Stoltz and Hamburger Earn All-Northwest Conference

SALEM, Ore. – The Northwest Conference has officially announced its 2026 Baseball All-Conference selections, with Willamette University standouts Carter Stoltz and Nate Hamburger receiving recognition for their exceptional performances throughout the 2026 campaign. Stoltz and Hamburger served as the engines for the Bearcat lineup this spring, combining elite offensive production with reliable defensive play and veteran leadership.

Carter Stoltz

Catcher / Utility

Stoltz anchored the Willamette lineup, leading the team in several major offensive and defensive categories. Over the course of the season, he posted a staggering 1.35 OPS and a 1.25 slugging percentage. His versatile contributions included two hits, a double, a home run, and a stolen base in key conference matchups, while showing discipline at the plate with a crucial walk. Defensively, Stoltz was a wall behind the plate and in the field, totaling three putouts and recording two fielding assists. He was particularly effective at shutting down the opposition's run game, catching two runners stealing during the season.

His season was defined by several high-impact performances, beginning on Feb. 21 against MSOE when he scored a season-high three runs on three hits, including a home run and two RBIs. Stoltz followed that with a masterclass performance on March 14 at Cal Lutheran, where he collected a season-high four hits in five at-bats, driving in three runs and scoring twice. During that contest, he added another home run and finished with a season-best 2.000 OPS. Later in the spring, he anchored the defense with a season-high 10 putouts against Puget Sound on April 19.

Nate Hamburger

Outfield

Hamburger was a constant threat on the basepaths and a model of efficiency at the plate. He led the Bearcats in runs scored, walks, stolen bases, and sacrifice hits during the final stretch of the year. He finished the season with a massive 2.5 OPS and a 1.5 slugging percentage, adding a double and an RBI to his seasonal totals while contributing four putouts in the field.

Throughout the schedule, Hamburger consistently produced in big moments. He recorded a season-high seven putouts in the outfield against Pacific (Ore.) on Feb. 28 and later collected a season-high four hits at Whitman on April 11. His speed was on full display toward the end of April, as he scored a season-high three runs at Lewis & Clark on April 25 before swiping a season-high three stolen bases the following day. This matched his earlier season-high of three steals set at Chapman on March 21. His run production was equally steady, driving in two runs in two separate games against Linfield on March 8 and George Fox on May 3.

The Bearcats concluded their season on May 3 with a decisive 11-1 victory over George Fox, a game in which both Stoltz and Hamburger played pivotal roles in securing the win.