*Eric Huson (SR), P
Clark McKitrick (SR), P
Jesse Pratt (SR), P
Jacob Storedahl (JR), P
*2014 All-GNAC Selection
2.81
4.50
3.65
2.81
6-3
4-1
1-2
1-1
13-13
13-8
17-1
16-1
73.2
40.0
24.2
16.0
22-40
35-29
10-12
8-9
Transfers: Cody Allison (RHP, 6-1, JR., Salem, OR – West Salem/Chemeketa CC); Garrett Alverez (RHP, 6-2, JR., Madera, CA – Madera/West Hills);
Michael Bennett (RHP, 6-0, JR., Bandon, OR – Bandon/Feather River/West Virginia); Adam Bloom (OF, 5-11, JR., Scottsdale, AZ – Desert
Mountain/Phoenix College); Shawn Domke (RHP, 6-3, JR., Oak Park, CA – Oak Park/Moorpark/Ventura); Alex Emerson (LHP, 5-7, JR., Salem, OR –
McKay/Chemeketa CC – first-team NWAC South Region in 2014); Jay Leverett (INF, 5-9, SO., Gold Bar, WA – Sultan/Skagit Valley CC); Darrien Moran
(LHP, 6-0, JR., Federal Way, WA – Federal Way/Pierce CC – first-team NWAC West Region in 2014); Brandon Oliver (C/1B, 6-1, JR., Corona, CA –
Santiago/Cuesta); Erick Quesada (OF, R/R, JR., Cottonwood, AZ – Mingus Union/Chandler-Gilbert); Houston Samuel (RHP, 6-3, JR., Phoenix, AZ –
Mountain Ridge/Glendale CC); Brenden Shaffer (INF, 6-1, JR., Salem, OR – West Salem/Chemeketa CC – first-team NWAC South Region in 2014).
Freshman: Brady Miller (RHP, 6-2, FR., Gilbert, AZ – Campo Verde).
2013-14 SEASON
Finishing atop the conference by four and a half games, Western Oregon ended the 2014 regular season the same way it did the
previous 12 years, as GNAC champions.
The Wolves got off to a strong start in GNAC play after winning 12 of their first 16 games. On the season the Wolves either won a
four-game series or swept all four conference opponents at least once.
WOU made the GNAC championship tournament for the second year in a row and eliminated Saint Martin’s in the opening round
before falling to Central Washington in the finals.
The Wolves were only second to Central Washington in pitching last season, putting up a 4.30 ERA while having pitched the most
innings and giving up the second lowest amount of runs.
Of their four pitchers that started at least eight games, all of them ended the season with at least a 67% win percentage. Eric Huson
led the charge with a 2.81 ERA, ranking second behind the Pitcher of the Year in CWU’s Williams for the conference low.
Seven of the Wolves position starters hit at least .285. Outfielders Daniel McNabb and Matt Taylor both ranked in the top 10 in
batting average in the GNAC while combining for 27 extra-base hits.
IMPACT PLAYERS
The return of Huson on the mound will be a big boost for the Wolves, having set a GNAC record last season for consecutive scoreless
innings pitched at 28. Senior Clark McKitrick is also returning to a starting role after posting four wins in eight starts while allowing
opponents to only hit .221 off of him.
Four all-conference position players will take the field in a Wolves uniform again for the 2015 season.
Taylor and his 33 RBI’s and eight stolen bases from a year ago are back to hold down the outfield. The infield is mostly intact with
the return of first baseman Nathan Etheridge, third baseman Garret Harpole and shortstop Austin Hamilton.
Harpole and Huson, two first-team GNAC selections a year ago, were named to the preseason NCBWA All-West Region second-team
Friday.
Outfielder Tim Rausch will also be back after starting 41 games for the Wolves while hitting 10 doubles and slugging a team-high six
home runs.
Three first-team NWAC all-stars will try to make an immediate impact this season, including pitcher Darrien Moran, infielder
Brenden Shaffer and utility man Alex Emerson.
OUTLOOK
Even though the Wolves are projected to finish second to the Wildcats in the preseason coaches poll, there’s no reason to think the
13-time regular season champions will go down without a fight in 2015.
The Wolves are still the top GNAC team by some after being picked eighth in the NCBWA Preseason West Region Poll, the only GNAC
team to be named to the list.