SALEM, Ore. -- Fourteen players from the 2015 Willamette University baseball team are competing in summer leagues. Seven Bearcats are on teams in California, while two players are competing in Oregon and two are playing in Hawaii. Each of three states -- Colorado, Idaho and Washington -- has a team with one WU player on its roster.
"Playing summer baseball is a great opportunity to focus entirely on improving your skill set," WU Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "I have seen our guys make big strides from competing against high caliber competition in the past, and am excited to see the growth this group makes come fall practice."
Two summer league teams have a pair of Bearcats on their rosters.
Ty Wyatt (Jr./So., DH/3B, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) and Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS) are both playing for the Klamath Falls Gems in the West Coast League. Lucas Still (So., RHP, Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers HS) and Jared Spohr (So., LHP, Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove HS) are with the Sacramento Legends of the Sacramento Premier Baseball League.
Gordie Clary (Jr., LHP/RF, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) is a member of the Solano Mudcats (Calif.), who do not have a league affiliation. Perry van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) is playing with the unaffiliated Bercovich Gold (Calif.) in the Bay Area.
Three Bearcats are playing for teams in the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League in California. They are Shea Harrison (Sr., OF/RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS) with the Alameda Merchants, Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS) with the South Bay Storm, and Eric del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) with the Atwater Aviators.
Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) is a member of the Rainier Snowcaps (Wash.), who play in the Northwest Collegiate Baseball League. Nate Bush (So., SS, Boise, ID/Boise HS) is playing for the Boise Seminoles in the Idaho American Legion. Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) plays for the Denver Cougars in the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.
Two players will be in action in their home state of Hawaii. Cameron Igarashi (So., RF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute) is one of the Waipahu Marauders, who compete in the Hawaiian American Legion. Aaron Fong (So., SS, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) plays for the Hawaiian Island Movers. In addition playing in Hawaii, Fong's team will travel to Japan for a series of games against amateur teams in July.
Willamette finished the season with a 21-18 overall record. The Bearcats scored 225 runs and recorded 102 extra-base hits, including 76 doubles and 20 home runs. WU achieved a 4.40 team earned run averaged and recorded a .955 fielding percentage. Graduating senior first baseman Tiras Koon (Honolulu, HI/Iolani School) was chosen NWC Baseball Player of the Year.
NOTE: Eligibility year listed for each player is for the 2016 season.
Gordie Clary played in 32 games with 30 starts in 2015. He recorded a 2.61 ERA as a pitcher and hit .304 as an outfielder.
Shea Harrison is in his third season with the Alameda Merchants in the Golden State Collegiate Baseball League.
