By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University baseball team has put together six consecutive seasons with a winning overall record and seven years in a row at .500 or better, including a 19-16 record and 14-10 Northwest Conference mark in 2019. Over the past 12 years, the Bearcats have been at or above .500 a total of 10 times. The momentum gained from those successful seasons has the Bearcats and Head Coach Aaron Swick ready for the start of the 2020 schedule.

Much of Swick's excitement comes from the talent and effort his team has shown during the offseason. According to Swick, the players have worked extremely hard, and the team's fall ball and winter training have been productive.

"We have lots of talented players," Swick said. "And we have lots of players who can help in more than one way. It might be one of the deepest teams at every position that I have ever had."

There is a level of versatility among his players that will give Swick flexibility in building a lineup for each game and in making decisions during games throughout the year. The team will lean a bit more on several upperclassmen who have improved while being on the bench over the past season or two. Their time to contribute on a more regular basis has arrived. Even so, Swick also will need the efforts of 14 new players, including several who will play key roles when the season begins this weekend in Southern California.

Willamette will take on Occidental College in a three-game series, starting with a single game on Friday, Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats and the Tigers will complete the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 8 starting at 11 a.m. Willamette is slated to finish the trip with a single game against Pomona-Pitzer on Sunday, Feb. 9 at 12 p.m.

PITCHING

The most experienced returning pitcher for the Bearcats is Benjamin Whitten (Sr., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS). He has made 30 appearances and 22 starts over the past three seasons with a 5.50 career earned run average and 50 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings pitched. Last year, he saw limited action in relief behind three senior starting pitchers, but struck out 12 batters in 17 1/3 innings, while holding opponents to a .268 batting average.

"Ben has the ability to pitch deep into games," Swick commented. "His four-pitch mix and strike throwing capabilities could make for a quality starter."

Dawson Enright (Sr., RHP, La Mesa, CA/James Madison HS) also will challenge to be part of the starting rotation. He has made 25 appearances during his career and has 4.47 career ERA. All but one of his appearances has been in relief. He has struck out 30 batters in 50 1/3 innings.

"Dawson has steadily improved each season. He has the stuff to help us each weekend," Swick said. "The pitching staff will lean on him for leadership."

Other returning pitchers who will battled for a starting spot on the mound are Matt Pisacane (So., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS), Trevor Burrows (So., LHP, Dayton, NV/Dayton HS), and Eric Waldichuk (So., 1B/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS). As a freshman, Pisacane struck out 17 batters in 19 innings of relief, while registering a 4.74 ERA.

New pitchers who have stood out so far are Justin Miller (Jr./So., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS)/Palomar CC), Pruitt Spritzer (Fy., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep), and Nathan Billings (Fy., RHP, Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga HS).

There will be lots of options for which players will see action out of the bullpen. Mason Cook (Jr., RHP, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS) and Liam Keefe (Jr., LHP, Lake Arrowhead, CA/Rim of the World HS) have experience as relief pitchers for the Bearcats. Cook has seen action in 23 games and owns a 3-1 record with a 5.63 career ERA. Keefe has thrown for WU in 24 games. He has achieved a 3.95 career ERA to go along with a 4-0 record and one save.

"Mason is one of the most dependable people I have ever coached," Swick said. "His experience out of the bullpen will be important for this year's team."

CATCHING

Three players will compete for time behind the plate this season. Each of the players brings different strengths to the catcher position.

Michael Nelsen (Jr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS), an outfielder the past two years, has moved to catcher this season. He played catcher at Vista Del Lago High School in Folsom, California. He has impressed the coaches with his efforts at home plate so far this year.

Also working to earn playing time at the catcher position are Hayden Vaughn (Fy., C, Westlake Village, CA/Westlake Village HS) and Ethan Dunnam (Fy., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS). Both are first-year players who have steadily improved.

INFIELD

Willamette has returning players who will likely start at three of the four infield positions. They are Waldichuk at first base, Justin Scanlon (Sr., San Jose, CA/Leigh HS/West Valley College) at second base, and Ethan Fischel (So., Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) at shortstop.

Scanlon played in 32 games with 31 starts in 2019 after transferring from West Valley College. He ranked second on the team with a .357 batting average and smacked 13 doubles, two triples and five home runs. He registered a .991 fielding percentage and was named First Team All-NWC.

"Justin had a great season in 2019," Swick recalled. "He can change the game with one swing and he nearly achieved a perfect fielding percentage at second base. We are looking for him to build off of last year's performance."

Waldichuk played in 19 games with 13 starts as a first-year player last season and earned a .992 fielding percentage, while blasting four home runs. Fischel saw action in 26 games and made 22 starts in the middle of the infield as a first-year player.

Layton Wagner (Fy., INF/RHP, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) is a newcomer who will start at third base. He previously played at Timberline High School in Boise, Idaho, where he helped his team win the State Championship as a junior in 2018.

Nick Di Fiori (Jr., INF/RHP, Monrovia, CA/Bishop Amat HS) will back-up Walidchuk at first base and will play there when Waldichuk pitches. Sean Little (Jr., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) can play at second, third or shortstop, and will provide the Bearcats with quality depth. Last season, Little contributed a 1.000 fielding percentage with no errors. He played in 22 games, including 16 starts. 

Ryan Whithorm (Jr., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College/Concordia Irvine) is a talented infielder who will receive playing time. Jonny Suchor (Fy., UT, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) can help out at a number of positions on the field.

OUTFIELD

Joey Faudskar (Sr., CF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) and Tyler Vandemark (Jr., LF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS) are returning players who started a significant number of games in the outfield last season. Faudskar played in 22 games with 20 starts, batted .292 at the plate, and went 5 for 5 on stolen bases. During his career, Faudskar has accumulated 66 games played and 52 stats. He has scored 36 career runs, while going 17 for 19 on stolen bases.

"Faudskar had a great fall," Swick noted "he has excellent tools, and when he puts them all together, he can be a dynamic player in multiple ways."

Vandemark competed in 25 games with 24 starts last spring. He provided WU with a 1.000 fielding percentage. Vandemark recently completed a great fall season, as he continued to supply the team with quality at bats.

A couple of other players who will challenge for playing time in the outfield are Ben Setlak (Jr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) and Samuel Daly (Fy., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS). Setlak was impressive in the fall and is ready for a more prominent role on the team. Daly is a new player for the Bearcats who will play quite a bit in the outfield or at designated hitter.