Steindorf and Fessler Earn First Team All-Northwest Conference Recognition

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Matt Steindorf (So., RHP, Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) and Mason Fessler (Jr., DH, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School) of Willamette University have been named First Team All-Northwest Conference for the 2017 season in voting by the NWC head coaches. Bearcat players Connor Bailey (So., LF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and Jett Gallagher (Jr., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) received Honorable Mention recognition.

A total of 44 players were selected for the 2017 All-Northwest Conference Baseball Team. Fifteen athletes were named to the First Team, with 15 players on the Second Team and 14 athletes earning Honorable Mention.

Outfielder Scott Hilpert of Linfield College was named NWC Player of the Year. Cason Cunningham from Linfield was chosen NWC Pitcher of the Year. Pitcher Eric Ma from Whitman College was selected NWC Freshman of the Year. Head Coach Scott Carnahan of Linfield was named NWC Coach of the Year.

Willamette finished the regular season with a 26-12 record, including 18-6 in the NWC (2nd place). The Bearcats qualified for the NWC Baseball Tournament as the #2 seed and reached the championship game, before Linfield defeated Willamette, 6-4. The Bearcats, who had no seniors on their roster, attained an overall record of 28-14 for the team's most victories since going 29-16 in 2001. Willamette won many close games to finish the season with a 12-2 record in one-run games against NWC opponents.

First Team All-Northwest Conference

Matt Steindorf (So., RHP) received First Team All-NWC honors for the first time. He led the NWC with 88 1/3 innings pitched and tied for the most wins in the NWC with an 8-2 record. He was second in the conference with three complete games, including a 6-5 win over Pacific Lutheran University in the first round of the NWC Tournament. He ranked fifth in the NWC with 59 strikeouts.

Steindorf registered a solid 3.87 earned run average while pitching in 14 games with 12 starts. He provided 28 assists and one putout on defense. He was credited with five assists in a single game two times this spring.

In two seasons at Willamette, Steindorf has achieved a 14-4 record with a 3.70 ERA. He has recorded 97 strikeouts in 163 2/3 innings, while allowing just 33 walks. He struck out a career-high 10 batters against Lewis & Clark College on March 19, 2016. He has accumulated 45 assists during his career on defense.

"Matt had a fantastic season and was very deserving of being recognized as one of the top pitchers in the conference," Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "He was the ace of our staff and a true 'bulldog' on the mound."

Mason Fessler (Jr., DH) was chosen First Team All-NWC for the first time. In 2016, Fessler received Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition.

This year, Fessler batted .277 for the Bearcats and led the NWC with 30 walks. He tied for second on Willamette's team with 28 RBIs and was third with five home runs. He also hit five doubles and scored 21 times. He was 11 of 14 on stolen bases.

Against Lewis & Clark on April 14, he hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to tie the game, and then added a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth to bring home the winning run in a 4-3 win over the Pioneers.

During three years with the Bearcats, Fessler has recorded a .290 career batting average to go along with 54 runs scored, 66 RBIs, 22 doubles and 10 home runs. He has walked 61 times and has been hit by pitches 12 times.

"It isn't easy to be a designated hitter and Mason excelled at it," Swick noted. "Whether it was getting on base, delivering a big hit, or stealing bases, he was a big factor in our offensive success."

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Connor Bailey (So., LF) led Willamette's offense with a .351 batting average and a .443 on-base percentage this season. He also ranked first with 11 doubles. He was second on the offensive chart with 30 runs scored and six home runs, and tied for second with 28 RBIs. His batting averaged ranked ninth in the NWC and his on-base percentage ranked fifth.

Bailey's first two seasons have been outstanding. He owns a .332 career batting average with 57 runs scored and 50 RBIs. Nearly half of his hits have been for extra bases, with 18 doubles, three triples and seven home runs. In the outfield, he has recorded 140 career putouts, including 71 putouts this spring.

"Connor is a baseball rat," Swick said. "He loves the game and competing. He was our most consistent player and his body of work for the season was very impressive."

Jett Gallagher (Jr., RHP) was a very strong relief pitcher for the Bearcats this year. He led the team with 16 appearances, registered a 5-2 record on the mound, and ranked second in the NWC with five saves. He pitched 36 innings for Willamette with a 4.00 ERA and 22 strikeouts. He walked just 10 batters.

Gallegher was credited with wins over Whitworth, Whitman, George Fox, Pacific Lutheran and Lewis & Clark, all by one run in conference play. Against Whitman, in a 4-3 victory in 14 innings, he pitched the final six innings without allowing a run.

In his career, Gallagher has pitched 103 1/3 innings in 38 games. He has recorded a 5.31 career ERA, including 4.70 over the past two years. He has struck out 53 batters.

"Jett was in the middle of every close game, and his ability to flourish in tight spots was a huge reason for our team's success," Swick said.