Cal State Monterey Bay Fall Report: Can the New Look Otters Maintain the CCAA Dynasty?

The Cal State Monterey Bay baseball program continued its historic run in 2025, further cementing itself as a West Region powerhouse under the guidance of Walt White. In his 15th season at the helm, White led the Otters to a 39-19 overall record and a 26-14 mark in conference play, securing the program's fourth consecutive CCAA regular-season title. The Otters were nearly unstoppable in the postseason, capturing their third straight CCAA Tournament championship before advancing to their third consecutive NCAA West Super Regional. While the season ultimately ended in the Super Regionals against Northwest Nazarene, the 39 wins tied a program record, underscoring the high standard White has established in Seaside. Entering 2026, White boasts a career record of 445-286, and though the roster faces significant turnover, the expectations at the Otter Sports Complex remain championship-caliber.

The Offense

The Otter lineup enters a period of transition, returning just 14.8% of plate appearances from the 2025 squad. The primary veteran presence is Noah Zertuche, who provides a steady foundation after a junior campaign where he appeared in 140 ABs and hit .307 with 7 doubles, 9 HR, and 31 RBI. To bolster the scoring, Walt White has leaned heavily on the transfer portal, bringing in several high-impact bats. Highlighting the newcomers is Kyle Olimpia, a First Team All-CCAA selection who transfers in from San Francisco State after hitting .374 last season. He is joined by Xander Sielken, a junior transfer from West Valley College who hit .376 last year, and Bodee Goins, who arrived from Utah State Eastern after an impressive season where he hit .403 with 11 doubles, 9 HR, and a .679 slugging percentage.

Adding further athleticism to the outfield are James Starkus and Bobby Benavidez. Starkus comes from Shoreline CC where he posted 21 extra-base hits and slugged .506, while Benavidez was a standout at La Sierra University, hitting .383 with 13 doubles, 4 triples, and 7 HR. Behind the plate, the Otters added Division I experience with Conner Smith from Santa Clara University and Blake Cowans from UIC. While the coaching staff acknowledges there is still an everyday lineup to determine, the depth and competitive spirit shown during the fall have the Otters confident they can maintain their offensive identity.

The Pitching Staff

While the offense retools, the pitching staff is expected to be the team's backbone, returning 24.6% of its innings pitched—specifically a deep and experienced bullpen. Drew Aguiar returns as a critical high-leverage arm; he posted a 1-1 record with a 2.12 ERA in 29.2 IP and recorded 3 saves while striking out 34 batters last season. He is joined in the relief corps by Andrew Kotin, who was a saves leader for the squad, going 2-1 with a 3.42 ERA in 23.2 IP and tallying 7 saves. Other key returners include Giovanni Costello, who went 3-0 with a 3.96 ERA in 25.0 IP, and Jacob Parks, who struck out 17 in just 12.2 IP while maintaining a 3.55 ERA. Kyle Giovannoni also returns for his senior year after recording a 3-2 record in 15.1 IP.

The incoming arms provide even more depth and starting potential. Sonny Pena joins from Fresno City College after going 7-3 with a 3.97 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 65.2 IP. Preston Kelly, a transfer from Cal State San Marcos, brings a decorated resume as a former ABCA Second Team All-West Region selection in 2024, a year in which he went 5-1 with a 3.92 ERA. The Otters also added Hayden Hall from CSUN, Ian Hoslett from New Mexico State, and Michael Hoefgen, who posted a 3.48 ERA in 18 relief appearances for Feather River College. This wealth of talent has the coaching staff optimistic that they will have the arms to compete with anyone in the country once roles are defined early in the season.

Notable Departures

The Otters must replace several pillars of their recent championship runs. The biggest loss is KW Quilici, the CCAA Player of the Year and an ABCA First Team All-West Region selection. Quilici was a force in the middle of the order, hitting .384 in 232 ABs with 13 HR and 50 RBI, ranking 5th in the conference in batting average and 2nd in OPS (1.113). Also departing is Javier Felix, the CCAA Newcomer of the Year and ABCA Second Team All-West Region pick, who hit .315 with 11 HR and 49 RBI. Jaden Sheppard (.321, 11 HR, 43 RBI) and Max Farfan (.306, 12 HR, 55 RBI) both earned Second Team All-CCAA honors and leave significant gaps in the infield. On the mound, the loss of Nate Rohlicek, a Second Team All-CCAA southpaw who threw 84.0 IP with a 5.04 ERA and 83 strikeouts, removes a veteran presence from the starting rotation.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 campaign kicks off with a challenging road series against Point Loma starting January 30, a program that finished last season with 39 wins and a West Regional appearance. The Otters then return to Seaside for a lengthy home stand, including a series against Azusa Pacific and a highly anticipated four-game set against Northwest Nazarene beginning February 12. Northwest Nazarene is the very team that ended the Otters' season last year, and they come in as GNAC Champions and World Series participants with 46 wins.

Conference play will be as grueling as ever. Cal State Monterey Bay will face Cal State San Bernardino (29 wins) and Chico State (31 wins and a CCAA Tournament appearance) in April, both of which will be pivotal for regional seeding. The regular season concludes with a home series against Stanislaus State before heading to the CCAA Championship Tournament in San Bernardino. With a roster full of new faces but a culture of winning, the Otters are once again expected to be in the hunt for a trip to the College World Series in Cary, N.C..

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