By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Senior second baseman Justin Scanlon (San Jose, CA/Leigh HS/West Valley College) of Willamette University has been named First Team NCAA Division III Academic All-District VIII in baseball, as voted by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA). Scanlon and other First Team Academic All-District selections are eligible for the CoSIDA NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team, which will be announced from June 8-11.

A total of 11 student-athletes were named to the Academic All-District VIII Team. Scanlon was the only player selected from the Northwest Conference.

"Justin truly embodies what a successful student-athlete is," Willamette Head Coach Aaron Swick said. "He possesses great drive, work ethic, and time management skills in order to excel in all that he does."

CoSIDA District VIII includes colleges and universities in the western United States. Players nominated for the CoSIDA All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.3 or higher (4.0 scale). Each nominated player was at their current college or university for at least one academic year.

Willamette earned an 8-8 overall record during the shortened 2020 season. It was the Bearcats' seventh consecutive season at .500 or better.\

First Team CoSIDA Academic All-District VIII

Scanlon was named Academic All-District VIII for the first time. He began the spring semester with a 3.67 cumulative grade point average. He recently graduated with a major in Mathematics. He was named First Team All-NWC and Second Team All-West Region in 2019.

He registered a .356 career batting average in two seasons with the Bearcats after transferring from West Valley College in California. He earned 40 runs and 44 RBIs at Willamette, while pounding out 17 doubles, three triples and six home runs.

During the 2019 season, Scanlon batted .357 while pounding out 46 hits and scoring 30 runs. He led the Bearcats with 35 RBIs and tied for the team lead with 13 doubles and two triples. He smacked five home runs. On defense, he made 48 putouts and supplied 61 assists with just one error for a .991 fielding percentage. He played in 32 games with 31 starts.

This spring, he hit .354 while playing and starting 13 games. He scored 10 runs and achieved nine RBIs. He belted four doubles, one triple and one home run. He provided WU with a .986 fielding percentage on 38 putouts, 31 assists and one error.