Anthony Balderas begins his first season as Cumberland’s pitching coach in 2026, bringing championship experience both as a player and coach from one of the NAIA’s premier programs.
Prior to arriving at Cumberland, he spent nine seasons as an assistant coach at Lewis-Clark State College, where he helped guide the Warriors to sustained national success. During his time on staff, Lewis-Clark State remained a perennial NAIA World Series contender, building on a tradition he was personally part of as a player.
As a student-athlete at Lewis-Clark State, he played two seasons and helped the Warriors capture two Avista NAIA World Series national championships. In the championship game of his senior season, he pitched the final two innings to secure the save and close out the national title.
On the mound, he was a reliable and dominant presence out of the bullpen. In 2017, he led the team with four saves, appearing in 17 games and averaging 2.33 innings per outing. As a junior, he made 14 appearances, all in relief, posting a 4-0 record with a 2.33 ERA. He finished second on the team with four saves while striking out 28 batters and issuing just two walks across 27 innings, showcasing exceptional command. Three of his outings included at least two innings of work without allowing a hit, walk, or run.
Before his time at Lewis-Clark State, he competed at Palomar College, helping lead the Comets to the 2015 California State Finals. He earned Honorable Mention All-PCAC honors after finishing 4-0 in 31 appearances with a 1.12 ERA over 32.2 innings. A two-way player, he also started 43 of 57 games at first base, hitting .307 with 51 hits, 34 RBI, and 29 runs scored.
A native of Carlsbad, California, he is a graduate of La Costa Canyon High School, where he helped lead his team to a CIF Championship.
Now at Cumberland, he will oversee the development of the Phoenix pitching staff, bringing a proven track record of player development, championship experience, and bullpen expertise to the program.
