​ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – The Elmira Pioneers will be well represented on the league all-star team, as the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) released its midseason All-Star selections for the West Division. Five Pioneers earned spots on the list: brothers Landen and Larsen Burch, Elmira Notre Dame graduate Luke Richards, Brenden Hayes, and outfielder Brett Baker, all recognized for their strong first half of the season. Unlike in years past, the PGCBL does not stage a traditional All-Star Game; instead, the midseason selections stand as the league’s honorary All-Star nods.
A full release from the Elmira Pioneers notes that after a tough 7-6 defeat on the road at Batavia on Saturday, Elmira returns home Sunday to host Niagara Falls at 4 p.m. The Pioneers are chasing a postseason berth in the West Division and currently sit tied for the final playoff spot with Niagara at 15-14. The top four teams in each PGCBL division, East and West, qualify for the playoffs.
ELMIRA, N.Y. – Friday morning, Brett Baker, Landen Burch, Larsen Burch, Brenden Hayes, and Luke Richards were named to the 2026 PGCBL West Division All-Star Team. Larsen, Richards, Baker, and Hayes have previously earned weekly accolades, while this marks Landen Burch’s first midseason nod of the year.
Baker has appeared in 23 games this season, batting .403 with eight extra-base hits, including a home run against Batavia on July 3. He has driven in 25 runs and owns an on-base plus slugging (OPS) of 1.114. For perspective, Aaron Judge posted a 1.144 OPS during his 2025 MVP season. Baker was also named the Week 5 West Division Player of the Week.
Landen Burch has started six games and leads the PGCBL with 40 or more strikeouts on the season, with 48 total. He is one of only two pitchers with 40+ strikeouts and delivered an 11-strikeout complete-game shutout against Newark on July 9 in a 23-0 win. His 2.55 ERA places him among the West Division’s top arms, ranking third in the circuit.
Brenden Hayes sits second in the West Division in ERA at 2.32 and has started five games, posting a 4-1 record with a 1.39 WHIP. His most recent outing came on July 4, when he threw a complete-game shutout in the second game of a doubleheader against the Newark Pilots. Hayes was named the Week 5 West Division Pitcher of the Week.
Larsen Burch has appeared in two starts this season, but in each outing he has pitched a complete game against notable foes—the Niagara Ironbacks and the Olean Oilers. He carries a sparkling 1.62 ERA through 16.2 innings and has held opposing hitters to a .136 batting average. While he does not qualify for traditional season rankings due to innings-per-game criteria, Larsen’s performance makes him a perennial All-Star in Elmira’s program. He earned the Week 1 West Division Pitcher of the Week honor.
The fourth pitcher named to the Pioneers’ All-Star contingent is Luke Richards. Richards, a product of Elmira Notre Dame, has contributed as a versatile arm in the rotation and has helped the Pioneers’ stingy pitching staff.
As Elmira looks ahead, the schedule keeps them building toward a postseason push. The upcoming home game against Niagara Falls on Sunday marks another opportunity to gain ground in the West Division standings, with the playoff field increasingly in view for the Pioneers. The five-man All-Star representation underscores the deep talent within Elmira’s roster as the season progresses toward the postseason.