By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Michael Nelsen (Sr., C, Folsom, CA/Vista Del Lago HS) has been providing the Willamette University baseball team with offensive power so far this season. He leads the team and the Northwest Conference with five home runs and is tied for the NWC lead with 15 runs batted in. He hit a pair of 3-run homers against Linfield University on Sunday, March 7 to help the Bearcats complete a four-game non-conference sweep.
Nelsen batted .400 (4 for 10) against the Wildcats. He is hitting .381 for the season (8 of 21) and has recorded two or more hits three times. He blasted two home runs in the season-opener against Whitman, and recorded his season high of six RBIs in the fourth game of the series against Linfield. While playing catcher, he has recorded 27 putouts and four assists.
It's been a great start to the season for Nelsen. Over the past two years, Nelsen has hit four doubles and eight home runs in his last 23 games. He has registered 25 RBIs during those 23 games.
He explained what he's done to elevate his game the past two seasons.
"A different approach at the plate has made the most impact on my success recently," Nelsen said. "I also usually eat Hello Pandas before the games so maybe those help," he added jokingly.
"Mike has always possessed bat speed and an ability to hit the ball for power," Willamette Head Baseball Coach Aaron Swick said. "I remember in the fall of his freshman year, he had a weekend where he hit a couple of home runs. Over the last year or so he has really improved his pitch awareness and his bat-to-ball skills which has translated into more consistent contact.
Swick and Assistant Coach Mikey Nantze have contributed to improvements by Nelsen and his teammates. Other members of the team have also been involved with Nelsen's development on offense.
"Coach Nantze has put in countless hours helping us with hitting and providing us with a lot of resources to analyze and refine our swings," Nelsen commented. "He has also coached the catchers and helped us become a strong defensive unit. My teammates have always provided a supportive and competitive environment that has been beneficial along the way."
After having a difficult day in the first doubleheader against Linfield, Nelsen pounded out his most recent two homers during the second doubleheader.
"I struggled a little bit on Saturday, so being able to bounce back and hit well on Sunday was encouraging," Nelsen said. "It will serve as a reminder throughout the season to not get as affected by temporary lows. I'm happy I could help my team get our first sweep under our belts this season."
As a catcher, Nelsen is involved in the game at almost every moment. He communicates with the pitchers and sets up Willamette's defensive alignments, especially with runners on base.
"Mike is steady behind the plate. He receives well and presents a great target for the pitcher," Swick explained. "He is a natural leader on the field and knows how to communicate with the staff."
"It's been great to be there for our pitchers' success so far this season," Nelsen noted. "I've been trying to keep an open dialogue with them to ensure I'm doing everything I can to contribute to future success as the season moves on. Also, it's fun to be a part of every pitch on defense. That's the main reason why I like catching so much."
By staying active throughout each game as the catcher or designated hitter, Nelsen is able to lead by example.
"Michael's greatest strength is his even-keeled demeanor. He never gets too high or too low and does a great job of transitioning between offense and defense," Swick said.
"His greatest contribution to the team is his ability to make others around him better," Swick added. "He has been in various roles throughout his career and those experiences make it easy for him to relate to anyone."
Nelsen appreciates that Willamette's team has the ability to concentrate during games, yet have fun and remained relaxed most of the time. The team helps keep Nelsen ready to play whether it's on offense or defense.
"The atmosphere that our team provides is really unique, with a great balance of having fun while also putting in the focus necessary to be successful," Nelsen said. "I'm really excited to see what this season holds for us."
"Mike also knows how to balance being serious and competitive with having fun and cracking a joke every once in a while," Swick commented. "He genuinely loves the game of baseball and I am thrilled that all of his hard work is turning into success."
