On Sunday evening inside Pioneer Gymnasium, Cal State East Bay hosted its Pioneer Athletic Awards Banquet, for the first time named 'The Pios'. Student-athletes from Cal State East Bay were honored for athletic, academic and community impact. Men's soccer goalkeeper and 2024-25 SAAC President Kelekolio Mateo Jr. was the emcee for the special event.
Below are the recipients of the 2024-25 Pioneer Athletic Awards.
Dominick Najar - Baseball
Female Freshman of the YearAlexia Fajardo - Women's Swimming
Emilie Giannini – Women's Swimming
Pioneer Impact AwardJeslyn Cuellar – Softball
Eugenio Perez-Vera Merino – Men's Soccer
Marissa Quintero – Softball
Kelekolio Mateo Jr. – Men's Soccer
#bEBold AwardAbigail Kern – Women's Soccer
Female Career Pioneer AwardAnnelise Garcia - Softball
Male Career Pioneer AwardCole McKain – Men's Cross Country/Track & Field
Easton Hether - Men's Golf
Ashlee Toy - Softball
Latest Women's Softball
- Pioneer Softball Eliminated from CCAA Tournament With Two Losses ThursdayROHNERT PARK, Calif. — Cal State East Bay softball saw its run in the 2025 CCAA Softball Tournament presented by FloCollege, come to an end Thursday at Seawolf Softball Field, falling 6-3 to Sonoma State in the opener and 3-1 to Cal State San Marcos in the elimination game. Despite entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed, the Pioneers were eliminated in the double-elimination format. A three-run home run by Sonoma State and a second-inning surge from San Marcos proved to be decisive turning points in each contest.
- Pioneer Spotlight: Dr. Summer JacksonWhen Dr. Summer Jackson stepped into the role of Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) at Cal State East Bay in 2023, it was more than a professional milestone—it was a full-circle moment. A former Division I swimmer at the University of Arkansas and a proud inductee into the Sequim (Washington) Hall of Fame's inaugural class for her swimming accomplishments, Dr. Jackson brought with her not only an impressive academic background but a deeply personal connection to the student-athlete journey.
- Pioneer Preview: May 1-7Only one Pioneer team has regular season action remaining, as other teams are in postseason play. Baseball hosts the final home series of the season from Thursday to Saturday, Softball will go after a CCAA Tournament Championship, Men's and Women's Track & Field will chase medals at the CCAA Championships and next Monday through Wednesday, Women's Golf will look for a regional performance that earns a spot in the NCAA Championships for a third straight year.
- Seven Pioneer Players Garner All-CCAA Softball HonorsALISO VIEJO, Calif. – After a historic 2025 season in which Cal State East Bay softball won its first-ever CCAA regular season title, the All-CCAA honors followed just days later for seven Pioneers. Four were named to the First Team, one to the Second Team and two named Honorable Mention. The CCAA Pitcher of the Year and CCAA Coach of the Year were also from Cal State East Bay.
- Claire Sua-Amundson Named CCAA Softball Coach of the YearALISO VIEJO, Calif. - After a historic 2025 season for Cal State East Bay softball, winning the CCAA regular season championship, head coach Claire Sua-Amundson has been named CCAA Coach of the Year.
- Quintero Receives Third FloCollege/CCAA Pitcher of the Week Honor in 2025 to Finish Regular SeasonALISO VIEJO, Calif. - As the 2025 regular season for softball in the CCAA has concluded, the season's final weekly awards were announced on Monday by the conference office. For the third time this season, and the second time in as many weeks, Marissa Quintero has been named FloCollege/CCAA Pitcher of the Week for her performances in the circle from April 21-27.
