WOU`s Waechter Named First Team All-American

Pitcher is first WOU player named to NCAA Division II first-team squad.

Salem-News.com Sports

MONMOUTH - Western Oregon junior pitcher Nick Waechter has been named to the first team of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association NCAA Division II All-America Team.

The right-hander, who led the Wolves to a 40-16 record and sixth straight conference championship, was also selected this year as the west region pitcher of the year by the NCBWA and by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

Waechter is WOU`s first player ever named as a first-team All-America, since the Wolves moved to the NCAA Division II level in 2002. Catcher Greg McCarthy was a second-team All-America pick last spring in the NCBWA listing. Waechter was also a second-team selection this year by the ABCA.

Waechter was a perfect 12-0 in 2006 with a 2.36 earned-run average in 95 1/3 innings. He struck out 85 batters and walked just 21, while opponents batted a region-low .223 against him.

The Roseburg native is expected to be selected in this week`s major league baseball`s amateur draft.

WOU`s junior outfielder Boo Christenson was named to the third team. The GNAC Player of the Year hit .427 on the season and scored 61 runs.

NCBWA NCAA Division II All-America team

Player of the year: Lee Cruz, Senior, Tampa

Pitcher of the year: Gabe Medina, Senior, Emporia State

First Team

1B: Jeff Miller, Junior, West Virginia State (.487 BA, 19 HR/69 RBI, 70 R, 17 2B)

2B: Justin Randall, Junior, Ashland (.422, 2/61, 19 2B, 13 SB)

3B: Bridger Hunt, Junior, Central Missouri State (.415, 9/74, 66 R, 21 2B, 22 SB)

SS: Garrett Olson, Junior, Franklin Pierce (.378, 13/59, 19 SB)

C: John Brummett, Senior, Pittsburg State (.434, 13/53)

OF: Lee Cruz, Senior, Tampa (.438, 23/88, 18 2B, 74 R)

OF: Jonathan Baksh, Junior, Florida Tech (.469, 9/67, 67 R, 21 2B, 4 3B, 18 SB)

OF: Sean VanElderen, Senior, Mesa State (.409, 13/56, 59 R, 18 2B)

OF: Mark McBratney, Junior, Emporia State (.400, 13/80, 70 R, 21 2B, 5 3B, 15 SB)

DH: Kyle Jones, Senior, West Virginia State (.419, 25/82, 54 R, 14 2B)

P: Nick Waechter, Junior, Western Oregon (12-0, 2.36, 3 CG)

P: Gabe Medina (13-1, 2.50, 133K/29 BB/97 1/3 IP)

P: Sergio Perez, Junior, Tampa (10-2, 2.15, 119 K/88 IP)

P: Dylan Owen, Sophomore, Francis Marion (12-2, 2.15, 124 K /117 1/3 IP)

RP: Nick Wandless, Senior, USC Aiken (2-1, 1.56, 17 SV, 48 K, 16 H/34 2/3 IP)

RP: Zach Andrews, Sophomore, Montevallo (5-0, 2.20, 11 SV, 61 K/57 1/3 IP)

Second Team

1B: Jose Jimenez, Freshman, Tampa

2B:Ryan Taylor, Senior, West Virginia State

SS: Joey Besl, Junior, Concord

3B: DeShaun Brooks, Senior, Benedict

C: Matt Smith, Senior, Catawba

OF: Brandon Halstead, Junior, West Virginia State

OF: Collin Brown, Senior, Shepherd

OF: James Barksdale, Junior, North Alabama

OF: Chad Leon, Junior, Nebraska-Omaha

DH: Miguel Porchas, Junior, New Mexico Highlands

DH: Jimbo Davis, Junior, Catawba

P: Nathan Starner, Senior, Shippensburg

P: Nick Bryant, Senior, Chico State

P: Michael Antonini, Junior

RP: Nick Fellman, Junior, Mankato State

RP: Michael Newman, Junior, Georgia College and State

Third Team

1B: Jason Klug, Junior, CSU Dominguez Hills

2B: Brian Lauderdale, Senior, North Georgia College

2B: John Beal, Senior, Angelo State

3B: Brandon Bacon, Senior, Central Oklahoma

SS: Mike DeVeaux, Senior, Georgia College and State

C: Brett Wallace, Sophomore, West Chester

OF: Boo Christenson, Junior, Western Oregon

OF: Carlos Gutierrez, Junior, Elizabeth City State

OF: Joel Wells, Senior, Abilene Christian

OF: Jerry Sands, Junior, Catawba

DH: Brock Godwin, Sophomore, Barton

P: Rusty Rayborn, Junior, Delta State P: Kyle Jones, Senior, SIU Edwardsville

P: Ryan Williams, Junior, St. Anselm

P: Cody Jones, Sophomore, Southern Arkansas

P: Jeremy Dow, Junior, Grand Valley State

P: Anthony Bello, Senior, Nova Southeastern

RP: Marcus Martinez, Junior, Chico State

RP: Steve Thomas, Senior, Northern Kentucky

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