Thursday, May 14, 2020
PORTLAND, Ore. – Northwest Nazarene’s Ben Johnson is the definition of a well-rounded student-athlete.
The junior utility player played three positions for the Nighthawks this season and boasted the highest cumulative grade point average in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference to earn selection to the 2020 College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Division II Academic All-District 8 Baseball Team.
Johnson is one of 12 players selected to the All-District 8 Team after he led the conference with a 3.97 GPA as a biology major with a focus in pre-medicine. He is one of five members on the team with a 3.90 GPA or better. Johnson played and started in 10 of the Nighthawks’ 16 games, earning playing time as a catcher, pitcher and designated hitter.
With the shortened collegiate spring seasons nationwide, nominees for the program were evaluated using career statistics instead of season statistics. Johnson has compiled a .301 career batting average with 47 hits, 22 runs, 10 doubles, three home runs and 29 RBI. On the mound, he has registered a career 6-5 record with a 4.36 earned run average, 53 strikeouts and 10 walks.
Johnson finished his shortened junior campaign with a .321 batting average, nine hits, two runs and five RBI. His top performance at the plate came on Feb. 8 as he batted 2 for 4 with a three-run home run and an RBI single at Cal State LA. Johnson also made three starts on the mound, finishing with a 2-1 record, 3.38 earned run average and 15 strikeouts. He led the conference with just two walks allowed and ranked tied for third with six earned runs allowed.
With the selection, Johnson advances to earn consideration for the CoSIDA Division II Academic All-America Team, which will be announced on June 8.
To be eligible for the CoSIDA Academic All-America program, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.30 cumulative GPA and must have completed one full calendar year at the nominating institution. Nominated student-athletes must also have participated in at least 50 percent of their teams’ games.