OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - The College Baseball Foundation has released the 2026 Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist as High Point University's Willie Ponce was named as one of the top 50 shortstops in the country. 

The award honors the nation's top shortstop and will be presented by the College Baseball Foundation later this year. 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.

Ponce has started at shortstop in all 40 games this season. He holds a .329 batting average, tallying eight doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 27 RBIs. He has an OPS of .942 in 152 plate appearances. Ponce has recorded 18 multi-hit games and, at one point, held a 27-game on-base streak. At shortstop, Ponce has a .972 fielding percentage, turning 27 double plays while committing just four errors.

HPU returns to the diamond this weekend for a series with Virginia Military Institute, beginning Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m.

2026 Brooks Wallace Player of the Year Award Semifinalists
Name, Classification, School, Conference
· Eric Becker, Junior, Virginia, ACC
· Chase Bloomer, Senior, SIUE, OVC
· Kolby Branch, Senior, Georgia, SEC
· Roch Cholowsky, Junior, UCLA, Big Ten
· Owen Clyne, Senior, George Mason, A-10
· Noah Coy, Sophomore, Notre Dame, ACC
· Dylan Cupp, Junior, Dallas Baptist, CUSA
· Caden Dulin, Senior, Pittsburgh, ACC
· Kade Dupont, RS-Senior, ULM, SBC
· Linkin Garcia, Freshman, Texas Tech, Big 12
· Johnathan Gomez, Sophomore, Farleigh Dickinson, Northeast
· Reid Howard, Sophomore, Western Kentucky, CUSA
· Matt Ineich, Sophomore, West Virginia, Big 12
· Titan Kamaka, Senior, Mercer, ASUN
· Dee Kennedy Jr., Junior, Kansas State, Big 12
· Carson Kerce, Junior, Georgia Tech, ACC
· Camden Kozeal, Junior, Arkansas, SEC
· Jamie Laskofski, Sophomore, William & Mary, CAA
· Luke Lawrence, Senior, Kentucky, SEC
· Brendan Lawson, Sophomore, Florida, SEC
· Justin Lebron, Junior, Alabama, SEC
· Jackson Lyda, Sophomore, Western Carolina, CUSA
· Tanner Marsh, Junior, Liberty, CUSA
· Michael Maloney, Graduate, Western Michigan, MAC
· Manny Marin, Sophomore, Tennessee, SEC
· Steven Milam, Junior, LSU, SEC
· Bo Moody, Freshman, Presbyterian, Big South
· Reece Moroney, Junior, Rhode Island, A-10
· PJ Moutzouridis, Junior, Arizona State, Big 12
· Ben North, Graduate, Creighton, BIG EAST
· Dawson Park, Sophomore, Texas State, SBC
· Zandt Payne, Graduate, Abilene Christian, WAC
· Willie Ponce, Graduate, High Point, Big South
· Andrew Ramirez, Senior, Southeast Missouri State, OVC
· Chris Ramirez, Sophomore, California Baptist, WAC
· Ryder Robinson, Junior, BYU, Big 12
· Ricky Sanchez, Gonzaga, WCC
· Travis Sanders, RS-Junior, Baylor, Big 12
· Jake Schaffner, Junior, North Carolina, ACC
· Kooper Schulte, Senior, Iowa, Big Ten
· Charlie Scholvin, Junior, Toledo, MAC
· Ike Shirey, Senior, Tarleton State, WAC
· Julio Solier, Sophomore, Boston College, ACC
· Petey Soto Jr., Junior, Utah Tech, WAC
· Jack Spanier, Junior, Minnesota, Big Ten
· Rhett Stokes, Senior, Nebraska, Big Ten
· Ryker Waite, Sophomore, Vanderbilt, SEC
· Karsen Waslefsky, Senior, New Mexico, MWC
· Jaxon Willits, Junior, Oklahoma, SEC
· Dyerson Wouters, Senior, Dayton, A-10