ODESSA, Texas (May 28, 2026) – ODESSA, Texas (May 27, 2026) – Junior shortstop Gael Bernal of The University of Texas Permian Basin baseball team added to his list of All-Region recognition for 2026, earning Second-Team All-South Central Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings.

It is Bernal's third second-team all-region award this season after previously earning the honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association (NCBWA) and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA). Bernal was also named First-Team All-Lone Star Conference after starting in all 50 games across three positions on the infield, including 33 games at shortstop.

Bernal hit .402 with 48 runs, 72 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 45 RBI's, 98 total bases, 19 walks, 10 hit by pitches, a .476 on-base percentage and a .547 slugging percentage in 179 at-bats. He led the team in batting average, hits, RBI's, walks and on-base percentage. He led the LSC in hits and also ranked fifth in batting average, 15th in at-bats, 19th in on-base percentage, tied for 20th in RBI's, tied for 21st in runs scored and tied for 29th in slugging percentage.

The 2026 ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Div. II All-Region teams and Regional Players of the Year have been announced across all eight regions. Selections were voted on by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association and coordinated by the ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. 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.