Five Bearcats Chosen Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Five members of the Willamette University baseball team have been selected Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference for the 2007 season in voting by the conferences head coaches. Willamettes All-NWC players are senior right fielder Kelly Gilmore (Keizer, OR/McNary HS), senior shortstop Matt Rasmussen (Sandy, UT/Bingham HS), sophomore right-handed pitcher Jarrid Summers (Boise, ID/Boise HS), senior first baseman Grant Yamaguchi (Aiea, HI/Mid Pacific Institute) and junior left fielder Colin Young (Portland, OR/Lincoln HS).

Overall, 64 athletes from the leagues nine teams received All-NWC recognition. The First Team included 17 players, with 17 more on the Second Team and 27 on the Honorable Mention list. Outfielder Dan Wentzell from George Fox University was chosen NWC Player of the Year and starting pitcher Joe DiPietro of Pacific Lutheran University was named NWC Pitcher of the year. PLU Head Coach Geoff Loomis was selected NWC Coach of the Year.

Two Willamette players were repeat selections to the All-NWC squad. In 2006, Gilmore was chosen Second Team All-NWC and Yamaguchi was named Honorable Mention All-NWC.

This year, Gilmore tied for the team lead with five home runs -- all in the final 12 days (8 games) of the season. He played in 37 games and started 36 contests. He hit .250, scored 23 runs and earned 24 RBIs. He ranked second on the team with a .433 on-base percentage and was third with a .438 slugging percentage. Gilmore led the Bearcats with 36 walks and ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in walks per game (0.97). In 2006, he ranked first in Division III with 1.22 walks per game (44 in 36 games).

During his career, Gilmore saw action in 126 games with 113 starts. He achieved a .290 career batting average, with a high of .333 as a junior in 2006. In four seasons with the Bearcats, he accumulated 113 hits in 390 at bats, with 85 runs and 71 RBIs. He pounded out 24 doubles and hit eight home runs. He established Willamette records for walks in a season (44 in 2006) and walks in a career (115). On defense, he achieving a .952 career fielding percentage, with 231 putouts, five assists and 12 errors.

Rasmussen batted .280 this spring, while playing in 35 games (all starts). He scored 15 times, recorded 16 RBIs and walked 16 times. He hit .296 against NWC opponents, with 24 hits in 81 at bats. He ranked second on the team with 11 doubles, including nine in NWC action. He was the primary starter at shortstop, where he registered 52 putouts and 102 assists.

Rasmussen was 4 for 4 with two runs and an RBI in WUs 6-2 win over Whitman College on March 18. He hit two doubles during the contest.

In four seasons with the Bearcats, Rasmussen earned a .266 career batting average with 96 hits in 361 at bats. He scored 50 runs and produced 45 RBIs. He belted a total of 20 doubles and hit three home runs. His career totals on defense were 149 putouts, 321 assists and 39 errors for a .923 fielding percentage.

Summers led the Bearcats in victories, while achieving a 6-4 record and a 5.27 earned run average on the mound. For the season, he held opponents to a .275 batting average. He registered 39 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched. His endurance was a plus for Willamette, as he led the squad with four complete games.

During his first two seasons at Willamette, Summers has seen action in 20 games, with nine starts. He has thrown 97 1/3 innings and has built a 5.27 ERA. He owns an 8-5 overall record to go with 48 career strikeouts. He has provided solid defense, including 17 assists in 12 appearances in 2007.

Yamaguchi hit .296 this spring and played in 37 games (35 starts). He scored 16 runs and contributed 18 RBIs. He belted out eight doubles, a team-high three triples and one home run. He ranked third on the team in batting average and was second with 135 at bats. He registered a team-leading 313 putouts at first base, to go with 22 assists and just six errors. Yamaguchi earned a solid .982 fielding percentage.

In four years as a player for the Bearcats, Yamaguchi saw action in 97 games with 80 starts. He earned 93 hits, including 22 doubles and seven home runs. He scored 44 runs during his career and registered 54 RBIs.He also accumulated 647 putouts and a .983 career fielding percentage on defense.

Young played in 30 games with 19 starts this year. He led the team with a .351 batting average, as he connected for 26 hits in 74 at bats. He scored 14 runs and added 14 RBIs. He blasted two homers and hit seven doubles on his way to a team-high .527 slugging percentage. Young also led the Bearcats with a .437 on-base percentage. He was 7 of 10 on stolen bases. In the outfield, he recorded 32 putouts and made just two errors.

In the second game of a doubleheader against Pacific University on April 22, he went 3 for 4 with a run scored and four RBIs, as Willamette won 9-7. His big hit of the game was a three-run homer.

Through his first three seasons at Willamette, Young has played in 52 games (25 starts) and has achieved a .343 career batting average. He has supplied the Bearcats with 57 putouts and a .950 fielding percentage, while committing only three errors on defense.

Willamette concluded the 2007 season with an 18-21 overall record and a 9-15 mark in the Northwest Conference (5th place tie). Six of Willamettes losses were by two runs or less and another three losses were by three runs apiece. The Bearcats won two of three conference games against each of four NWC opponents: Whitman (March 17-18), Whitworth College (March. 25-26), the University of Puget Sound (March 31-April 1) and Pacific (April 22-23).

2007 All-NWC Baseball Team

NWC Coach of the Year:
Geoff Loomis (PLU)

NWC Player of the Year:
Dan Wentzell (George Fox)

NWC Pitcher of the Year:
Joe DiPietro (PLU)

First Team All-NWC
Catchers -
Ryan Fobert, George Fox (Jr./Jr., Dallas, Ore. - Dallas)
Brandon Sales, PLU (So./So., Snoqualmie, Wash. - Mount Si)

First Base -
Jordan Post, PLU (So./So., Beaverton, Ore. - Southridge)

Second Base -
Pat Bailey, George Fox (So./So., Highland, Utah - Lone Peak)

Third Base -
Jared Simon, PLU (Sr./Sr., Auburn, Wash. - Auburn)

Shortstop -
Tim Steggall, UPS (Fr., Vacaville, Calif. - Justin-Siena)

Outfield -
Drew Johnson, George Fox (Sr./Sr., New Plymouth, Idaho - New Plymouth)
Dan Wentzell, George Fox (Sr./Sr., Tualatin, Ore. - Tualatin)
Kevin Mills, Linfield (Jr./Jr., Tigard, Ore. - Tigard)
Ryan Thorne, PLU (Sr./Sr., Kent, Wash. - Kentwood)

DH -
Stew Davis, Linfield (Jr./So., Spokane, Wash. - Univ. of Washington)

Utility -
Josh Burch, George Fox (So./So. Redding, Calif. - Shasta)

Starting Pitchers -
Nick Bratney, George Fox (So./So., Boise, Idaho - Bishop Kelly)
Brian Clark, Linfield (Jr./Jr., Bellevue, Wash. - Sammamish)
Joe DiPietro, PLU (Sr./Sr., Yakima, Wash. - Eisenhower)
Brett Brunner, PLU (Jr./Jr., Dallas, Ore. - Chemeketa CC)

Relief Pitcher -
Hunter Simpson, PLU (So./So., Pullman, Wash. - Washington State Univ.)

Second Team All-NWC
Catchers -
Drew Van Cleave, Linfield (Jr./Jr., Pendleton, Ore. - Pendleton)
Dan Ramsay, Whitworth (Jr./So., Spokane, Wash. - Gonzaga Univ.)

First Base -
Bryan Donohue, George Fox (Sr./Sr., Gresham, Ore. - Sam Barlow)

Second Base -
Cory Ellis, Linfield (Jr./So., Hillsboro, Ore. - Oregon State Univ.)

Third Base -
Bo Thunell, George Fox (So./So., Canyon City, Ore. - Grant Union)

Shortstop -
David Bachofner, Linfield (Jr./Jr., Tigard, Ore. - Tigard)

Outfield -
Daniel Downs, George Fox (Sr./Sr., Kirkland, Wash. - Bellevue Christian)
Greg Williams, Lewis & Clark (Sr./Sr., San Diego, Calif. - Mt. Carmel)
Michael Olsen, UPS (Jr., Niwot, Colo. - Niwot)
Justin Whitehall, PLU (Sr./Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore. - Lakeridge)

DH -
Joe Newland, UPS (Jr., Tulalip, Wash. - Marysville-Pilchuck)

Utility -
Shaun Kiriu, UPS (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii - Punahou)

Starting Pitchers -
Preston Langeliers, George Fox (Sr./Jr., Pleasant Hill, Ore. - Columbia Basin Coll.)
Cameron Larson, Linfield (So./So., Beaverton, Ore. - Beaverton)
Kael Fisher, PLU (Sr./Sr., Everett, Wash. - Concordia College Minn.)
Chad Flett, Whitworth (Jr./Jr., Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane)

Relief Pitcher -
Kyle Barksdale, Pacific (So./So., Portland, Ore. - Grant)

Honorable Mention All-NWC
IF - Joel Tampien, Whitworth (Sr., Moses Lake, Wash. - Moses Lake Christian)
IF - Grant Yamaguchi, Willamette (Sr., Aiea, Hawaii - Mid Pacific Institute)
IF - Rhett Fenton, Linfield (Fr./Fr., Bellingham, Wash. - Squalicum)
IF - Jordan Shibata, Lewis & Clark (Jr./Jr., Pearl City, Hawaii - Aiea)
IF - Logan Andrews, PLU (Sr./Sr., Rainier, Ore. - Rainier)
IF - Matt Rasmussen, Willamette (Sr., Sandy, Utah - Bingham)
IF - Ryne Webb, Whitworth (Sr., Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane)
OF - Caleb Kearns, Linfield (Sr./Sr., Dayton, Ore. - Dayton)
OF - Tyler Green, PLU (Sr./Sr., Fairfield, Calif. - Skagit Valley JC)
OF - Gregorio Beck, UPS (Jr., Chico, Calif. - Chico)
OF - Chris Dunbar, UPS (Sr., Camano Island, Wash. - Everett CC)
OF - JJ Jones, Whitworth (Jr., Moses Lake, Wash. - Day Star Christian)
OF - Van Lierman, Whitworth (Sr., Bothell, Wash. - Bothell)
OF - Kelly Gilmore, Willamette (Sr., Keizer, Ore. - McNary)
OF - Colin Young, Willamette (Jr., Portland, Ore. - Lincoln)
DH - Kris Hansen, PLU (So./So., University Place, Wash. - Curtis)
Util. - Sami Morgan, Lewis & Clark (Fr./Fr., San Mateo, Calif. - Menlo School)
Util. - Ryan Bailey, Pacific (Jr./Jr., Richland, Wash. - Blue Mountain CC)
Pitcher - Chris Albrecht, George Fox (Sr./Sr., Woodinville, Wash. - Gonzaga Univ.)
Pitcher - Jordon Smiley, Lewis & Clark (Jr./Jr., Las Vegas, Nev. - Centennial)
Pitcher - Ryan Gustafson, UPS (Jr., Bellevue, Wash. - Sammamish)
Pitcher - Evan Scandling, UPS (Jr., Juneau, Alaska - Lane CC)
Pitcher - Jarrid Summers, Willamette (So., Boise, Idaho - Boise)
Pitcher - Derek Haner, Pacific (Sr./Sr., Portland, Ore. - Roosevelt)
Pitcher - Brandon Zimmerman, Whitworth (Sr., Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane)
Pitcher - Nick Hedgecock, George Fox (Jr./Jr., Portland, Ore. - Wilson)
Pitcher - Dylan Stanford, PLU (So./So., Portland, Ore. - Wilson)