By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- As with many spring sports athletic teams across the country, the Willamette University baseball squad is excited about returning to competition this spring. The season will begin with four non-conference games against Northwest Conference rival Whitman College at John Lewis Field this weekend. Willamette will host the Blues in doubleheaders on Saturday, Feb. 27 and Sunday, Feb. 28. Each doubleheader will begin at 11 a.m. (PST) with a 9-inning game that will be followed by a 7-inning game.
Willamette will play four NWC games against Whitman and each of the other seven NWC opponents as the season continues. The Bearcats are set to open NWC action by hosting Linfield University on March 6 and March 7.
The Bearcats have registered eight consecutive seasons with at least a .500 record. Over the past 13 seasons, Willamette has been at or above .500 a total of 11 times. Even with the 2020 season shortened due to COVID-19, the Bearcats went 8-8 overall and 5-4 in the Northwest Conference.
Joey Faudskar (Grad., OF, Phoenix, AZ/Pinnacle HS) tied for first in NCAA Divison III during the shortened 2020 season with 18 stolen bases in 16 games played. He was 18 for 20 overall, as he tied Patrick Keller from the University of La Verne (Calif.), who also stole 18 bases. Faudskar was ranked 10th in the nation in stolen bases per game with 1.13 stolen bases per contest.
Pitcher Ben Whitten (Grad., RHP, Danville, CA/San Ramon Valley HS) was second in the nation with four pitching wins. He trailed only Ben Coker from Berry College (Ga.), who won six games. Whitten tied for 10th in Division III with five games started on the mound.
A pair of first-year players -- Luke Werkmeister-Martin (Fy., DH/UT, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) and Layton Wagner (Fy., 3B, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) -- provided the Bearcats with excellent offensive statistics in 2020. Werkmeister-Martin batted .390, while Wagner hit .344.
Willamette enters the 2021 season following the loss to graduation of only two players -- Justin Scanlon and Dawson Enright. Scanlon hit .354 in 2020 and was chosen First Team All-NWC and earned Second Team All-West Region honors from the American Baseball Coaches Association and D3baseball.com in 2019. Enright made six relief appearances for the Bearcats in 2019.
The Bearcats return a skilled group of position players along with the top two starting pitchers from a year ago. With quality depth throughout the lineup, Willamette looks to feature a high-scoring offense. The pitchers are competitive and will need to work together in each four-game NWC series with 32 innings scheduled each weekend. In addition, this year's Willamette roster includes several talented new players who will have a positive impact on the team.
"I believe we have the talent and depth to make a run at a conference championship," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said.
Pitcher
Whitten and Justin Miller (Sr./Jr., RHP, Poway, CA/Poway HS/Palomar CC) return as starting pitchers for the Bearcats. Whitten's 4-0 record was acheived with a 3.18 earned run average. He struck out 19 batters in 28 1/3 innings last spring while holding opponents to a .248 batting average. Miller was 1-1 with a 4.60 ERA during a team-high 31 1/3 innings. He recorded 10 strikeouts. Whitten and Miller each started five games.
Wagner and Eric Waldichuck (Jr., INF/RHP, San Diego, CA/University City HS) will join the starting rotation. Wagner made three relief appearances in 2020 and pitched 7 1/3 innings with a 0.00 ERA. He registered six strikeouts and limited opposing hitters to a .185 batting average. Waldichuk pitched in one game in 2019 and one game in 2020.
"Layton and Eric have both improved since last season and bring great athleticism to the mound," Swick said.
The most experienced relief pitcher for the Bearcats will be Mason Cook (Grad., RHP, Riverton, UT/Riverton HS). Cook has gone to the mound 28 times in his career. In 2020, he provided WU with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances spanning a total of nine innings. He held opponents to a minimal .133 batting average while recording five strikeouts.
Other top returning pitchers in the bullpen are Pruitt Spritzer (So., RHP, Missouri City, TX/Strake Jesuit College Prep) and Matt Pisacane (Jr., RHP, San Diego, CA/San Dieguito HS). Spritzer saw action in six games last season. He attained eight strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings pitched. Pisacane threw a total of 10 innings for the Bearcats in three games last year and registered five strikeouts. In 2019, Pisacane struck out 17 batters in 19 innings on his way to a 4.74 ERA.
Ben Kowalski (So., RHP, Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) and Will Braaton (So., RHP, Highlands Ranch, CO/Thunderridge HS) will receive increased playing time this spring. Kowalski pitched two innings and Braaton saw action in 3 1/3 innings.
JD Willis (Fy., LHP, Chandler, AZ/Perry HS), Brady Joyner (Fy., RHP, Las Vegas, NV/Shadow Ridge HS), and Logan Haslam (Fy., RHP, San Ramon, CA/California HS) are outstanding pitchers who have joined the team and will make an impact this spring. Nathan Billings (So., RHP, Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Rancho Cucamonga HS) pitched 10 innings over five games in 2020, as he accumulated 10 strikeouts.
Catcher
Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) started 15 of 16 games last season, as he led the team with 70 putouts. He belted three doubles and three home runs on offense while earning 10 RBIs.
"Mike is a steady leader on and off the field," Swick commented.
Sophomore Ethan Dunnam (So., C, El Cajon, CA/Valhalla HS) did well during fall practice is will work to earn playing time this spring. Dunnam played in three games last spring. Cole Mosley (Fy., C, Amarillo, TX/Bushland HS) also impressed the coaching staff this past fall.
Infield
Ethan Fischel (Jr., INF, Eureka, CA/Eureka HS) returns at shortstop after leading the Bearcats with 21 RBIs in the team's 16 games. He hit .267 with three doubles and three home runs. He ranked first for the Bearcats with 40 assists on defense. He has scored 32 runs and recorded 31 RBIs in 42 games played in his Willamette career.
Sean Little (SR., INF, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS) has earned the starting spot at second base. He has significant experience with the Bearcats at several defensive positions. He gives the team lots of energy on the field and in the locker room.
Two players who will likely split time at third base are Wagner and Jeff Hoffman (Fy., INF, Salida, CA/Joseph A. Grigori HS). Wagner supplemented his .344 average with six doubles, 16 runs, and 12 RBIs. He achieved a .437 on-base percentage. Hoffman was chosen First Team All-League as a third baseman at Grigori High School in California. He provided the team with solid defensive play during fall practices and showed the potential to be a powerful hitter.
Nick Di Fiori (Sr., INF, Monrovia, CA/Bishop Amat HS), Werkmeister-Martin, and Waldichuk will compete to play at first base. Di Fiori batted .393 last spring, contributed 12 RBIs, and pounded out four doubles and one triple. Werkmeister-Martin also attained four doubles while hitting .390. Waldichuk led the trio with 66 putouts, and batted .257 with a team-high four home runs at the plate.
Other top returning infielders are Ryan Berg (So., INF, Tarzana, CA/Oaks Christian School), Jonny Suchor (So., UT, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS), and Ryan Whithorn (Sr., INF, Claremont, CA/The Webb School/Chaffey College). All three can enter the lineup at any time. Tassos Foster (Fy., INF, Novato, CA/Novato HS) is a quality first-year infielder who adds depth at several positions.
Outfield
Faudskar has the skills needed to make a key difference on the field and as a base-runner. In 2020, he recorded 42 putouts in center field. On offense, he scored 18 runs and supplied the Bearcats with five doubles. He led the team with his 18 stolen bases and 11 walks.
Another returning player in the outfield, Tyler Vandemark (Sr., OF, Modesto, CA/Joseph A. Gregori HS), has improved every season and will be an important player this spring. He hit .272 and scored 12 times last year, while leading the team with three sacrifice bunts. He has recorded 11 career sacrifices, including nine bunts.
Last spring, Samuel Daly (So., OF, El Dorado Hills, CA/Jesuit HS) showed moments of offensive success and can impact the game with a single swing. Ben Setlak (Sr., OF, Evergreen, CO/Evergreen HS) si ready for his senior season, while Clint Walker (So./Fy., OF, Rocklin, CA/Rocklin HS) was solid during the fall, and appears ready to help out on offense. New players Noah Ghiselli (Fy., INF/OF, Boulder, CO/Boulder HS) and Trevor Beckwith (Fy., OF, New Braunfels, TX/St. John Paul II Catholic HS) will give the Bearcats depth.
