WINTHROP, Mass. - After anchoring the Norwich University baseball pitching staff throughout the spring and helping the Cadets return to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament, junior right-hander Carson Rath (Glens Falls, N.Y.) earned GNAC All-Conference Third Team honors, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.

The recognition marks the first All-Conference selection of Rath's career.

Senior captain and outfielder Geffen Franus (Leesburg, Va.) was selected as Norwich's representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

Rath emerged as Norwich's clear leader on the mound during his junior campaign, finishing among the conference's top pitchers in several major categories.  He ranked fifth in the GNAC in total wins with six, second in complete games with six, first in shutouts with two, second in innings pitched at 66.0, second in strikeouts with 61, and sixth in strikeouts per game at 8.32.

Across his workload, Rath posted a 3.82 earned run average and a 1.17 WHIP while giving the Cadets a steady presence at the top of the rotation.  His ability to work deep into games became a major factor for Norwich, particularly during the closing weeks of the regular season as the Cadets pushed their way into the conference tournament field.

Rath's strongest stretch came late in the season, when he earned back-to-back GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors in Weeks 8 and 9.  He was also named to the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll earlier in the spring, receiving recognition in Week 4.

His second Pitcher of the Week honor came after a pivotal week that helped Norwich secure a GNAC Tournament berth.  Rath delivered a complete-game victory in the Cadets' must-win Senior Day matchup against New England College, tossing all seven innings while allowing just one run on three hits and striking out 11 in a 6-1 victory.

That performance highlighted a demanding week in which Rath made three appearances, logged 17.0 innings, struck out 19, and posted a 2.65 earned run average with a 1.12 WHIP.  He also went the distance against Dean College earlier in the week, allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out six over six innings, before later adding four innings of relief in the 13-inning nightcap against the Bulldogs.

Rath's efforts helped Norwich close the GNAC regular season with one of its most important days of the spring, as the Cadets swept New England College by scores of 6-1 and 15-13 to secure their place in the conference tournament.

Franus represented Norwich on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team, an honor awarded to one representative from each conference institution who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship and character on and off the field.

A senior captain and consistent presence in the Norwich outfield, Franus also put together one of the Cadets' top offensive seasons.  He was a two-time GNAC Honor Roll selection and led Norwich in hits with 44 and doubles with eight, while tying for the team lead in runs scored with 26 and home runs with two.  He also ranked second on the team in runs batted in with 23.

Franus recorded several of his strongest performances during the final weeks of the season.  He drove in a season-high five runs against Vermont State University Castleton and scored a season-best three runs against New England College.  During Norwich's late-season push, he earned GNAC Honor Roll recognition for the second straight week after batting .393 with 11 hits, 11 RBIs, nine runs scored, two doubles, one triple, and six stolen bases across six games.

Defensively, Franus tallied 74 catches, 73 putouts, and one assist in the outfield, providing the Cadets with a steady veteran presence throughout the season.

Norwich concluded the 2026 campaign with 13 victories and a 9-11 mark in GNAC play.  The Cadets returned to the GNAC Tournament for the first time since 2024 and secured their first postseason victory since that same season, defeating second-seeded University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), 4-3, in an elimination game during Pod B play.

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2025-26 Baseball All-GNAC Teams

Major Awards

Co-Player of the Year: Michael Ficocelli, Mitchell
Co-Player of the Year: Nic Frink, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Pitcher of the Year: Brandon Cahill, USJ
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Manzo, Mitchell
Coaches of the Year: Will Sanborn and Lincoln Sanborn, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Institutional Sportsmanship: Saint Joseph's (Maine)

First Team

SP - Brandon Cahill, USJ
SP - Thai-ler Sestokas, Mitchell
RP - Marcus Tarfano, USJ
C - Nic Frink, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
1B - Michael Ficocelli, Mitchell
2B - Tyler Carlstrom, USJ
3B - Jack Kane, USJ
SS - Adriel Espada, Albertus Magnus
OF - Mike McLeer, Colby-Sawyer
OF - Declan Silva, Lasell
OF - Chas Terni Jr., Mitchell
DH - Brady Philibotte, NEC

Second Team

SP - Dylan Brander, SJC
SP - Brycen Diaz, Elms
RP - Jacob Quiles, Mitchell
C - Nicholas Bracale, Mitchell
1B - Eric Galazra, Albertus Magnus
2B - Christopher Piscione, Mitchell
3B - Angel Rodriguez Cruz, Mitchell
SS - JJ Fox, USJ
OF - Jacob Paschetto, Dean
OF - Ryan Cote, NEC
OF - Ryan Dennis, Mitchell
DH - Joey O'Hara, Albertus Magnus

Third Team

SP - Carson Rath, Norwich
SP - Padraig Mac Seain, SJC
RP - Dom Yarson, Mitchell
C - Jack Kushman, USJ
1B - Evan Dennis, Colby-Sawyer
2B - Nick Brindle, SJC
3B - Tim Callahan, Lasell
SS - Jacob Putnam, Colby-Sawyer
OF - Tyler Giambra, Dean
OF - Joseph Fritz, USJ
OF - Dom Scalia, USJ
DH - Connor Freitas, Lasell
DH - Jesse Chaves, Colby-Sawyer

All-Sportsmanship Team

Jack Angelo, Albertus Magnus
Janai Cruz, Colby-Sawyer
Dom Brazeau, Dean
Chase Prestia, Elms
Callahan Bullens, Lasell
Michael Ficocelli, Mitchell
Harold Martinez, New England College
Geffen Franus, Norwich
Owen Medlock, Rivier
Terry Morrissey, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Gabe Zamorano, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.)