Nine Baseball Players are All-NWC; Hoffman is Named Freshman of the Year

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Nine Willamette University baseball players have been named to the 2021 All-Northwest Conference Baseball Team, and third baseman Jeff Hoffman (Fy., Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS) has been chosen NWC Baseball Freshman of the Year, in voting by the NWC head coaches. The Bearcats had three players selected for the First Team, with four players on the Second Team, and two players receiving Honorable Mention.

Overall, 53 student-athletes were included on the 2021 All-NWC Baseball Team. Fifteen players were chosen for the First Team along with 15 players on the Second Team and 23 players with Honorable Mention.

First Team All-NWC selections from Willamette were Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS), Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS), and Layton Wagner (So., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS). Named to the Second Team were Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), Sean Little (Sr., 2B, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS), Hoffman, and Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS). Earning Honorable Mention were Eric Waldichuk (Jr., RHP/INF, San Diego, CA/University City HS) and Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS).

"Nine All-Conference honorees is the most we have had in my time at Willamette," Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "This recognition is a testament to the hard work by our players, the culture of our program, and the dedication by our coaching staff to recruit and help develop successful players."

Willamette completed the regular season with a 27-13 overall record, including 21-11 in the NWC. The Bearcats qualified for the four-team NWC Tournament, which is taking place this week in Forest Grove, Oregon.

Chase Anderson, a shortstop from Pacific University, was named NWC Baseball Player of the Year. Will Clark, a pitcher at Pacific, was chosen NWC Baseball Pitcher of the Year. Pacific Head Coach Brian Billings was voted NWC Baseball Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Michael Nelsen (Sr., C) was chosen First Team All-NWC for the first time. He ranked second on the team with 13 home runs and recorded a .296 batting average. He led Willamette with 48 RBIs and scored 29 runs. He also contributed seven doubles, a .664 slugging percentage and 16 walks. He registered a .980 fielding percentage with 179 putouts and 17 assists from behind the plate. He played in 39 games and had 37 starts.

In four seasons at Willamette, Nelsen has played in 74 games with 59 starts. He has belted 16 home runs and 10 doubles, while scoring 40 runs and accumulating 58 RBIs. He has made 263 career putouts to go along with 26 assists.

"Mike's consistent performances behind the plate and on offense were big factors in the team's success," Swick commented. "I'm thrilled he was recognized."

Samuel Daly (So., RF) was selected as a First Team All-NWC player for the first time. He led Willamette with a .400 batting average (58 of 145). He ranked second for WU with 47 RBIs and 13 doubles, while playing in all 40 games with 39 starts. He also scored 38 runs, pounded out 12 homers, and led the team with three triples. He ranked first on the squad with a .779 slugging percentage.

Daly's career statistics include a .354 batting average, 45 runs, 57 RBIs and 13 homers. He owns a career .677 slugging percentage. He has recorded 91 putouts and .989 fielding percentage in the outfield.

 "Sam had big at bats all season and was a big part of our success," Swick noted. "He works extremely hard and it is great to see his efforts rewarded."

Layton Wagner (So., RHP/INF) attained First Team All-NWC recognition for the first time. He was chosen at starting pitcher, but also provided WU with strong play on offense. As a pitcher, he went 7-1 on the mound with a 2.41 earned run average. He struck out a team-high 61 batters in 59 2/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .228 batting average. While batting, Wagner hit .303 with seven doubles and two home runs. He scored 25 times and drove in 13 runs.

In two years with the Bearcats, Wagner has registered 67 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched. He has a .318 career batting average with 13 doubles and three homers. He has scored 41 runs to go along with 25 RBIs.

"Layton was a true #1 pitcher," Swick said. "He gave us quality innings every time he pitched. We won 80% of the games he started."

Second Team All-Northwest Conference

Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B) was named Second Team All-NWC recognition for the first time. He batted .386 this season and scored a team-high 45 runs. He blasted 12 doubles and nine home runs. He provided the Bearcats with 34 RBIs and a .655 slugging percentage. Werkmeister-Martin was 7 for 7 on stolen bases. He contributed a .993 fielding percentage at first base while leading WU with 279 putouts. He saw action in all 40 games and made 39 starts. He led the Bearcats with a .400 batting average in NWC play.

At Willamette, Werkmeister-Martin has achieved a .387 career batting average with 54 runs scored and 43 RBIs. He has pounded 16 career doubles.

"Luke was incredibly consistent," Swick said. "He got on base and scored runs every game and brought great energy to the team."

Sean Little (Sr., 2B) earned Second Team All-NWC honors for the first time this season. He hit .388  with a team-leading .519 on-base percentage, while providing the Bearcats with 14 doubles. He scored 41 runs to trail only Werkmeister-Martin on the WU roster. Little topped the Bearcats with 32 walks and was hit by a pitch five times. He drove in 21 runs and was 10 for 16 on stolen bases. He led Willamette with 93 assists while playing in 39 games with 38 starts.

The senior has played in 80 games with 62 starts over the past four years. He holds a career .347 batting average to go along with 60 runs scored and 38 RBIs. Little has collected 22 doubles and four home runs during his career. He has walked 45 times and is 17 of 24 on stolen bases. He has registered 131 putouts and 111 assists with a .968 fielding percentage.

"Sean had a fantastic season," Swick commented. "We don't keep track of season on-base percentage, but I would guess this season would be at the top of the list. His leadership and spark are a big reason we had such a good season."

Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B) supplied WU with quality efforts as a first-year player this season and was named Second Team All-NWC and NWC Freshman of the Year. He led the Bearcats and the NWC by smacking 14 home runs. He batted .339, drove in 31 runs and scored 29 times. He belted eight doubles. His 22 extra-base hits ranked second on the team. Hoffman also ranked second for the Bearcats with a .774 slugging percentage. He competed in 36 games with 33 starts. Hoffman hit two home runs in the same game twice, against Whitworth University on April 10 and versus Pacific University on May 1.

"Jeff had an incredible year for any player, but especially as a first-year player," Swick noted. "He matured throughout the season and had big plays on offense and defense.

Ethan Fischel (Jr., SS) received Second Team All-NWC status for the first time. He was the only Bearcat to start all 40 regular season games. He supplied a .284 batting average this year, while earning 44 RBIs and scoring 34 runs. He blasted 10 home runs, five doubles, and a triple. He walked 14 times and was hit by eight pitches. He ranked second on the team with 84 assists on defense.

In his career, Fischel has played in 82 games with 78 starts. He has achieved 76 career RBIs while scoring 66 runs. He has connected on 14 homers and 11 doubles. He owns a .264 career batting average. On defense, he has accumulated 104 putouts and 172 assists.

"Fischel got better every week," Swick commented. "It felt like he was in the middle of a lot of our big offensive innings and he made some outstanding plays on defense."

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Eric Waldichuk (Jr., RHP/INF) was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC as a starting pitcher for the first time. He started 10 games and struck out 50 batters in 46 innings. He attained a 3-4 record and a 5.48 ERA.  On offense, he batted .375 with one home run. He provided WU with 20 putouts, seven assists, and no errors on defense for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

During his three seasons with the Bearcats, Waldichuk has pitched 12 times. On offense, he has played in 38 games in his career with 25 starts. He has scored 23 runs and produced 25 RBIs.

"Eric gave us valuable innings and improved with every start," Swick said. "He works hard and it is awesome to have him be recognized."

Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP) was selected Honorable Mention All-NWC as a relief pitcher. He registered a 4-1 record with a 2.11 ERA, and led the NWC with five saves. He struck out 23 batters in 21 1/3 innings pitched. Joyner limited opponents to a .147 batting average. He was credited with NWC wins against Whitman College, George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, and Whitworth University -- all in one-run victories.

"Brady's competitiveness and fire ignited our team when he pitched," Swick said. "It takes a special mentality to close out games and he has it."