ABCA Chooses Seven Bearcats for All-West Region Honors in Baseball

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University baseball team had an outstanding season this spring with a 30-15 record, a .313 team batting average, and solid pitching. The Bearcats have been rewarded by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) with seven selections to the 2021 All-West Region Baseball Team.

First Team Selections for the Bearcats were Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS), Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS), and Samuel Daly (So., RF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS). Chosen for the Second Team was Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS). Named to the Third Team were Sean Little (Sr., 2B, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS), Layton Wagner (So., RHP/INF, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), and Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS).

A total of 39 student-athletes were chosen to the ABCA All-West Region Team. Fourteen players were named to the First Team. Twelve student-athletes received Second Team honors, and 13 players were chosen for the Third Team.

Shortstop Chase Anderson (Sr.) of Pacific University was named West Region Position Player of the Year. Isaiah Alvarenga (So.) from East Texas Baptist University and Will Clark (So.) from Pacific were selected as West Region Co-Pitchers of the Year.

"I am thrilled we had so many players who were selected for All-Region," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "It is a true testament to the hard work of our players, the effort of our coaching staff, and the foundational principles of our program."

Willamette finished the regular season at 27-13, including 21-11 (3rd place) in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats reached the championship game of the NWC Tournament before falling to Pacific University. It was Willamette's ninth consecutive season with a .500 or better record, including seven winning records during that stretch. This year, Willamette set school offensive records with 343 runs scored, 68 home runs, and 315 RBIs. The Bearcats tied a school record with 97 doubles. WU pitchers struck out a school record 288 batters, 20 more than the previous record of 268 set in 1998.

First Team All-West Region

Michael Nelsen (Sr., C) blasted 13 home runs to rank second in the team and connected on 10 doubles during the season while hitting .290 for the Bearcats. He was named First Team All-NWC. He topped Willamette's offensive chart with 50 RBIs. He also scored 32 runs and earned a .628 slugging percentage. He walked 17 times and was hit by six pitches. He earned a .983 fielding percentage, including 208 putouts and 18 assists. He competed in 44 games with 42 starts.

During his four seasons at Willamette, Nelsen played in 79 games with 63 starts. He smacked 16 home runs and 13 doubles. He registered 60 RBIs to go along with 43 runs scored. He walked 29 times. Nelsen was credited with 292 career putouts and 27 career assists on his way to a .979 career fielding percentage.

Luke Werkmeister-Martin (So., 1B) led Willamette with a .379 batting average this spring. He ranked first on the roster with 64 hits and tied for first with 46 runs scored. He belted 10 homers and 13 doubles while providing a .633 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage. He recorded 36 RBIs, earned a team-high four sacrifice flies, and went 7 for 7 on stolen bases. He was the team's leader on defense with 322 putouts. He attained a .994 fielding percentage while playing in all 45 games with 44 starts. Werkmeister-Martin was named Second Team All-NWC.

In two seasons with the Bearcats, Werkmeister-Martin has registered a .381 career batting average with 80 hits, 55 runs, and 45 RBIs. He has accumulated 17 doubles. He has made 361 putouts on defense with a .992 career fielding percentage.

Samuel Daly (So., RF) supplied the Bearcats with a .359 batting average with 12 homers, three triples, and 14 doubles for a team-high 29 extra-base hits. He was chosen First Team All-NWC. During the season, ranked second on the team with 49 RBIs. In addition, Daly scored 40 runs, put together a .695 slugging percentage, and had a .412 on-base percentage. He produced three sacrifice flies. He played in all 45 games and had 44 starts. This year, he recorded 90 putouts and a .989 fielding percentage.

Over the past two years, Daly has accumulated 59 RBIs, 47 runs, 17 doubles, and 13 homers. He owns a .327 career batting average and a .621 career slugging percentage. On defense, he has contributed 110 putouts and a .991 fielding percentage.

Second Team All-West Region

Jeff Hoffman (Fy., 3B) received Second Team All-Region honors after being chosen as the NWC Freshman of the Year and earning Second Team All-NWC recognition. At the plate, he topped Willamette with 15 home runs and a .711 slugging percentage. He batted .311, scored 34 runs, and recorded 33 RBIs. He pounded nine doubles and was 2 for 2 on stolen bases. On defense, he supplied the Bearcats with 32 putouts and 65 assists.

Hoffman played in 41 games and made 38 starts. He smacked two home runs in the same game twice, against Whitworth University on April 10 and versus Pacific University on May 1.

Third Team All-West Region

Sean Little (Sr., 2B) finished the season ranked second on the team with a .378 batting average, just .001 behind Werkmeister-Martin. Little saw action in 44 games with 43 starts. He led Willamette with a .530 on-base percentage, 16 doubles, and 38 walks. He tied for the team lead with 46 runs. He connected for 51 hits and stole 11 bases. On defense, he was WU's leader with 105 assists. He also achieved 85 putouts and a .969 fielding percentage. He was chosen Second Team All-NWC.

In four seasons with the Bearcats, Little scored 65 runs and provided 40 RBIs. He blasted 24 doubles and four homers. His career stats also include a .345 batting average, a .500 slugging percentage, and a .481 on-base percentage. He was 18 of 25 on stolen bases. He was credited with 145 putouts and 123 assists while attaining a .971 career fielding percentage.

Layton Wagner (So., RHP/INF) was a First Team All-NWC selection as a starting pitcher. His efforts on the mound allowed him to go 7-1 with a 2.79 earned run average and 66 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. His strikeout total placed him 14th on Willamette's all-time pitching list. Wagner held opponents to a .243 batting average.

At the plate, Wagner hit .282 for the Bearcats with eight doubles and two home runs. He scored 27 runs and supplied 15 RBIs. He was 6 of 8 in stolen bases and received 11 walks. He made 36 assists on defense. He played in 40 games with 36 starts. He received First Team All-NWC honors.

Wagner's two-year pitching totals at WU include a 2.52 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 75 innings. His career batting average is .302 with 43 runs, 27 RBIs, 14 doubles, and three homers.

Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP) gave the Bearcats great pitching as the team's closer. He saw action in 15 games and covered 31 innings on the mound. He registered an impressive 1.74 ERA for fifth place on WU's all-time list. He finished the year with a 6-1 record, five saves, and 30 strikeouts. He limited opposing hitters to a .135 batting average. He was named Honorable Mention All-NWC.

During the regular season, he was credited with NWC wins against Whitman College, George Fox University, Lewis & Clark College, and Whitworth University -- all in one-run victories. In the NWC Tournament, he recorded a 6-2 extra-inning win over Pacific Lutheran University after pitching the last four innings and added a 3-2 win over Pacific University by tossing the final 5 2/3 innings to help force a second championship game.