SALISBURY, N.C. — Belmont Abbey outfielder
Caleb Burr and starting pitcher
Spencer Cipro were named Preseason All-Region by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) this week by the organization. Additionally, the team was ranked sixth in the region in its initial regional rankings.
Burr finished the season with a .353 batting average and led the team with 16 home runs and 62 runs batted in. Additionally, he finished with a .686 slugging percentage, 19 doubles and a perfect 21 for 21 in stolen bases on the year.
Cipro was one of the top starting pitchers in the region in 2025, finishing with a 10-3 record and 17 appearances with 14 starts. He was near the top of the conference in innings pitched (91.2) and threw five complete games. He finished with a 3.44 ERA and 64 strikeouts compared to just 23 walks.
The Crusaders are ranked to start the season coming off a 41-17 season in which they won the Conference Carolinas Tournament title as well as hosting a regional for the first time in program history. The Abbey was ranked fourth in the region at the end of the 2025 season.
Belmont Abbey was picked fourth in the Conference
Carolinas Preseason poll last week with Burr, Cipro and
Drew Stegura being named players to watch.
The full poll and all-region team can be found below.
Belmont Abbey is scheduled to open the 2026 season starting Friday at Coker.
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|
| Rank |
Team (First-place votes) |
'25 Record |
Points |
Previous |
| 1 |
Catawba (6) |
46-14 |
95 |
1 |
| 2 |
Lenoir-Rhyne (4) |
50-15 |
91 |
3 |
| 3 |
North Greenville |
45-15 |
75 |
5 |
| 4 |
Young Harris |
40-17 |
61? |
2 |
| 5 |
Francis Marion |
40-13 |
50 |
9 |
| 6 |
Belmont Abbey |
41-17 |
46 |
4 |
| T7 |
Carson-Newman |
37-19 |
33 |
8 |
| T7 |
North Georgia |
41-17 |
33 |
7 |
| 9 |
Lander |
43-15 |
27 |
6 |
| 10 |
Columbus State |
30-23 |
19 |
NR |
|
Others receiving votes:
Mount Olive (30-21) - 13 points
Coker (30-22) - 1 point
Georgia SW (29-23) - 1 point
Wingate (26-26) - 1 point |
|
|
|
|
Dropped Out:
Barton - 10 |
|
|
|
2026 NCBWA Preseason All-Southeast Region Team
C – Jack Enrico, Young Harris
1B – Charlie Bussey III, Francis Marion
2B – Jonny Smith, Young Harris
3B – Drew Bray, Young Harris
SS – Nathan Chrismon, Catawba
OF – Mackenzie Wainwright, Lenoir-Rhyne
OF – Caleb Burr, Belmont Abbey
OF – Braeden Harrison, Anderson
DH – Kade Smallwood, Young Harris
UTIL – Yariel Diaz, USC Aiken
SP – Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman
SP – Matty Brown, North Greenville
SP – Spencer Cipro, Belmont Abbey
RP – Sam Neal, Young Harris
