Greensboro, N.C. - The Piedmont University baseball team was well represented when the 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region teams were announced with five Lions earning spots on the listing in Region 6.  

Making the 2nd Team was Cole Ellis, Carter Few, and Andrew Misirly while Cody Funk and Luke Manry both earned 1st team nods moving them on in the awards process.  

Selections were voted on by members of the ABCA (American Baseball Coaches Assocation) and were coordinated for release by the ABCA NCAA Division III All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. 

Cole Ellis came back for another year of Piedmont baseball this season only to produce his best season yet in college hitting .435 besting his previous high of .385 which came over 11 games in a shortened '22 season for the veteran.  Scoring a career-best 50 runs on the season as well, Ellis drove in another 34 and was a terror on the paths stealing 18 times in 21 attempts. 



Youngster Carter Few was a key component of the most feared offense in the CCS if not the country slugging a team-high .546 while accounting for 48 runs driven in and hitting just shy of .400 on the season. 

The sophomore's clutch play was on display in Piedmont's run to the CCS crown as well as all of Few's averages went up in conference play and he had a team-best 3 RBI's in the league's tourney championship game vs. Belhaven - a nationally ranked opponent that the Lions swept on the season.  



A product of Roswell High School, Andrew Misirly is currently in his sophomore season with the Lions leading Piedmont back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. Posting a 2.99 ERA for Head Coach Justin Scali, Misirly dominated the night at the milkjug going 4-1 in his evening starts to open a series at home for the Lions allowing just four runs over 33 innings of work that included 18 strikeouts.  

Misirly was 5-2 in 14 starts for the team this season striking out 62 compared to 24 walks issued.  Opponents only managed a .266 batting average against the righty as well.  



Cody Funk earned 1st team All-Region status due to his obscene offensive numbers most likely as the iron man played in all 48 games for the Lions on the season.  Patrolling right field, Funk fielded his position at a .980 clip but hit just shy of .400 in nearly 200 at-bats to make his real statement. 

Funk might be better known as the Flash to opposing teams as he stole more than 40 bases on the season while leading his team with 65 runs scored as well.  He stretched a team-high 13 doubles and six triples while also adding 24 walks to his barrage in 2026. 



Luke Manry joined Funk on the 1st team All-Region as a result of his 21 appearances in relief on the mound which resulted in a 1.74 ERA and a 1.23 WHIP.  Manry posted ten saves as a reliever while also going 2-1 in decisions as he gave up only six earned runs and five walks all season.

Striking out 24, Manry held teams to only five extra-base hits on the year, all of which were doubles, as opponents struck out 24 times and only managed a .292 average against him in 31 innings of work.  

The ABCA All-America team was first recognized in 1949 and now spans nine divisions: NCAA Divisions I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA Divisions I, II and III, Pacific Association Division, and high school. ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove teams were first introduced in 2007.