Ineich Named to Brooks Wallace Award Watch List
March 04, 2026 11:19 AM | Baseball
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (March 4, 2026) – Sophomore Matt Ineich has been named to the Brooks Wallace Award Watch List, released Wednesday by the College Baseball Foundation.
Ineich is one of 100 shortstops across Division I to be named to the watch list. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Wallace died of leukemia at the age of 27.
"Our staff is excited to get another year started looking for that special player to represent Brooks' Award," said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. "We will dig deep to find the personal qualities as well as the physical attributes that best exemplify what we look for in the Brooks Wallace Award winner. It's early but this list is already shaping up to be a competitive race with some big numbers from some new guys and some familiar faces on the list as well."
In 10 games this season, Ineich is hitting .450 with 10 RBI and 15 runs scored. He has five doubles and one triple, contributing to a 1.174 OPS. Defensively, he has made just one error in 40 chances.
It is the seventh time a Mountaineer has been named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list and fourth straight year that a WVU player has been recognized, joining Tevin Tucker (2023) and Brodie Kresser (2024, 2025). Other honorees include Jedd Gyorko (2009, 2010) and Jimmy Galusky (2017).
Ineich and the Mountaineers are back on the field tonight at Marshall with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
2026 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List
Name, Classification, School, Conference
• Trent Abel, Junior, Cal State Northridge, Big West
• Alex Alicea, Junior, Louisville, ACC
• AJ Anderson, Junior, Alabama A&M, SWAC
• Clay Badylak, Graduate, Middle Tennessee, CUSA
• Charlie Bates, Sophomore, Stanford, ACC
• Chipper Beck, Senior, Utah Valley, WAC
• Eric Becker, Junior, Virginia, ACC
• Rodric Black, Senior, Stephen F. Austin, Southland
• Chase Bloomer, Senior, SIUE, OVC
• Braylen Blomquist, Sophomore, Wright State, Horizon
• Westin Boyle, Freshman, Purdue, Big Ten
• Kolby Branch, Senior, Georgia, SEC
• Jacob Brooks, Senior, Niagara, MAAC
• Michael Brown, Junior, Hofstra, CAA
• Cam Bryant, RS-Junior, Ohio, Mid-American
• Dawson Bryce, Junior, Charlotte, American
• Dylan Carey, Senior, Nebraska, Big Ten
• Roch Cholowsky, Junior, UCLA, Big Ten
• Andy Cisneros, Senior, Gonzaga, West Coast
• Owen Clyne, Senior George Mason, A-10
• Colton Coates, Junior, Louisiana Tech, CUSA
• Noah Coy, Sophomore, Notre Dame, ACC
• Logan Crock, Sophomore, Butler, BIG EAST
• Dylan Cupp, Junior, Dallas Baptist, CUSA
• Pete Daniel, Junior, Virginia Tech, ACC
• Micah Dean, Sophomore, ULM, SBC
• Nico DeFazio, RS-Junior, Houston Christian, Southland
• Dante DeFranco, Graduate, VCU, A-10
• Chase Diggins, Senior, Omaha, Summit
• Kyle Eddington, Junior, UMBC, America East
• Patrick Engskov, Senior, Arkansas State, SBC
• Henry Ferguson, Sophomore, East Tennessee State, Southern
• Zach Fjelstad, Junior, UC Irvine, Big West
• Gus Gandy, Sophomore, Samford, Southern
• Linkin Garcia, Freshman, Texas Tech, Big 12
• Johnathan Gomez, Sophomore, Farleigh Dickinson, Northeast
• Anthony Grabau, Sophomore, Fordham, A-10
• Jake Hajdu, Sophomore, Elon, CAA
• Kaikea Harrison, Senior, Tulane, American
• Jackson Hays, Freshman, Yale, Ivy League
• Maloy Heaghney, RS-Sophomore, USC Upstate, Big South
• Kai Holm, Graduate Lipscomb, ASUN
• Matt Ineich, Sophomore, West Virginia, Big 12
• Leighton Jenkins, Graduate, North Alabama, ASUN
• Kevin Jones, Graduate, UNCW, CAA
• Titan Kamaka, Senior, Mercer, ASUN
• Camden Karczewski, Graduate, Illinois State, MVC
• Ty Kaunas, Freshman, Maryland, Big Ten
• Brooks Kettering, Junior, Southeast Missouri State, OVC
• Boston Kellner, Freshman, Texas A&M, SEC
• Dee Kennedy Jr., Junior, Kansas State, Big 12
• Carson Kerce, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC
• Matt Lashley, Junior, East Carolina, American
• Matt Leahy, Junior, Rider, MAAC
• Owen Lee, RS-Sophomore, Tennessee Tech, OVC
• Tyler Lichtenberger, Sophomore, Clemson, ACC
• Jerdy Lopez, Junior, Little Rock, OVC
• Matt Luigs, Freshman, Brown, Ivy League
• Eric Maisonet, Junior, Missouri, SEC
• DeShon Middleton, RS-Freshman, Prairie View A&M, SWAC
• Maddox Molony, Junior, Oregon, Big Ten
• Michael Maloney, Graduate, Western Michigan, MAC
• Diego Melendez, Junior, Jackson State, SWAC
• Steven Milam, Junior, LSU, SEC
• Pedro Moreno, Senior, Eastern Kentucky, ASUN
• PJ Moutzouridis, Junior, Arizona State, Big 12
• Sammy Mummau, RS-Sophomore, Jacksonville, ASUN
• Nate Negre, Sophomore, UCA, ASUN
• Ben Niednagel, Senior, Air Force, MWC
• Ben North, Graduate, Creighton, BIG EAST
• Jake Ogden, Senior, Miami, ACC
• Dawson Park, Sophomore, Texas State, SBC
• Conner Peek, Graduate, Georgetown, BIG EAST
• Elijah Pelayo, RS-Senior, Cal State Bakersfield, Big West
• Aaron Piasecki, Senior, Troy, SBC
• Willie Ponce, Graduate, High Point, Big South
• Adam Puder, RS-Sophomore, Saint Thomas, Summit
• Alejandro Puig, Sophomore, Dartmouth, Ivy League
• Jevin Relaford, Senior, South Florida, American
• Kyle Revere, Graduate, Oakland, Horizon
• Blaze Rodriguez, Freshman, Louisiana, SBC
• Jax Ryan, Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
• Travis Sanders, RS-Junior, Baylor, Big 12
• Sam Saucke, Freshman, Monmouth, CAA
• Jake Schaffner, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
• Kooper Schulte, Senior, Iowa, Big Ten
• Charlie Scholvin, Junior, Toledo, MAC
• Austin Sellers Sophomore, Georgia State, SBC
• Clayton Slack, Senior, Southern Indiana, OVC
• Cayden Smith, Sophomore, Central Michigan, MAC
• Seth Smith, Junior, Southern Miss, SBC
• Jack Spanier, Junior, Minnesota, Big Ten
• A.J. Taylor, Senior, Lamar, Southland
• Anthony Tirado, RS-Sophomore, UMASS, MAC
• Jonathan Trejo, Junior, Texas Southern, SWAC
• Jabin Trosky, RS-Junior, San Diego State, MWC
• Ryker Waite, Sophomore, Vanderbilt, SEC
• Karsen Waslefsky, Senior, New Mexico, MWC
• Jaxon Willits, Junior, Oklahoma, SEC
• Jonathan Xuereb, RS-Junior, Appalachian State, SBC
Ineich is one of 100 shortstops across Division I to be named to the watch list. It is named for former Texas Tech shortstop Brooks Wallace, who played for the Red Raiders from 1977 to 1980. Wallace died of leukemia at the age of 27.
"Our staff is excited to get another year started looking for that special player to represent Brooks' Award," said Larry Wallace, co-chair of the Brooks Wallace Award. "We will dig deep to find the personal qualities as well as the physical attributes that best exemplify what we look for in the Brooks Wallace Award winner. It's early but this list is already shaping up to be a competitive race with some big numbers from some new guys and some familiar faces on the list as well."
In 10 games this season, Ineich is hitting .450 with 10 RBI and 15 runs scored. He has five doubles and one triple, contributing to a 1.174 OPS. Defensively, he has made just one error in 40 chances.
It is the seventh time a Mountaineer has been named to the Brooks Wallace Award watch list and fourth straight year that a WVU player has been recognized, joining Tevin Tucker (2023) and Brodie Kresser (2024, 2025). Other honorees include Jedd Gyorko (2009, 2010) and Jimmy Galusky (2017).
Ineich and the Mountaineers are back on the field tonight at Marshall with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
2026 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Watch List
Name, Classification, School, Conference
• Trent Abel, Junior, Cal State Northridge, Big West
• Alex Alicea, Junior, Louisville, ACC
• AJ Anderson, Junior, Alabama A&M, SWAC
• Clay Badylak, Graduate, Middle Tennessee, CUSA
• Charlie Bates, Sophomore, Stanford, ACC
• Chipper Beck, Senior, Utah Valley, WAC
• Eric Becker, Junior, Virginia, ACC
• Rodric Black, Senior, Stephen F. Austin, Southland
• Chase Bloomer, Senior, SIUE, OVC
• Braylen Blomquist, Sophomore, Wright State, Horizon
• Westin Boyle, Freshman, Purdue, Big Ten
• Kolby Branch, Senior, Georgia, SEC
• Jacob Brooks, Senior, Niagara, MAAC
• Michael Brown, Junior, Hofstra, CAA
• Cam Bryant, RS-Junior, Ohio, Mid-American
• Dawson Bryce, Junior, Charlotte, American
• Dylan Carey, Senior, Nebraska, Big Ten
• Roch Cholowsky, Junior, UCLA, Big Ten
• Andy Cisneros, Senior, Gonzaga, West Coast
• Owen Clyne, Senior George Mason, A-10
• Colton Coates, Junior, Louisiana Tech, CUSA
• Noah Coy, Sophomore, Notre Dame, ACC
• Logan Crock, Sophomore, Butler, BIG EAST
• Dylan Cupp, Junior, Dallas Baptist, CUSA
• Pete Daniel, Junior, Virginia Tech, ACC
• Micah Dean, Sophomore, ULM, SBC
• Nico DeFazio, RS-Junior, Houston Christian, Southland
• Dante DeFranco, Graduate, VCU, A-10
• Chase Diggins, Senior, Omaha, Summit
• Kyle Eddington, Junior, UMBC, America East
• Patrick Engskov, Senior, Arkansas State, SBC
• Henry Ferguson, Sophomore, East Tennessee State, Southern
• Zach Fjelstad, Junior, UC Irvine, Big West
• Gus Gandy, Sophomore, Samford, Southern
• Linkin Garcia, Freshman, Texas Tech, Big 12
• Johnathan Gomez, Sophomore, Farleigh Dickinson, Northeast
• Anthony Grabau, Sophomore, Fordham, A-10
• Jake Hajdu, Sophomore, Elon, CAA
• Kaikea Harrison, Senior, Tulane, American
• Jackson Hays, Freshman, Yale, Ivy League
• Maloy Heaghney, RS-Sophomore, USC Upstate, Big South
• Kai Holm, Graduate Lipscomb, ASUN
• Matt Ineich, Sophomore, West Virginia, Big 12
• Leighton Jenkins, Graduate, North Alabama, ASUN
• Kevin Jones, Graduate, UNCW, CAA
• Titan Kamaka, Senior, Mercer, ASUN
• Camden Karczewski, Graduate, Illinois State, MVC
• Ty Kaunas, Freshman, Maryland, Big Ten
• Brooks Kettering, Junior, Southeast Missouri State, OVC
• Boston Kellner, Freshman, Texas A&M, SEC
• Dee Kennedy Jr., Junior, Kansas State, Big 12
• Carson Kerce, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC
• Matt Lashley, Junior, East Carolina, American
• Matt Leahy, Junior, Rider, MAAC
• Owen Lee, RS-Sophomore, Tennessee Tech, OVC
• Tyler Lichtenberger, Sophomore, Clemson, ACC
• Jerdy Lopez, Junior, Little Rock, OVC
• Matt Luigs, Freshman, Brown, Ivy League
• Eric Maisonet, Junior, Missouri, SEC
• DeShon Middleton, RS-Freshman, Prairie View A&M, SWAC
• Maddox Molony, Junior, Oregon, Big Ten
• Michael Maloney, Graduate, Western Michigan, MAC
• Diego Melendez, Junior, Jackson State, SWAC
• Steven Milam, Junior, LSU, SEC
• Pedro Moreno, Senior, Eastern Kentucky, ASUN
• PJ Moutzouridis, Junior, Arizona State, Big 12
• Sammy Mummau, RS-Sophomore, Jacksonville, ASUN
• Nate Negre, Sophomore, UCA, ASUN
• Ben Niednagel, Senior, Air Force, MWC
• Ben North, Graduate, Creighton, BIG EAST
• Jake Ogden, Senior, Miami, ACC
• Dawson Park, Sophomore, Texas State, SBC
• Conner Peek, Graduate, Georgetown, BIG EAST
• Elijah Pelayo, RS-Senior, Cal State Bakersfield, Big West
• Aaron Piasecki, Senior, Troy, SBC
• Willie Ponce, Graduate, High Point, Big South
• Adam Puder, RS-Sophomore, Saint Thomas, Summit
• Alejandro Puig, Sophomore, Dartmouth, Ivy League
• Jevin Relaford, Senior, South Florida, American
• Kyle Revere, Graduate, Oakland, Horizon
• Blaze Rodriguez, Freshman, Louisiana, SBC
• Jax Ryan, Junior, Missouri State, CUSA
• Travis Sanders, RS-Junior, Baylor, Big 12
• Sam Saucke, Freshman, Monmouth, CAA
• Jake Schaffner, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
• Kooper Schulte, Senior, Iowa, Big Ten
• Charlie Scholvin, Junior, Toledo, MAC
• Austin Sellers Sophomore, Georgia State, SBC
• Clayton Slack, Senior, Southern Indiana, OVC
• Cayden Smith, Sophomore, Central Michigan, MAC
• Seth Smith, Junior, Southern Miss, SBC
• Jack Spanier, Junior, Minnesota, Big Ten
• A.J. Taylor, Senior, Lamar, Southland
• Anthony Tirado, RS-Sophomore, UMASS, MAC
• Jonathan Trejo, Junior, Texas Southern, SWAC
• Jabin Trosky, RS-Junior, San Diego State, MWC
• Ryker Waite, Sophomore, Vanderbilt, SEC
• Karsen Waslefsky, Senior, New Mexico, MWC
• Jaxon Willits, Junior, Oklahoma, SEC
• Jonathan Xuereb, RS-Junior, Appalachian State, SBC
Players Mentioned
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