SPOKANE, Wash. - Northwest Nazarene's Jon Keller leads a group of five Crusader baseball players selected to the 2009 Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Conference Baseball Team, announced by the GNAC office in Spokane. Keller is joined on the all-star squad by Joel Oliver, Jimmy VanBeek, Connor Rankin and Ty Windall.
Keller (6-2, 190, Jr., Eugene, OR) was a unanimous first-team selection in the infield and was also selected as a pitcher, having compiled a 6-5 pitching record with a 4.86 ERA and led the Crusaders at the plate with a .353 batting average. He led his NNU team in hits (55), doubles (14) and runs scored (31).
Oliver, Rankin, VanBeek and Windall were all second-team selections, earning spots at third base, catcher, designated hitter and the outfield, respectively.
Oliver (5-11, 225, Jr., Menifee, CA) hit .280, drove in 28 RBI, led the GNAC in home runs with eight and fielded .970 at third base. Rankin (6-3, 200, Jr., Shoreline, WA) hit .313 and led the Crusaders with 36 RBI, hitting a team-high four home runs. VanBeek (6-1, 240, Sr., Yakima, WA) hit .298 with 10 doubles, three home runs and drove in 20 on the year. Windall (5-11, 165, So., Davis, CA) hit .280 and led the Crusaders and the GNAC with 19 stolen bases.
2009 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM: Pitchers – *Blake Keitzman, WOU (5-10, 170,, Jr., Roseburg, OR); *Jacob Pettit, WOU (6-2, 180, Jr., Orting, WA); Kirk Lind, WOU (5-10, 200, Fr., Vancouver, WA); Jon Keller, NNU (6-2, 190, Jr., Eugene, OR) . Relief Pitcher - Jeff Brooks, SMU (RP, 6-0, 160, Sr., Lacey, WA). Catcher – Andrew Snowdon, CWU (6-3, 230, Sr., Bellevue, WA). First Base – *Thomas McCarthy, WOU (6-4, 220, Fr., Corvallis, OR). Second Base – Cole Pryor, MSUB (5-9, 170, Sr., Billings, MT); Eric Renander, WOU (6-0, 180, Sr., Forest Grove, OR). Shortstop - J.J, Mascolo, WOU (6-3, 175, Sr., Eugene, OR). Third Base - *Bill Clontz, WOU (6-2, 180, Jr., Corvallis, OR); *Nick Harris, MSUB (6-1,200, Sr., Great Falls, MT). Infielder – *Jon Keller, NNU (6-2, 190, Jr., Eugene, OR). Designated Hitter - Jason Moseby, WOU (6-3, 190, Jr., Bellevue, WA). Outfielders – *Travis Fox, WOU (5-10, 180, Sr., Colville, WA); *A.J. Gosney, CWU (5-10, 190, Sr., Spokane, WA); *+Shane Schoeneberg, SMU (6-0, 205, Sr., Kennewick, WA); *Stefan Malkuch, MSUB (6-1, 175, Sr., Kalispell, MT); Justin Speer, WOU (5-9, 200, Sr., Gresham, OR). *Unanimous +Repeater
SECOND TEAM: Pitchers - Mike Eisenhauer, WOU (6-0, 180, Sr., West Linn, OR); Steve Scott, MSUB (6-4, 210, Sr., Billings, MT) , Andrew Snowdon, CWU (6-3, 230, Sr., Bellevue, WA). Relief Pitcher – Jesse Nunley, WOU (5-9, 170, Jr., Tacoma, WA). Catcher – Garrett Breda, WOU (5-9, 170, Jr., Bothell, WA); Connor Rankin, NNU (6-3, 200, Jr., Shoreline, WA). First Base – Kevin Schneider, CWU (5-11, 190, Jr., Spokane, WA). Second Base – Jordan Slesk, CWU (6-0, 180, Jr., Bellingham). Shortstop – Matt Schoonover, MSUB (5-11, 185, Jr., Great Falls, MT). Third Base – Joel Oliver, Northwest Nazarene (5-11, 225, Jr., Menifee, CA). Designated Hitter – Jimmy VanBeek, NNU (6-1, 240, Sr., Yakima, WA). Outfielders – Ricky McKinney, CWU (6-1, 200, Jr., Aberdeen, WA); Ty Windall, NNU (5-11, 165, So., Davis, CA); Kyle Boe, WOU (6-1, 210, Jr., Burlington, WA).
HONORABLE MENTION: Pitchers – Brian Howe, MSUB (5-10, 175, So., Whitefish, MT); Archie Smith, MSUB (6-4, 175, Jr., Palmyra, NE); James Douglas, SMU (6-1, 190, Jr., Rochester, WA); Casey Mitchell, SMU (6-1, So., Olympia, WA). Catcher – Andrew Hernandez, MSUB (5-7, 175, Sr., Tigard, OR). First Base – Michael McIver, SMU (6-10, 215, So., Olympia, WA). Third Base – Frank Donangelo, CWU (6-0, 205, Sr., Monterey, CA). Designated Hitter – Joe Via, MSUB (6-0, 220, Sr., Price, UT). Outfielders - Josh Murillo, CWU (5-10, 185, Sr., Yakima, WA).