Wednesday, January 25, 2023

PORTLAND, Ore. – Four players represent the GNAC as selections to the 2023 National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II West Region Preseason Team.

Leading the selections is reigning GNAC Player of the Year Adam Fahsel out of Central Washington. Fahsel is joined on the team by 2022 GNAC Pitcher of the Year Arturo Alvarez from Western Oregon, First Team All-GNAC pitcher Justice Yamashita out of Saint Martin’s and First Team All-GNAC catcher Austin Ohland from Central Washington. 

Fahsel led the conference last season with a .580 slugging percentage while knocking in 44 RBIs with 17 doubles, one triple and eight home runs. He carried not only a powerful bat, but a reliable one, and ranked second in the GNAC with a .351 batting average. Fahsel’s reputation was well known around the conference last season, resulting in the senior outfielder drawing 30 walks.

Fellow Wildcats player Ohland was named to the NCBWA Division II West Region Preseason Team on the back of a season where he led the GNAC with 51 RBIs. Ohland also led the conference and ranked No. 7 in Division II with 23 doubles, averaging 0.48 doubles per game. His .553 slugging percentage ranked third in the GNAC and was bolstered by his nine home runs which were tied for fourth in the conference.

Alvarez was a dominant force on the mound for the Wolves, finishing the 2022 campaign with a 7-2 record. Alvarez’s 3.18 ERA led the GNAC and he ranked second in the conference with an opposing batting average of .221. He was especially effective at freezing batters with 34.6% of his 52 strikeouts earned with batters looking. His performances on the bump also earned him GNAC Newcomer of the Year, First Team D2CCA, ABCA First Team All-West Region and Second Team NCBWA All-West Region honors.

Yamashita was a steady arm for the Saints last season, finishing with a 6-4 record through 11 starts with a 3.68 ERA that ranked fourth in the GNAC. He also led the conference and ranked 19th in Division II with five complete games. Yamashita allowed just 54 hits in 63 innings of work and averaged 10.04 strikeouts per game. Of his 71 strikeouts, 33.8% of them left batters frozen.

The top two GNAC teams from 2022 were also recognized ahead of the season start. Northwest Nazarene is ranked No. 5 in the 2023 NCBWA West Region Preseason Poll with 77 points and is among teams receiving votes in the NBCWA Division II Preseason Poll. Western Oregon is ranked No. 7 with 56 points. Montana State Billings received votes in the poll as well.

The 2023 GNAC Baseball season is set to begin on Feb. 3 when Western Oregon hits the road to face Fresno Pacific. The conference season will open on Friday, Mar. 3 with Western Oregon hosting Northwest Nazarene for a double-header in Monmouth.