Wednesday, May 17, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – A trio of first-team performers leads six GNAC selections and five honorable mentions to the 2023 NCBWA NCAA Division II All-West Region Team.

Montana State Billings outfielder Payton Flynn, Western Oregon starting pitcher Dylan Chalmers and Northwest Nazarene relief pitcher Ty Pohlmann all earned First Team All-West Region honors after being named unanimous First Team All-GNAC selections. Western Oregon leads all GNAC programs with five total honorees while Montana State Billings has three. Central Washington, Northwest Nazarene and Saint Martin’s each have one.

Flynn is the lone position player from the conference to be named to the first team after a season where he hit .361 and drove in 46 runs for the Yellowjackets. Of the First Team All-West Region selections, Flynn ranks second with 14 home runs and a slugging percentage of  .728. He also ranks third among first-teamers with 16 doubles on the season. His power numbers are second only to unanimous West Region Player of the Year Jakob Christian from Point Loma.

Both GNAC Co-Pitchers of the Year received First Team All-West Region nods with Chalmers being one of four starting pitchers named to the team and Pohlmann one of two relief pitchers selected. Chalmers earned selection after a season where he has led the Wolves’ pitching staff and the conference with a 2.35 ERA through 57.1 innings. Among the first-team starting pitchers, Chalmers is the only member without a loss this season.

Pohlmann earned First Team All-West honors after a dominant season on the mound for the Nighthawks. His 1.27 ERA leads all West Region honorees while his 59 strikeouts more than double the total of fellow first-team reliever Oscar Rauda from Cal State San Bernardino. Through 17 appearances this season, Pohlmann averaged 15.03 strikeouts per game in just 35.1 innings of work.

Along with the first team honorees, Saint Martin’s second baseman Brady Bean, Western Oregon designated hitter AJ Cortese and Montana State Billings starting pitcher Trevor Cassell were all named to the NCBWA All-West Region Second Team.

Reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year Bean is the only freshman named to either team. Bean finished his debut campaign ranking third in the conference with a .384 batting average. He also led the league with a .505 on base percentage and 19 stolen bases, the most of any all All-West Region selection. Bean showed excellent patience in the batter’s box as well, drawing 33 walks to rank second in the conference.  

Cortese earned second team honors whle batting .365 and driving in 31 runs for the Wolves. On the season, he has 14 doubles and three home runs. Cassell picked up second team honors after thowing 43.1 innings for MSUB while amassing a 2.91 ERA and holding batters to just a .234 batting average. Cassell ranks fifth among all honorees with just 18 runs allowed and threw two complete games.

Along with the first and second-team selections, five GNAC players were named NCBWA All-West Region honorable mentions. Among those are Central Washington catcher Austin Ohland and Montana State Billings third baseman Kaden Kirshenbaum. Western Oregon earned three honorable mentions including GNAC Player of the Year, shortstop Derek Maiben, outfielder Jacob Maiben and starting pitcher Bryce Bond.

The first-team selections of Flynn, Chalmers and Pohlmann are now eligible to be selected for the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association All-American Team. The NCBWA All-America teams are scheduled to be announced on June 4.