CALIFORNIA (Jan. 24) – The California (PA) tandem of senior designated hitter Payton Conte and junior relief pitcher Jake Kramer were announced as preseason D2 Baseball All-Americans on Friday afternoon.

Kramer was tabbed a preseason First-Team All-American and Conte was chosen a preseason Third-Team All-American. The Vulcans were one of three teams (Charleston, East Stroudsburg) in the Atlantic Region – a total of 29 programs – to feature multiple preseason All-Americans in 2025.

A native of Greensburg, Kramer received All-America laurels from multiple organizations last spring while being a consensus first-team all-region honoree. He converted 10-of-12 save opportunities in 2024 to break to single-season school record for saves that was held for four-plus decades. Kramer also finished with a 4-1 record and a 1.47 ERA over 30.2 innings pitched in 20 relief appearances. The 6-foot-3 junior enters the campaign with a 1.33 ERA and 16 saves in his career.

Conte also was a consensus first-team all-region selection in 2024 while becoming the fifth Academic All-American in program history. He ranked second in NCAA Division II last spring with a .469 batting average (46-for-98) while breaking the single-season school record held since 1969. Conte also registered a .526 on-base percentage and a .663 slugging percentage while being voted the PSAC West Athlete of the Year. A native of California, the 6-foot-4 senior enters the spring with a .355 average, 66 RBI and 54 runs scored in his career.

Led by 29th-year head coach Mike Conte, Payton's father, the Vulcans are slated to begin the campaign with three games against Mansfield on Feb. 15-16 at Wild Things Park in Washington, Pennsylvania.