By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University baseball players are ready for the start of the 2016 season. They don't have to wait very long as the Bearcats will open their schedule on Friday, Feb. 5 at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro, Oregon, home of the minor league Hillsboro Hops in the Northwest League.
The Bearcats won't be taking on the Hops, but will be battling Northwest Conference foe Pacific Lutheran University on Friday at 11 a.m. (PST). Willamette, Pacific Lutheran and several other NWC teams are playing games his weekend in Hillsboro and at Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.
After playing PLU on Friday, the Bearcats will take on Whitman College in Hillsboro on Saturday (Feb. 6) at 11 a.m., before competing against Linfield in McMinnville on Saturday evening at 5 p.m. Willamette will finish the weekend in Hillsboro on Sunday against Lewis & Clark College at 11 a.m.
Willamette, with several key returning players and a tremendous group of newcomers, looks forward to a successful season. In 2015, the Bearcats opened the year with a 12-0 record, as the team went undefeated in February. Willamette finished the year at 21-18 overall. It was the sixth 20-win season for the Bearcats in the past eight years. WU placed seventh in the NWC with a 10-14 record.
Tiras Koon, a senior in 2015, was named First Team All-NWC and was chosen NWC Baseball Player of the Year. He led the conference with a .402 batting average, 12 home runs and 45 RBIs. He also ranked first in the conference with a .750 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage
Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick brought in an exceptional recruiting class for this season, including several players who can make an immediate impact. According to Swick, the team mentality and chemistry were great during fall practices and throughout the off-season.
"Our talent and determination will make up for our lack of experience," Swick commented. "It's an extremely committed group which in turn has created an impressive team atmosphere."
PITCHING
Swick hasn't decided which pitchers will be the three primary starters for conference play, but he has five players leading the pack
They are returners Lucas Still (So., RHP, Sacramento, CA/Christian Brothers HS) and Jett Gallagher (So., RHP, Santa Cruz, CA/Santa Cruz HS), plus newcomers Brandon Nelson (Fr., RHP, Murrieta, CA/Vista Murrieta HS), Matt Steindorf (Fr., RHP Granite Bay, CA/Granite Bay HS) and Nathan Gilman (Fr., RHP, Chino Hills, CA/ Diamond Ranch HS).
Last year, Still achieved a 2.42 earned run averaged and a 2-1 record and two saves in 26 innings pitched. He made two starts for the Bearcats among 12 total appearances. Gallagher pitched in relief a total of 10 times.
The bullpen will be led by returning players Jackson Watt (Sr., RHP, Rocklin, CA/Whitney HS), Gordie Clary (Sr., RF/LHP, Vacaville, CA/Vacaville HS) and Shea Harrison (Sr., RHP/OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS).
Watt was the team's closer in 2014 when he was chosen Second Team All-NWC after producing a 5-2 record with seven saves and a 3.28 ERA. He struck out 26 batters in 35 2/3 innings. In 2015, Watt started 12 games and finished the year with a 4.50 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 78 innings. He registered a 4-5 record.
Clary pitched in eight games as a reliever during the 2015 season. He attained a 2.61 ERA and struck out 10 batters in 10 1/3 innings. He supplied Willamette with a 2-0 record and one save.
Harrison recorded six appearances for the pitching staff last year. He recorded 10 strikeouts in nine innings, and accumulated a 4.00 ERA and one save.
Middle relievers for the Bearcats include Chase Tennant (Fr., RHP, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS), Daniel Strickland (Fr., RHP, Mission Viejo, CA/Mission Viejo HS), Evan Giddings (Sr., RHP, El Cerrito, CA/St. Mary's HS) and Gilman.
Additional pitching depth will come from Nolan Boggini (Fr., RHP, El Dorado Hills, CA/Oak Ridge HS), Jared Spohr (So., LHP, Elk Grove, CA/Pleasant Grove HS) and Harbour Harrison (Fr., RHP, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS).
"Our pitching staff is young," Swick said. "Our freshmen pitchers come from high-caliber programs, which routinely challenge for league titles, so they have been battle tested. As a group their stuff and demeanor on the mound has been fun to watch."
CATCHING
Three athletes will battle for playing time at the catcher position. All three are capable of guarding the plate while working with the Bearcat pitching staff.
Cole Pursell (Fr., C, Oceanside, CA/El Camino HS) is the front runner to receive most of the starts behind the plate. He was named team MVP at El Camino High School in California last season.
Jack Brett (So., C, Aurora, CO/Regis Jesuit HS) has developed into an all-around player. He saw action in 13 games and hit one home run as a freshman last spring. Jacob Parra (Jr., C, Everett, WA/Mariner HS/Edmonds CC) brings great leadership and the most experience after playing in 15 games with seven starts in 2015.
"Each catcher brings something unique to the team," Swick said. "As a group they will be instrumental in mentoring the young pitching staff."
INFIELD
The Bearcats have significant talent on the infield and are two-deep at every spot. As a result, Swick will have flexibility in filling out this part of the lineup.
"Every position is competitive," Swick commented. "We feel like we have options 1a and 1b at each spot."
At first base, Ty Wyatt (So., INF, Keizer, OR/McNary HS) and Del Prado are the top players. Eric Del Prado (So., INF, El Segundo, CA/Loyola HS) competed in 16 games last spring after arrving from Loyoa HIgh School in California.
Wyatt, who missed all of last season due to an injury, was named First Team All-NWC as a freshman in 2014. During his freshman season, he led the Bearcats with a .359 batting average, while pounding out four homers and 10 doubles. He scored 21 runs and recorded a team-high 37 RBIs.
"Having Ty back is a huge boost. He has already shown he can be one of the best hitters in the conference," Swick noted.
Troy Conway (So., INF, Moorpark, CA/Moorpark HS) and Austin Hagarty (Sr., INF, Roseville, CA/Woodcreek HS) will share playing time at second base. Conway played in 25 games with 23 starts a year ago. He hit .322, scored 20 runs and went 6 for 6 on stolen bases. Hagarty saw action in 27 games with 24 starts.
Tyler Janitz (Fr., INF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) will be the starting shortstop, with Aaron Fong (So., INF, Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) as the back-up. Janitz was named Third Team All-State in California last season. Fong saw action in 20 games, including 15 starts, as a freshman in 2015.
"Janitz is a great athlete who will make an immediate impact in the infield," Swick said.
Brendan Natuzzi (Fr., INF, Napa, CA/ Justin-Siena HS) will be a utility infielder. He will provide depth at both shortstop and second base.
Mason Fessler (So., INF, Woodburn, OR/Blanchet Catholic School), who hit .263 as a freshman last spring, will start at third base. Fessler hit seven doubles and walked 15 times. This year, he will be pressed for playing time by Kyle Paguio (Fr., INF, Stevenson Ranch, CA/West Ranch HS).
OUTFIELD
While determining which player will compete at which position on a regular basis may take time, Willamette's strength in the outfield is clear.
"The best offensive numbers in the fall came from the outfield," Swick said regarding the team's fall practices. "There are five or six players who can produce at anytime."
Shea Harrison had a strong off-season and is likely to start at any of the outfield positions. Harrison batted .253 while playing in 24 games with 21 starts a year ago. Perry Van Eckhardt (So., OF, El Cerrito, CA/El Cerrito HS), who played in 16 games in 2015, is also a strong returner in the oufield.
Clary, Cameron Igarashi (So., OF, Honolulu, HI/Mid-Pacific Institute), Connor Bailey (Fr., OF, San Diego, CA/Scripps Ranch HS) and Jake Bradley (Fr., OF, Laguna Niguel, CA/St. Margaret's Episcopal School) will battle for the starting spots in left field and right field. Aaron Mell (Fr., OF, Newcastle, WA/The Overlake School) will provide depth.
In 2015, Clary hit a solid .304 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run. He is one of Willamette's most experienced returning players after competing in 32 games and making 30 starts last year. Igarashi played in 22 games, including 14 appearances off the bench. He earned two walk-off hits during the season.
