Wednesday, May 25, 2016
PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene outfielder Ryan Johnson and Western Oregon designated hitter Trevor Podratz continued to pull in the postseason awards, each being selected to the 2016 American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-West Region First Team.
Johnson and Podratz were also named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) Division II First Team. Northwest Nazarene catcher Andrew Helmstadter and Montana State Billings outfielder Luke Reinschmidt and pitcher Cody Cooper were selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-West Region Second Team.
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 Helmstadter, Johnson led the Crusaders to their first GNAC Championships and GNAC co-regular season titles with a 30-21 overall record, 23-15 GNAC.
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.
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. Reinschmidt was also selected to the NCBWA and D2CCA first teams.
Cooper led the Yellowjackets with a 2.81 earned run average and 7-2 record. He led the GNAC in innings pitched (99.1) and strikeouts (106), the second highest total in a single season in conference history. Cooper was the winning pitcher in the Yellowjackets game one victory in the GNAC Championships. The junior pitched 8.1 innings, allowing two runs and striking out seven in the 10-2 victory.
ABCA/Rawlings All-Region First Team selections are nominated for ABCA/Rawlings All-America honors. ABCA/Rawlings All-Americans and Gold Glove winners will be announced on Mon., May 30.