By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Three Willamette University players have been named to the 2023 All-Northwest Conference Softball Team. Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) was chosen for the First Team, with Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) on the Second Team, and Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) receiving Honorable Mention.
The 2023 All-NWC Softball Team honored a total of 41 players, including 14 First Team selections. Fifteen players were named to the Second Team and 12 players were chosen for Honorable Mention.
Katie Phillips, a senior outfielder from Linfield University was selected as the NWC Player of the Year. Senior Tayah Kelley from Linfield was chosen NWC Pitcher of the Year. Paola Garcia from Pacific Lutheran University was named NWC Rookie of the Year. Linfield Head Coach Jackson Vaughan was voted NWC Coach of the Year.
Willamette concluded the season with a 16-22 overall record and an 11-17 record (5th place tie) in the NWC. The Bearcats tied Lewis & Clark College for fifth place after winning three out of four games against the Pioneers during the final weekend of the season. Willamette had four players who hit better than .330 and started more than 20 games. Bearcat pitchers struck out 183 batters in 249 innings.
First Team All-Northwest Conference
Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) was named First Team All-NWC for the first time after being chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2022. This year, DeLuca led the Bearcats with a .426 batting average, a .481 on-base percentage, and a .678 slugging percentage. She also led the Bearcats with 38 RBIs, 17 doubles, 15 walks, and four sacrifice flies.
She tied for the team lead with four home runs and tied for second with 21 runs scored. On defense, she earned a perfect 1.000 field percentage with 167 putouts, six assists, and no errors. She started all 38 games.
In 2022, DeLuca led the Bearcats with a .356 batting average despite missing nine games due to an injury. She topped Willamette with 19 RBIs and four sacrifice flies.
DeLuca's career statistics included a .347 batting average, 68 RBIs, 35 runs scored, 25 doubles, five homers, and 34 walks in 104 games with 97 starts. She set a Willamette record with a .997 career fielding percentage as she was credited with 306 putouts, 29 assists, and one error.
"Marykate was the rock to our team this season," Willamette Head Coach Paige Hall said. "She was our most consistent hitter, who helped us win a lot of games. She worked really hard to get to where she was this year. I could not be more proud of her."
Second Team All-Northwest Conference
Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) provided the Bearcats with an outstanding first year on the team as an outfielder and a designated player. She ranked second on Willamette's offensive chart with a .403 batting average, a .468 on-base percentage, and a .627 slugging percentage while playing in 24 games with 23 starts.
Elliott connected for eight doubles, two triples, and one home run. She tied with DeLuca for second on the team with 21 runs. She recorded a hit in 13 of the last 15 games on Willamette's schedule. In the outfield, she registered 17 putouts and made just one error for a .944 fielding percentage.
"Emma was a standout first-year player this season who had a lot of heads turning," Hall said. "Emma finished the season a lot stronger than she started, and really helped us produce runs when we needed them. I'm excited to see what she does these next three seasons."
Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference
Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) was named Honorable Mention All-NWC for the first time. She started all 38 games, hit .333, and ranked second on the team with 23 RBIs this season. She tied for second with 13 doubles and also hit two homers. She was 7 for 9 on stolen base attempts and produced two or more hits in 12 games. Majors led Willamette with 75 assists and also accumulated 62 putouts.
Majors led WU with a .383 batting average during the 2020 season (13 games), which was shortened due to COVID-19.
In her career, Majors has attained a .314 batting average in 408 at bats while starting all 123 games. She has supplied the Bearcats with 128 hits, 398 doubles, three triples, and seven homers. She has scored 67 runs and has registered 66 RBIs. She has stolen 38 bases on 43 attempts. Her career totals also feature 207 putouts and 235 assists. She has helped turn 10 double plays.
"Bri has been a staple of our infield," Hall commented. "Starting every single game at shortstop for us since I've been here, Bri has been our most reliable infielder. I'm really glad she was honored this year. She deserved it!"
