Previewing the 8 teams in this weekends NWAC Championship Tournament
The Tournament runs Thursday, May 25 – Monday, May 29 at David Story Field on the campus of Lower Columbia College
Bellevue (34-16, 24-6) North Conference Champions
How they got here: Bellevue won the North, finishing the regular season on a 14 game winning streak
TEAM BA .274 (T2nd – Overall in NWAC) / TEAM ERA 2.81 (5th) / Team FLD% .947 (T21st)
Players to watch:
P Ryan Lynch 7-0 55IP, 0.65 ERA, 67K, 7 BB
OF/P Cam Hoiland .296/.428/.475, 16 2B, 3 HR, 23 SB | 8-3 69.1IP, 1.30 ERA, 79K
INF/P Rylen Bayne .311/.369/.393, 11 2B, 2 3B, 13 SB | 5-0, 2 SV 37.1IP, 1.45 ERA 30K
SS Abe Affholter .356/.450/.431 6 2B, 2 HR, 17 SB
Notes: 3 more arms to watch: P Jake Kaepernick (8-2, 3.10 ERA, 50K) is another quality starter for Bellevue. Carter Avery (3.44 ERA, 10.06 K/9) and Jack Erdman (2.63 ERA 9.64) have each logged starts and appearances out of the bullpen. OF Nate Cain leads the team in RBI with 37.
North Region Awards: Rylen Bayne, MVP; P Ryan Lynch, 1st Team; P Cam Hoiland, 1st Team & Gold Glove; C Evan Holman, 1st Team; Abe Affholter, 1st Team; OF Nate Cain, 1st Team; P Jacob Kaepernick, 2nd Team; Ryker Fortier, 2nd Team; OF Parker Cumberland, 2nd Team; HC David Olson, Coach of the Year; AC Cody Anderson, Asst Coach of the Year
Lower Columbia (35-13, 21-3) West Conference Champions
How they got here: Neck-and-neck with Tacoma most of the season, the Red Devils finished the regular season on a 14-game win streak and clinched the conference by one game.
TEAM BA .271 (5th) / TEAM ERA 3.46 (8th) / TEAM FLD% .983 (2nd)
Players to watch:
LHP Michael Schwarz 6-2, 72IP, 2.38 ERA, 58K
INF Easton Amundson .336/.428/.596, 7 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 44 RBI
C Justin Stransky .320/.444/.510, 11 2B, 6 HR, 29 RBI, .994 FLD% (1 error in 328 chances)
INF Cayden Wotipka .320/.387/.553, 4 2B, 6 HR, 26 RBI
Notes: RHP Mac Elske (20.1IP, 3 SV, 2.66 ERA, 19K) and RHP Carson Kruckman (19IP, 0.95 ERA, 18K) have been excellent out of the bullpen for LCC. MIF Tyler Peterson (.299, 4 2B, 3B, HR) and IF Tyler Reese (.304, 3 2B) have been the table setters, batting 1-2 for a good portion of the season.
West Region Awards: Easton Amundson, MVP; P Michael Schwarz, 1st Team; C Justin Stransky, 1st Team; OF Tyler Reese, 1st Team; DH Cayden Wotipka, 1st Team; INF Tyler Peterson, 2nd Team; OF Kyle Parkman, 2nd Team; OF Wren Cecil, Gold Glove; HC Kurt Lupinski, Coach of the Year; AC Brian Valentine, Asst Coach of the Year
Spokane (30-16, 23-5) East Conference Champions
How they got here: Spokane won the East by 4 games. In April, they went on a 14-game winning streak. In the final seven games of that streak, they did not allow a single run.
TEAM BA .249 (T9th) / TEAM ERA 2.62 (4th) / TEAM FLD% .963 (8th)
Players to watch:
RHP/INF Garrett Gores .345/.490/.480, 9 2B, 3 HR | 7-3 80IP, 0.90 ERA, 86K
LHP Liam Paddack 24.2IP, 2.55 ERA, 12.77 K/9
RHP Nick Bateman 6-0 50IP, 1.44 ERA, 34K
UTL Carson Coffield .321/.420/.475, 10 2B, 5 HR, 32 RBI
Notes: RHP Michael Cunneely (52IP, 8.43 K/9) and LHP Troy Shephard (37.1IP, 11.81 K/9) have been big out of the pen in short and multi-inning roles. RHP Devyn Hernandez has the best K/9 among their starters at 11.81 to go along with a 3.09 ERA over 43.2 innings. INF Marcus Manzardo leads the team in runs (40) and stolen bases (17).
East Region Awards: Garret Gores, MVP & Gold Glove; P Nate Bateman, 1st Team; RP Mike Cunneely, 1st Team; INF Marcus Manzardo, 1st Team; UTL Carson Coffield, 1st Team; INF Cannon Marshall, 2nd Team; INF Bryson Vaughn, 2nd Team & Gold Glove; OF Jaxson Davis, 2nd Team; Deyvn Hernandez, Gold Glove; HC Ryne Webb, Coach of the Year
Linn-Benton (28-16, 23-13) South Conference Champions
How they got here: A strong 2nd half for the LBCC, 16-6 in their last 22, coupled with Lane struggling down the stretch helped the Beaks win the conference on the last day of the season.
TEAM BA .266 (8th) / TEAM ERA 2.57 (3rd) / TEAM FLD% .966 (4th)
Players to watch:
INF Cole Cramer .325/.403./.398, 8 2B, 3 3B, 15 SB
INF Titus Dumitru .319/.400/.423, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 14 SB
RHP Dylan Rush 59.2IP, 1.66 ERA, 37K
RHP Chase Reynolds 56.2IP, 1.91 ERA, 53K
RHP Brady Baltus 11 GS, 68 IP, 3.18 ERA, 53K
Other Notes: Kaden Miller has thrown 3 complete games with a 2.96 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 45.2 innings. Out of the pen, relievers Camden Stephens (2.73 ERA, 10.36 K/9) and Kellan Oakes (2.63 ERA, 10.13 ERA) have been outstanding. UTL Aidan Dougherty (.326, 5 2B, 3B, 15 SB) and OF Trey Nelson (.311, 7 2B, 2 HR) are two other bats the Beaks will rely on.
South Region Awards: Titus Dumitru, MVP; P Dylan Rush, 1st Team; INF Cole Cramer, 1st Team; OF Aiden Dougherty, 1st Team; DH Trey Nelson, 1st Team; P Chase Reynolds, 2nd Team; P Brady Baltus, 2nd Team
Edmonds (37-13, 21-7) North Super Regional Champs
How they got here: Finishing 2nd in the North and hosting the South Super, the Tritons defeated Clark 12-2, 6-0 to advance. Edmonds comes in hot, winning 9 games in their last 10.
TEAM BA .273 (4th) / TEAM ERA 2.93 (6th) / TEAM FLD% .983 (1st)
Players to watch:
RHP Joshua Flaugher 11-1 85 IP, 2.33 ERA, 77K
LHP Anthony Sendejas 8-0 69.1 IP, 2.60 ERA, 61K
RHP Kade Coombe 4-1, 3 SV 47.1 IP, 2.66 ERA, 54K
UTL Alex Fernandes .285/.403/.418, 8 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 17 SB
OF Chanz Doughty .250/.367/.452, 2 2B, 7 HR, 7 SB
Other Notes: The Tritons also have 3 players hitting over .300 on the season: INF Colby Holmdahl (.336, 5 2B, 22 RBI), C Brock McMullen (.315, 14 SB, .996 FLD%), and OF Eli Savitt (.306, 6 2B, 20 SB). INF Anthony Kodama leads the team in doubles (11). The Tritons have seven regulars (at least 35 games played) with a fielding percentage of .990 or better!
North Region Awards: P Joshua Flaugher, 1st Team & Gold Glove; 1B Colby Holmdahl, 1st Team & Gold Glove; INF Anthony Kodama, 1st Team & Gold Glove; OF Eli Savitt, 1st Team & Gold Glove; P Anthony Sendejas, 2nd Team; INF Mason Persons, 2nd Team & Gold Glove; OF Alex Fernandes, 2nd Team; UTL Evan Jilbert, 2nd Team; DH Chanz Doughty, 2nd Team; C Brock McMullen, Gold Glove
Tacoma (41-5, 20-4) West Super Regional Champions
How they got here: TCC started 19-0, are currently ranked #25 by Perfect game (last rank 4/26), and had the best overall record in the NWAC by 8 games. By the end of conference play, one game separated Tacoma from LCC. Tacoma finished 2nd, hosted their super regional and defeated Big Bend 2-1, 5-1 to advance.
TEAM BA .274 (T2) / TEAM ERA 1.65 (1st) / TEAM FLD% .961 (11th)
Players to watch:
INF Drake Anderson .323/.406/.445 7 2B, 4 HR, 39 RBI, 11 SB
OF Kamana Nahaku .306/.437/.406 6 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 23 SB
RHP Justin Feld 9-1, 2 CG, 80IP, 0.79 ERA, 79K
RHP Elijah Higginbottom 6-1, 3 SV, 2 CG 58.2IP, 0.92 ERA, 61K
RHP Dylan Watts 2-0, 6 SV 31.2IP, 0.28 ERA, 11.37 K/9
Other Notes: Jack Berg (1.07 ERA), and Cho Tofte (2.45 ERA) are each striking out over 11 per 9 innings out of the pen. RHP Connor Schlect (41 IP, 1.73 ERA), Jason Proudfit (30.2 IP, 2.05 ERA), and LHP Tanner Douglas (48.2 IP, 2.77 ERA) have all been excellent as well. Other big bats to watch are INF Jeramiah Crain (.322/.392/.450, 32 RBI) who leads the team in doubles (13), and C Dane Woodcook (.333/.464/.426, 5 2B, 2 3B, HR).
West Region Awards: P Justin Feld, 1st Team; P Elijah Higginbottom, 1st Team; RP Dylan Watts, 1st Team; INF Drake Anderson, 1st Team; INF Jeramiah Crain, 1st Team; INF Dane Woodcook, 1st Team; OF Kamana Nahaku, 1st Team & Gold Glove; P Tanner Douglas, 2nd Team; RP Jack Berg, 2nd Team; C Shugo Kondo, 2nd Team; INF Drew Johnson, 2nd Team;
Columbia Basin (34-18, 19-9) East Super Regional Champion
How they got here: Finished 2nd in the East Conference. CBC hosted their Super and beat Pierce 3-1, 5-4 to advance. CBC comes in on a roll, going 9-1 in their last 10 games.
TEAM BA .284 (1st) / TEAM ERA 3.66 (11th) / TEAM FLD% .947 (T21st)
Players to watch:
RHP Cameron Soliz 10-1, 2 CG, 88.2 IP, 1.12 ERA, 102 K
RHP Dylan Berry 5-3, 67.1IP, 3.21 ERA, 74 K
OF Steven Meier .403/.520/.560, 12 2B, 5 3B, HR, 26 SB
OF Brooks Rasmussen .354/.434/.383, 4 2B, 3B, 28 RBI, 26 SB
INF Gaven Mattson .338/.412/.443, 10 2B, 4 3B, HR, 37 RBI, 14 SB
Other Notes: RHP Landon Webb (45.1IP, 2.18 ERA, 43 K) has been excellent in mainly a multi-inning relief role. RHP Josh Ruffner leads the team in K/9 at 12.94, with a 1.13 ERA in 12 appearances out of the pen. OF Hayden Matray (.284, 8 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 49 RBI – team lead) and INF Harper Huang (.261, 10 2B, 2 HR) are other big bats to look out for when the Hawks are up.
East Region Awards: P Cameron Soliz, 1st Team; INF Will Baker, 1st Team & Gold Glove; OF Steven Meier, 1st Team & Gold Glove; Brooks Rasmussen, 1st Team; DH Gaven Mattson, 1st Team; Dylan Berry, 2nd Team; RP Landon Webb, 2nd Team; INF Harper Huang, 2nd Team; Makai Miyamoto, 2nd Team; OF Hayden Matray, 2nd Team; AC Tyler Charlo, Asst Coach of the Year
Lane (26-21, 22-14) South Super Regional Champion
How they got here: In first place for most of the season, the Titans struggled down the stretch and ended up finishing 2nd. They hosted their Super Regional where they defeated Everett in three games.
TEAM BA .249 (T9th) / TEAM ERA 3.90 (15th) / TEAM FLD% .962 (10th)
Players to watch:
RHP Jackson Bolender 7-0, 3 SV, 2 CG, 47IP, 1.72 ERA, 29K
RHP Jackson Elder 5-4, 58.1IP, 4.01 ERA, 72K
SS/RHP Cole Calnon .255/.361/.323, 6 2B, 3B, HR, 12 SB | 3-2, 2 SV, 2 CG 48.2IP, 1.85 ERA, 48 K
OF Ryan Thomas .333/.440/.507, 10 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 29 RBI, 11 SB
Other Notes: RHP Beau Burnett has been a top arm out of the pen for the Titans: 15 APP, 30.2 IP, 3 SV, 2.05 ERA, 29 strikeouts. C Nate May (.283, 6 2B, HR, 26 RBI, 12 SB) has been excellent behind the plate, just one error in 279 chances (.996 FLD%). INF Bryan Royas (.290/.348/.407, 9 2B, 3B, 2 HR) is another big bat for the Titans.
South Region Awards: C Nate May, 1st Team; INF Bryan Rojas, 1st Team & Gold Glove; OF Ryan Thomas, 1st Team; P Jackson Bolender, 2nd Team; INF Cole Calnon, 2nd Team & Gold Glove; INF Noah Juarez, 2nd Team
Games will be broadcast on the NWAC Sports Network
Broadcast – Single Game Pass $12; Full Tournament Pass $35
Radio – KLOG.com
Scores – Scoreboard
