NWC Baseball Players of the Week

May 1

NWC Player of the Week: Shaun Messerli (UPS, Sr., OF, Stanwood, Wash. - Skagit Valley CC) batted .467 (7 for 15) over the weekend. He hit three home runs, drove in eight runners and scored seven times.
Honorable Mention: David Bachofner (Linfield, Fr., IF); Zach Gantenbein (Pacific, So., OF); Roger Guzman (PLU, Jr., IF); Dan Wentzell (George Fox, Jr., OF).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Joe DiPietro (PLU, Jr., RHP, Yakima, Wash. - Eisenhower HS) tossed a complete-game shutout at Whitworth, scattering nine hits. He struck out three and walked only one in PLU’s first shutout of the season.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Thompson (UPS, Sr., RHP); Brandon Zimmerman (Whitworth, Jr., RHP); Brian Clark (Linfield, So., RHP); Brad Baker (Pacific, Sr.).

April 24

NWC Player of the Week: Justin Whitehall (PLU, Jr., OF, Lake Oswego, Ore. - Lakeridge HS) batted .556 (15 of 27) in six games. He belted four doubles with seven runs batted in a nine runs scored.
Honorable Mention: Bo Thunell (George Fox, Fr., SS); David Berry (Lewis & Clark, Sr., OF); Matt Johnson (Willamette, Sr., 2B); Matt Hendrix (Pacific, Jr., C).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Derrick Jones (George Fox, Sr., RHP, Forest Grove, Ore. - Forest Grove) went 2-0 last week. In 15 innings, including a complete game vs. PLU, he allowed three runs (1.80 ERA) on 13 hits. He struck out 18 batters.
Honorable Mention: Jordon Smiley (L&C, So.); Joe DiPietro (PLU, Jr.); Nik Nottingham (Willamette, Sr.); Brad Baker (Pacific, Sr., RHP); Devon Zeller (UPS, Sr., RHP).

April 17

NWC Player of the Week: Greg Williams (L&C, Jr., OF, San Diego, Calif. - Mt. Carmel HS) led the Pioneers to three NWC wins in four road games. He went 7 for 18 (.389) with a home run and a double, driving in seven runs and scoring twice.
Honorable Mention: Van Lierman (Whitworth, Jr., OF); Matt Johnson (Willamette, Sr., IF); Chad Frisk (Whitman, So., 2B/OF); Robert Lloyd (Pacific, Sr., 3B/P); Ryan Thorne (PLU, Jr., OF); Bo Thunell (George Fox, Fr. SS).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Eric Maroncelli (L&C, Jr., RHP, Beaverton, Ore. - Southridge HS) went 2-0 last week, defeating Linfield and Whitworth. In 11.1 innings he allowed five runs (three earned) on 11 hits with seven strikeouts and four walks.
Honorable Mention: Nick Hedgecock (George Fox, So., LHP); Chris Loo (Pacific, Sr.); Pete Stadmeyer (Whitman, Fr.); Aaron Fulmer (PLU, Sr.); Tye Sundlee (Willamette, So., RHP).

April 10

NWC Player of the Week: Drew Van Cleave (Linfield, So., C, Pendleton, Ore. - Pendleton HS) batted .600 (6 for 10) in three games. He drove in four runs and scored six times and was 4 for 4 stealing bases.
Honorable Mention: Eric Stanczyk (PLU, Sr., 1B); Bryan Donohue (George Fox, Jr., 1B); Derek Clovis (Whitman, Fr., DH); Jerimy Kelly (Pacific, Sr., OF); Kyle Stalker (Willamette, Fr., DH).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Jordan Rasmussen (Linfield, Sr., RHP, Tigard, Ore. - Tigard HS) went 2-0, including a two-hit, complete game shutout at Willamette. In 16 total innings he struck out 17 batters and allowed three earned runs.
Honorable Mention: Taylor Thompson (UPS, Sr., RHP); Steve Hare (Whitworth, Jr., RHP); Adam Azril (Pacific, Sr.); Brandon Rupp (George Fox, Sr., LHP); Joe DiPietro (PLU, Jr.); Pat Johnston (Whitman, Jr.); Nic Nottingham (Willamette, Sr.).

April 3

NWC Player of the Week: David Fox (PLU, Sr., DH, Eugene, Ore. - Marist HS) led the Lutes to a sweep of Menlo by hitting .583 (7 for 12) with a double and a home run. He drove in 11 runs and scored three times.
Honorable Mention: Jonny Anderson (Linfield, Sr., OF); Dan Wentzell (George Fox, Jr., OF); Nick Froman (Whitworth, Jr., IF); Mike Giardina (L&C, Jr., OF); Shaun Messerli (UPS, Sr., OF); Matt McCord (Pacific, Sr., 1B).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Allen Sugiyama (Pacific, Jr., RHP, Beaverton, Ore. - Valley Catholic HS) went 2-0 and did not allow a run in 7 innings vs. OIT and 8 innings vs. UPS. He allowed eight hits while striking out 12 batters.
Honorable Mention: Steve Hare (Whitworth, Jr., RHP); Brian Clark (Linfield, So., RHP).

March 27

NWC Player of the Week: Chris Dunbar (UPS, Jr., OF, Camano Island, Wash. - La Conner HS) hit .412 (7 for 17) with 12 RBIs in four games, including a three-game sweep of PLU. He hit a pair of grand slams and hit for the cycle in the PLU finale.
Honorable Mention: C.R. Braniff (George Fox, Sr., 2B); Nick Froman (Whitworth, Jr., IF); Zach Gantenbein (Pacific, So., OF).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Taylor Thompson (UPS, Sr., RHP, Sedro-Wooley, Wash. - Sedro-Wooley HS) had a 0.00 ERA in two appearances. He threw three scoreless innings at Washington, then threw a complete-game at PLU, allowing two runs (0 earned) on seven hits.
Honorable Mention: Derek Haner (Pacific, Jr.); Derrick Jones (George Fox, Sr., RHP); Jason Weatherman (Whitworth, So., RHP).

March 20

NWC Player of the Week: C.R. Braniff (George Fox, Sr., 2B, Hillsboro, Ore. - Century HS) led the Bruins to a 4-0 week by hitting .647 (11 for 17). He drove in seven runs, including two game-winning RBI, and scored eight times. He stole six bases in six tries.
Honorable Mention: Matt Johnson (Willamette, Sr., 2B); Eric Stanczyk (PLU, Sr., 1B); Ryne Webb (Whitworth, Jr., IF); Cedric Steinshouer (Pacific, Sr., DH); Kramer Phillips (Whitman, So., 2B).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Brandon Zimmerman (Whitworth, Jr., RHP, Spokane, Wash. - CC of Spokane) threw a complete game four hitter at Linfield. He gave up one run (unearned) while striking out four batters and walking none.
Honorable Mention: Derrick Jones (George Fox, Sr.); Jordon Smiley (L&C, So.); Tye Sundlee (Willamette, So., RHP); Brian Clark (Linfield, So.); Derek Haner (Pacific, Jr.); Brett Brunner (PLU, So.).

March 13

NWC Player of the Week: Ryan Raagas (Pacific, Sr., 2B, Las Vegas, Nev. - Silverado) led the Boxers to four wins in five games by hitting .533 (8/15 with two doubles). He also walked six times, drove in seven runs and scored seven more times.
Honorable Mention: Shaun Messerli (UPS, Sr., OF); David Fox (PLU, Sr., C); Daniel Downs (George Fox, Jr., OF); Grant Yamaguchi (Willamette, Jr., OF); Todd Phillips (Whitworth, Sr., 1B).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Eric Maroncelli (L&C, Jr., RHP, Beaverton, Ore. - Southridge HS) threw a complete game shutout against UPS. He allowed only five hits and three walks, while striking out one batter.
Honorable Mention: Brandon Rupp (George Fox, Sr., LHP); Chris Loo (Pacific, Sr.); Joe DiPietro (PLU, Jr.); Steve Hare (Whitworth, Jr., RHP); Nic Nottingham (Willamette, Sr., RHP).

March 6

NWC Player of the Week: Ty Stanley (Linfield, So., SS, Vancouver, Wash. - Columbia River HS) led the Wildcats to a pair of wins in three games at George Fox by hitting .563 with an .813 slugging percentage. He had nine hits, including a home run and a double, while driving in five and scoring six times. He stole two bases.
Honorable Mention: Bo Thunell (Linfield, Fr., SS); Bobby Benes (PLU, Sr., IF); Dustin Frank (Whitworth, Sr., OF); Grant Yamaguchi (Willamette, Jr., OF); Matt McCord (Pacific, Sr., 1B).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Jeff Caley (PLU, Jr., P, Toledo, Wash. - Toledo HS) threw a complete-game three hitter on Saturday. He allowed one run (none earned) and a walk with nine strikeouts.
Honorable Mention: Eric Maroncelli (L&C, Jr., RHP); Brian Clark (Linfield, So., RHP); Cody Person (Whitworth, Sr., RHP); Kelsey Nakata (Willamette, Fr., RHP).

Feb. 27

NWC Player of the Week: Dan Wentzell (George Fox, Jr., OF/1B, Tualatin, Ore. - Tualatin HS) led the Bruins to three wins in four games, hitting .500 (6/12) with eight runs batted in. He had two home runs and two doubles.
Honorable Mention: Brett Glover (Linfield, Sr., 2B); Robert Lloyd (Pacific, Sr., 3B); Kelly Gilmore (Willamette, Jr., OF).

NWC Pitcher of the Week: Erik Maroncelli (L&C, Jr., P, Beaverton, Ore. - Southridge HS) threw a complete-game at Willamette, earning a win by allowing one run on five hits. He struck out six and walked two.
Honorable Mention: Craig Metke (Pacific, Fr., RPH); Cody Person (Whitworth, Sr., RHP); Brandon Rupp (George Fox, Sr., P); Ranger Sciacca (Whitman, Fr., P).