season, looking to anchor the team's lineup and make another run for the NCBA World Series next May. Below are season recaps of all the award winners.
Donnie Raymond (Gr) - First Team All-American 3B, First Team All-Region 3B, Second Team All-Region SP (previously awarded 2022 First Team All-American, 2022 First Team All-Region, 2024 First Team All-American, 2024 First Team All-Region)
Donnie Raymond has been a mainstay in the lineup and rotation for Stanford Club Baseball over the past five years (save the '24/'25 season due to injury), providing historic offensive output and solid starting pitching. His contributions were rewarded with his third First Team All-American award. Once again, Raymond recorded a ridiculous offensive stat line. A fearsome force in the middle of the lineup, the graduate slashed .614/.705/.900 (OPS of 1.605!) with 11 2B, 3 HR, 39 R, 32 RBI, 20 walks, and 13 SB over his 95 plate appearances. If these numbers are not eye-popping enough, he also pitched 47 innings (the most on the team) to a 1.72 ERA with 50 strikeouts, compiling a 6-2 record along the way. Raymond produced some of the team's most memorable moments of the season, such as his heroic down-to-the-last-out, go-ahead single against UC - Santa Cruz and complete game effort against then undefeated and top-ranked GCU in the regional playoffs, which Stanford narrowly lost, 2-1. For his great contributions both on the mound and at the dish, Raymond was also named Shirley Schoof Stanford Club Sports Athlete of the Year to supplement his NCBA honors.
Danny Gass (Fr) - Second Team All-American OF, First Team All-Region OF
"Three quarters of the earth is covered by water. The rest is covered by Gass." - Gregory Block and Will Ogden Director of Baseball Evan Schieber.
As soon as he stepped foot on The Farm, the freshman from Spotswood, VA hit the ground running. The physically imposing Gass played a magnificent center field all season, tracking down sure doubles and triples and turning them into outs. However, he impacted the game most profoundly at the plate. In his rookie campaign, Gass terrorized opposing hurlers, slashing .493/.589/.855 for a gaudy 1.444 OPS with 8 2B, 4 3B, 3 HR, 25 R, and 33 RBI, the last of which led the team. With an upright stance, reminiscent of old greats like Ralph Kiner or Ernie Banks, Gass had a courageous desire to crowd the plate, resulting in his being hit by a pitch in ten of his 90 plate appearances. He also successfully swiped 11 bags without being caught once. It seemed like the recipe for the Cardinal was simple: get runners on for Raymond and Gass, and let them go to work. And it was a recipe for success. Stanford scored 210 runs in 23 games.
Gass most notably powered Stanford past Menlo in a massive in-conference series that NCBA tabbed the Showcase Series of the Week. He won player of the game in game one against Menlo for his pitching performance and 3-4, 2B performance at the plate, and in the second fixture, Gass sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a crucial walk-off single. He also helped the Cardinal secure a regional playoff berth in their final series against Saint Mary's - he pounded Gael pitching to the tune of a 6-11, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, 3 SB line. The fearsome freshman was named a Second Team All-American as well as a First Team All-Region outfielder. Danny Gass will certainly be a name to watch going forward.
Miles Gumbs (Fr) - Third Team All-American DH, First Team All-Region DH
Stanford's offensive season was so remarkable that many players quietly put together abnormal seasons. Such was the case for Miles Gumbs. The stoic freshman, limited by injury and availability, only just surpassed the 40 plate appearance threshold for honors. However, the quality of his stat line more than made up for its relative lack of quantity. The New York, NY product was on base more than he wasn't, batting a clean .500 over his 45 plate appearances, with a .600 OBP and .611 SLG. A true utility man, Gumbs logged innings across the infield and even appeared for a few stints in the outfield, showcasing a steady glove to match his cool demeanor. His most memorable series came against the University of San Francisco Dons, in which Stanford scored 60 runs over three games, powered by Gumbs' massive weekend: 7-9 with 2 2B, 7 R, 7 RBI, BB, HBP, 3 SB (1.818 series OPS!). He received Pacific North Player of the Week for his outburst. After being named First Team All-Region DH, Gumbs received Third Team All-American distinction on Thursday.
Caden Denning (Gr) - First Team All-Region C (previously awarded 2022 Second Team All-American, 2022 First Team All-Region, 2024 First Team All-American, 2024 First Team All-Region)
One final season, one more accolade for one of the most decorated players in Stanford Club Baseball history. For half a decade, Denning anchored the Cardinal lineup while providing a uniquely elite defensive presence both behind the plate and in center field. The über-aggressive Denning rarely waited deep into counts to do his damage - he struck with a swift right-handed cut that matched his quick-twitch, top-of-the-line athleticism on the basepaths and in the field. This season, the Henderson, NV man faced substantial challenges both on and off the diamond. Denning not only completed a tough Epidemiology and Clinical Research Master's program while successfully presenting his Master's thesis, he studied for and took the MCAT in the midst of the club baseball season. Suffice to say, Denning was busy. On the field, the fifth-year was forced into a much more catching-heavy role than previously demanded of him. In past seasons, Evan Schieber carried the lion's share of the catching responsibilities, allowing the fleet-footed Denning to stretch his legs in center. This year, Denning was the only rostered primary catcher. In games he didn't catch, noted non-catcher Donnie Raymond filled in behind the plate. Needless to say, Denning caught virtually every game for which he was available.
Despite these extra hurdles, he turned back the clock with a vintage season - slashing .459/.528/.590 in 72 plate appearances with three doubles, one triple, and a home run as well as 26 R and 20 RBI. Denning's historical calling card, the hit-by-pitch, didn't come to the fore this year. He was only plunked five times, taking his lifetime ledger to 33 HBP in 328 PA, an incredible tally. On the bases, Denning stole ten bags without getting caught. While Denning served as an integral offensive piece, his defensive impact cannot be overstated. He navigated back into the full-time catching role seamlessly. A true X-factor, Stanford's pitching staff dared baserunners to steal on him - he threw out over a third of would-be thieves. In over 100 innings behind the plate, he only allowed two passed balls while handling a wild, quirky pitching staff. Some of his clutchest contributions over the season included his timely erasure of the Saint Mary's lead runner in the top of the seventh of a 9-7 game, his throwing out every USF runner that attempted to steal against him, and his 3-3 performance to propel Stanford past then #1 Santa Clara (which earned him Pacific North Player of the Week). When the lights were at their brightest, Denning came to play.
Mostly for his great offense, as NCBA doesn't currently consider defensive stats, Denning was named the best backstop in the Pacific Region. His defensive prowess more than corroborated that selection. His First Team All-Region honors are the third of his career, capping a club baseball career that is one for the history books, if such a thing exists.
Joseph Seddon (So) - Third Team All-Region 1B
Stanford's historic turnaround was especially propelled by those names above. However, many players that were at the heart of the Card's success went unrecognized by the NCBA: Cooper Tenney, Jamie Baum, Angel Piña, Angel Villeraldo Amador, to name a few. These sportsmen helped drive the Stanford lineup, from top to bottom, ensuring the passing of the baton to the meat of the order. Joseph Seddon was one such contributor. Though most fans would likely picture "The Seddonkey" as a starting pitcher, the sophomore sneakily compiled an excellent batting season. So much so, in fact, that NCBA named him the Third Team All-Region first baseman. Always relaxed and chewing gum, Seddon was unfazed by the big moments. He scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning in a 4-3 win over UC - Santa Cruz, the winning run in the last of the seventh against Menlo (to complement his 0 ER complete game on the mound), and worked a fantastic nine-pitch walk representing the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh against #1 GCU in the regional playoffs (which featured a barely-foul line drive that would've tied the game).
And though Stanford relied on Seddon much more for his pitching, he had a true breakout year in the box. The RHP/1B from Carson City, NV broke the all-coveted ".400" mark, batting .414 with an eye-popping .553 on base average, leaving his SLG of .466 in the dust. His OPS of 1.018 was over 300 points higher than his previous season's mark! It's hard to say what Seddon was doing in the offseason to motivate such a drastic offensive improvement. Those familiar with his easygoing country attitude may speculate that he was chopping down trees, digging post holes, or stacking bales of hay. Whatever it was, followers of the program should be begging the rising junior to prepare at the exact same level this summer.
