CALIFORNIA (Jan. 26) – After an impressive 2025 campaign, California (PA) senior starting pitcher Michael Valente was named a preseason D2 Baseball First-Team All-American on Monday afternoon.

Valente was a consensus second-team all-region selection last year by earning the honors from American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA), National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) and the Division 2 Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). He tied the single-season school record with 10 victories and finished the year with a 10-1 record while making 11 starts. The 6-foot-0 senior posted a 3.15 ERA over 65.2 innings pitched with 53 strikeouts and 14 walks last spring. Valente helped the Vulcans register the winningest season in program history and return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 15 years.

A native of Delaware County, Valente enters the spring with an 18-5 career record over 38 appearances with 22 starts. He holds a 3.65 ERA in 153.0 innings pitched while tallying 101 strikeouts in his career.

The Vulcans are slated to open the year with a three-game series against Ohio Dominican at EQT Park in Washington, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 21-22.