Thursday, May 16, 2019

PORTLAND, Ore. – A total of 12 representatives from the GNAC have been selected to the 2019 Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-West Region Team.

Half of those selections were named to the first team as Western Oregon led the way with four recipients.

In his junior season in Monmouth, GNAC Pitcher of the Year Alex Roth received first-team recognition after leading the Wolves to a second-place finish in the conference standings. Roth, winning the league's Pitcher of the Year award for a second straight season, leads the conference with a 2.35 earned run average and a perfect 7-0 record. In 61.1 innings pitched, he allowed just 16 earned runs while notching 87 strikeouts.

Roth's battery mate behind the plate, catcher Jared McDonald, landed on the first team after a season in which he hit at a .362 average while tallying 46 runs and 39 RBI. McDonald was named as a First Team All-GNAC selection for the second straight season earlier this month.

Rounding out Western Oregon's representatives on the first team are utility men Derek Maiben and Connor McCord. Maiben, the lone freshman on the team, hit over .400 for most of the season and finished with a .387 rate. McCord shined throughout the year as well, ranking fourth in the GNAC with 42 RBI.

Topped by GNAC Player of the Year Daniel Cipriano, Montana State Billings placed two Yellowjackets on the first team. Cipriano leads the conference in batting average (.400), RBI (51), home runs (17) and on-base percentage (.527). He leads MSUB into the program's first-ever NCAA Division II West Regional appearance, beginning on Thursday in La Jolla, Calif.

Joining Cipriano on the first team is senior Jalen Garcia. The outfielder earned his third First Team All-GNAC nod this season and is tied for third in the league with a .362 batting average.

Montana State Billings leads the GNAC with three second-team honorees as shortstop Wyatt Setian, third baseman Chris Arpan and outfielder Matt Dillon all made the list.

The conference's representation is rounded out by Saint Martin's pitchers Tanner Inouye and Mickey Walker and Western Oregon outfielder Griffey Halle.

Voting for the D2CCA was conducted by the NCAA Division II sports information directors from West Region institutions and conference offices. Each of the six first-teamers will now be eligible for the All-American honors, which will be announced later this month.