Hanoian Named MW Freshman of the Year, Niednagel and Zapp Earn All-Mountain West Honors
5/21/2026 9:50:00 AM | Baseball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., - The Mountain West Conference officials announced Thursday morning that Air Force Falcons baseball earned multiple postseason honors, highlighted by the conference's Freshman of the Year award and Mountain West All-Conference selections.
MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Hanoian delivered one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent program history, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, along with All-Mountain West First team honors, becoming the Falcons' first recipient of the award since Paul Skenes in 2021 and just the third in program history.
The Costa Mesa, Calif., native quickly became a cornerstone of Head Coach Mike Kazlausky's lineup, starting all 49 games in which he appeared. Hanoian paced the Falcons with a .351 batting average for most of the season while totaling 45 runs, 60 hits and 45 RBIs. He also led the team with a .498 on-base percentage, fueled in part by drawing more hit-by-pitches than any Falcon this year.
Hanoian consistently delivered at the plate throughout the season, posting a team-best 33-game reached-base streak while recording 20 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI performances.
Against Mountain West competition, the freshman elevated his production even further, batting .421 with 32 hits and a .776 slugging percentage in conference play. In the regular season conference finale, Air Force's dramatic 10-9 walk-off victory over Washington State, Hanoian drove in two runs and delivered the game-winning single that helped the Falcons avoid the sweep.
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM
Seniors Ben Niednagel and Walker Zapp were named to the All-Mountain West Second Team after capping their careers with a stellar season.
C1C Niednagel earned All-Mountain West honors for the first time in his career after putting together a standout senior season for the Falcons. A consistent force on both sides of the ball, Niednagel ranks second on the team with a .332 batting average while adding a .528 slugging percentage. His offensive production includes a team-leading 15 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 20 stolen bases. The senior also recorded the Falcons' longest hitting streak of the season at 14 games and has totaled 18 multi-hit performances throughout the year. In Mountain West play, Niednagel is batting .315 with 28 hits and 16 RBIs.
Defensively, Niednagel has been a reliable presence at shortstop, helping turn 28 double plays while collecting 136 assists on the season.
C1C Zapp also earned All-Conference honors for the first time in his career, following an impressive senior campaign for the Falcons. Prior to the season, Zapp was also selected as Air Force's lone representative on the 2026 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team and was ranked the No. 44 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball.
At the plate, Zapp is batting .310 with 42 runs scored and a team-leading 57 RBIs across 43 games played this season. In Mountain West action, the senior catcher has elevated his performance even further, posting a .329 batting average with a team-best six home runs, 27 RBIs and a .776 slugging percentage.
Behind the plate, Zapp has remained a key defensive presence for the Falcons, throwing out nine Mountain West baserunners while adding 11 assists. Offensively, he has delivered in key moments throughout conference play, recording five Mountain West games with at least three RBIs.
MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Wyatt Hanoian delivered one of the most impressive freshman campaigns in recent program history, earning Mountain West Freshman of the Year, along with All-Mountain West First team honors, becoming the Falcons' first recipient of the award since Paul Skenes in 2021 and just the third in program history.
The Costa Mesa, Calif., native quickly became a cornerstone of Head Coach Mike Kazlausky's lineup, starting all 49 games in which he appeared. Hanoian paced the Falcons with a .351 batting average for most of the season while totaling 45 runs, 60 hits and 45 RBIs. He also led the team with a .498 on-base percentage, fueled in part by drawing more hit-by-pitches than any Falcon this year.
Hanoian consistently delivered at the plate throughout the season, posting a team-best 33-game reached-base streak while recording 20 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI performances.
Against Mountain West competition, the freshman elevated his production even further, batting .421 with 32 hits and a .776 slugging percentage in conference play. In the regular season conference finale, Air Force's dramatic 10-9 walk-off victory over Washington State, Hanoian drove in two runs and delivered the game-winning single that helped the Falcons avoid the sweep.
ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM
Seniors Ben Niednagel and Walker Zapp were named to the All-Mountain West Second Team after capping their careers with a stellar season.
C1C Niednagel earned All-Mountain West honors for the first time in his career after putting together a standout senior season for the Falcons. A consistent force on both sides of the ball, Niednagel ranks second on the team with a .332 batting average while adding a .528 slugging percentage. His offensive production includes a team-leading 15 doubles, four triples, five home runs and 20 stolen bases. The senior also recorded the Falcons' longest hitting streak of the season at 14 games and has totaled 18 multi-hit performances throughout the year. In Mountain West play, Niednagel is batting .315 with 28 hits and 16 RBIs.
Defensively, Niednagel has been a reliable presence at shortstop, helping turn 28 double plays while collecting 136 assists on the season.
C1C Zapp also earned All-Conference honors for the first time in his career, following an impressive senior campaign for the Falcons. Prior to the season, Zapp was also selected as Air Force's lone representative on the 2026 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team and was ranked the No. 44 catcher in the nation by D1Baseball.
At the plate, Zapp is batting .310 with 42 runs scored and a team-leading 57 RBIs across 43 games played this season. In Mountain West action, the senior catcher has elevated his performance even further, posting a .329 batting average with a team-best six home runs, 27 RBIs and a .776 slugging percentage.
Behind the plate, Zapp has remained a key defensive presence for the Falcons, throwing out nine Mountain West baserunners while adding 11 assists. Offensively, he has delivered in key moments throughout conference play, recording five Mountain West games with at least three RBIs.
Players Mentioned
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