Hadley, Mass. — The NESCAC announced its 2026 Baseball All-Conference awards today, with Colby College's Patrick Shrake and Matt Higgins both receiving recognition for their impressive performances this spring.

Junior shortstop Patrick Shrake headlined the honors with a selection to the All-NESCAC First Team. This marks the second consecutive year Shrake has earned First Team honors, cementing his reputation as one of the premier infielders in the conference. Shrake was a force at the top of the Mules' lineup, providing consistent production that proved vital for a Colby squad that reached the 20-win plateau. The Chicago native led the team with an impressive .386 batting average (fourth best in the conference) and .431 on base percentage. Shrake also totaled 13 stolen bases, 18 RBIs, and 51 hits over the course of the season. In the field, he was an important asset as well with a team leading 115 assists on top of 44 putouts. 

Joining him on the All-Conference list is sophomore pitcher Matt Higgins, who was named to the All-NESCAC Second Team. This is the first career All-Conference award for Higgins, who emerged as a cornerstone of the Mules' rotation in his second year. Hailing from Norwell, Massacuettets, Higgins had a 2.98 ERA (sixth best in the NESCAC) with a team leading 40 strikeouts in the 2026 campaign. He had 10 appearances total accumulating 42.1 innings pitched.

The duo helped guide Colby to a 20-15 overall record in 2026, marking another successful season under head coach Jesse Woods. Shrake's consistency as a repeat First Team selection and Higgins' rise as a top-tier arm highlight the talent returning to the Mules' roster next spring.

CLICK HERE for the full NESCAC Baseball Awards Release 5/14