LOS ANGELES -- Cal State LA's Atticus Gonzalez earned the California Collegiate Athletic Association's top academic award for baseball prior to the Golden Eagles' first-round CCAA Tournament game against Chico State on Wednesday.

Gonzalez was presented with the Elite 13 Award for baseball by CCAA Commissioner Allen Hardison at Reeder Field. 

Originally established as the CCAA Championship Scholar Award in the 2017-18 academic year, the Elite 13 Award was re-branded in the fall of 2021 to bring into focus the 13 CCAA championship sports that offer the award.

The Elite 13 Award recognizes the academic and athletic achievement of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached competition at the Conference championship level while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average participating in each CCAA-sponsored championship. The student-athlete must be at least a junior or senior in academic standing with at least 60 units completed at his or her current institution.

Gonzalez becomes the first Cal State LA baseball player to earn the award.

He is a junior academically and majoring in computer science. Gonzalez earned 2023-24 CCAA All-Academic honors.

On the field, he has made meaningful contributions this season out of the bullpen. He has made 11 appearances - all in relief - and is 1-0 with a 6.35 earned run average. 

He got his first career win after pitching two scoreless innings in an 8-7, 13-inning victory over Cal State San Marcos on Feb. 28. He also pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, against Cal State Monterey Bay on April 13.