Summers is Selected First Team All-Northwest Conference in Baseball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior catcher Dylan Summers (Lake Oswego, OR/Lakeridge HS) has been chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2012 season as determined by the NWC head coaches.

Mitch Rowan (Sr., LF, Cotati, CA/Rancho Cotate HS) was named to the Second Team, while Tommy Kawamura (So., SS, Renton, WA/Lindbergh HS) and Sky Kelley (Jr., RF, Portland, OR/Jesuit HS) earned Honorable Mention.

Willamette finished the season with a 14-23 overall record, including 9-14 in the Northwest Conference (6th place).

The Bearcats ranked second in the nation in NCAA Division III with 35 home runs in 37 games played for an average of 0.95 home runs per game. The Bearcats ranked eighth in the nation with 190 walks. Willamette averaged 6.73 runs per game.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Summers achieved a .340 batting average for the season and recorded at least one hit in 19 of his last 20 games, including a 13-game hitting streak. During those last 20 games, he hit .413 for the Bearcats and drove in at least one RBI 13 times.

He played in 30 games with 27 starts. He hit seven doubles, two triples and four home runs for a .563 slugging percentage. He ranked second on the team with 25 RBIs. On defense, he registered 115 putouts and 26 assists. He batted .350 in Northwest Conference action with 28 hits and 18 RBIs in 22 games played.

In four seasons at Willamette, Summers attained a .277 batting average to go with 51 RBIs and eight home runs. He recorded 240 putouts from behind the plate. He saw action in a total of 78 games, including 52 starts.

Second Team All-Northwest Conference

Rowan returned to action after missing most of the 2011 season with a broken hand. This year, he led the Bearcats with a .342 average, a .719 slugging percentage and a .503 on-base percentage. He also ranked first on the team with 10 home runs, 11 doubles, 40 RBIs, 34 runs scored, 36 walks and three sacrifice flies. He was 10 for 10 on stolen bases.

He ended the season ranked 13th in NCAA Division III in home runs and home runs per game (10 in 37 games). He ranked fifth in Division III in walks per game (36 in 37 games).

Over the past four seasons, Rowan achieved a .356 career batting average, including a career-high of .403 in 2010. He recorded 144 hits in 404 at bats, while scoring 103 runs and producing 123 RBIs. He finished his career ranked fourth all-time in batting average, third in home runs (27), fifth in RBIs and tied for seventh in doubles (32). He was 26 of 28 on stolen base attempts. He has earned 167 putouts and three assists.

It was the second time Rowan has been named to the All-NWC team. He was named First Team All-Region and First Team All-NWC in 2010.

Rowan will graduate this spring with a bachelor's degree in Exercise Science. This summer, he will play with the Willmar Stingers (Minn.) of the Northwoods League, where he ranked ninth in the entire league with a .333 average in 2011.

He has signed with the University of San Francisco to play NCAA Division I baseball next season. He will be using the year of eligibility he received from a medical hardship waiver following his injury in 2010.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Kawamura was a solid and consistent player for the Bearcats this season. He was the only player on the team to start 36 of the team's 37 games.

He scored 30 runs, walked 29 times and was successful on 9 of 10 stolen base attempts. He led the team with five sacrifice bunts. He earned at least one hit in 24 games, including 11 of his final 13 games.

His 29 walks ranked 17th in the NCAA Division III and he was 26th in Division III in walks per game (0.81).

On defense, he provided WU with a team-high 108 assists and also contributed 49 putouts.

During his first two seasons with the Bearcats, he has recorded a .298 career batting average to go with 57 runs, 29 RBIs and 56 walks. He has registered eight sacrifice bunts and three sacrifice flies. He is 16 of 20 on career stolen base attempts. His career defensive statistics include 117 putouts and 198 assists. He played mostly at second base as a freshman, before moving to shortstop this spring.

Kelley batted .325 this spring and ranked second on the team with eight home runs. He missed part of the season due to a hamstring injury, but still saw action in 26 games with 25 starts. He achieved a .700 slugging percentage, which ranked second on the team.

In three seasons at Willamette, Kelley has attained All-NWC honors twice. He previously was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2010.