Thursday, May 19, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. – After one of the most competitive seasons in GNAC baseball history, it is no surprise to see the conference well represented on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association (D2CCA) All-West Region Teams.
Four student-athletes earned selection to the NCBWA first team, led by two from Northwest Nazarene: catcher Andrew Helmstadter and GNAC Championships MVP Ryan Johnson. Montana State Billings outfielder Luke Reinschmidt and Western Oregon designated hitter Trevor Podratz were also elected to the first team. Reinschmidt was the GNAC’s lone representative on the D2CCA first team, receiving the honor for the second straight year.
Helmstadter hit .331 on the season and led the Crusaders with 18 doubles. He also had four triples and home runs, 34 runs scored and 37 runs batted in. Johnson had the second highest batting average in the GNAC, hitting .385 from the leadoff position for Northwest Nazarene. He paced the conference with 72 hits, 50 runs scored and 20 stolen bases and added four triples, eight home runs and 33 RBI. Along with second team second baseman Tyler Davis, Helmstadter and Johnson led the Crusaders to their first GNAC Championships and GNAC co-regular season titles with a 30-21 overall record, 23-15 GNAC.
Reinschmidt was one of the top bats in the Yellowjackets’ lineup this season. He scored 50 runs to tie with Johnson for the conference lead and had huge extra base hit potential with 15 doubles, three triples and 10 home runs. Reinschmidt also led the GNAC in RBI during the regular season and finished second after the tournament with 44.
Podratz was named the GNAC Newcomer of the Year after transferring from the University of Hawaii before his senior season. He led the GNAC in hitting with a .391 batting average and also had 16 doubles, seven home runs, 44 RBI and 35 runs scored. He led Western Oregon to the championship game at the GNAC Championships as the Wolves finished with a 31-23 overall record.
Four more players were represented on the NCBWA All-West Region Second Team, led by GNAC Player of the Year Davis. Montana State Billings Adam Cox was selected second team in the utility spot, along with MSUB starting pitcher Cody Cooper and Western Oregon starting pitcher Brady Miller.
Central Washington’s Kyle Stahl was selected to the D2CCA All-West Second Team as a utility player. He was joined by Johnson, Podratz and Miller.
Cox was also selected honorable mention as a designated hitter by the NCBWA. Also receiving honorable mention was Central Washington second baseman Ryan Atkinson and Western Oregon starting pitcher Garrett Alvarez.