Baseball | 5/15/2013 3:09:00 PM

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Following its 12th straight Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, the Western Oregon baseball team placed 10 student-athletes on the all-conference squad, the league office announced on Wednesday. WOU also picked up three conference-wide awards as senior right-hander AJ Burke was named GNAC Pitcher of the Year, junior Spenser Watkins was named GNAC Newcomer of the Year and interim head coach Kellen Walker was named GNAC Coach of the Year for their performance during the 2013 season.

Burke, a unanimous first-team selection, earned the league's top pitcher award after leading the league in strikeouts (91) and earned run average (2.78). The senior posted a 7-4 overall record as he helped lead WOU to the conference regular season and postseason crown.

Watkins earned top newcomer honors after he led the conference in wins (8) and finished second behind Burke in with a 3.19 ERA. The right-hander was also a unanimous first-team selection as WOU placed a league-leading six on the league's top squad.

Shortstop Blake Miller earned his second consecutive, unanimous first-team selection after he finished second in the league in hitting with a .372 batting average. Miller led the league in hits (74), doubles (18) and on-base percentage (.457).

Matt Nylen also earned his second consecutive first-team honor as the outfielder was a unanimous selection to the squad. The senior ranked third on the team in hitting with a .358 batting average and was among the league leaders in RBI (44), home runs (5) and runs scored (39).

Designated hitter Daniel McNabb earned first-team honors after leading the league in hitting with a .376 average while reliever Kody Stone was selected to the squad following a season that saw him establish a new conference record with 13 saves.

Pitcher Zach Nuno (7-2, 3.88 ERA), catcher Scott David (.342, 4 HR, 38 RBI), outfielder Tim Rausch (.351, 38 RBI) and outfielder Chris Bradshaw (.319, 42 RS) were named second-team all-conference.

Walker earned coach of the year honors as he led WOU to a 34-20 overall record as the Wolves captured their 12th straight conference title with a 24-8 league mark.

In other league-wide honors, Kyle Sani of Central Washington was named GNAC Player of the Year while CWU outfielder Kramer Ferrell was named GNAC Freshman of the Year.

2013 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
First Team: Pitchers - +A.J. Burke, WOU (6-3, 210, Sr., Hillsboro, OR); +Skye Adams, CWU (6-0, 195, Jr., Vancouver, WA);  +Spenser Watkins, WOU (6-1, 185, Jr., Scottsdale, AZ); Brady Muller, MSUB (6-1, 170, So., Billings, MT). Relief Pitcher - Kody Stone, WOU (5-11, 200, Jr., Tacoma, WA).  Catcher - +Kyle Sani, CWU (6-1, 240, Sr., Kennewick, WA). First Base – +Justin Peterson, CWU (6-4, 230, Sr., Tacoma, WA).  Second Base - Bobby Twedt, SMU (5-11, 185, Sr., Mount Vernon, WA).  Shortstop -+*Blake Miller, WOU (6-2, 195, Sr., Salem, OR – South Salem).  Third Base – +Marc Garza, CWU (6-0, 205, Sr., Othello, WA).  Infield - +*Colby Robison, MSUB (6-1, 195, Sr., Rexburg, ID),  Outfielders – +*Matt Nylen, WOU (6-2, 205, Sr., Damascus, OR);  +Kramer Ferrell, CWU (6-0, 190, Fr., Ellensburg, WA); *Logan Parker, NNU (6-1, 195, Sr., Jerome, ID); Drew Fosnes, MSUB (6-0, 195, Jr., Woodinville, WA). Designated Hitter -Daniel McNabb, WOU (5-9, 175, Jr., Rancho Cucamonga, CA).  +Unanimous  *Repeater (Robison and Parker from 2011).

Second Team:Pitchers -Zach Nuno, WOU (6-2, 210, Sr., Laguna Beach, CA); Stuart Fewel, CWU (6-5, 225, Jr., Portland, OR); Aaron Vaughn, NNU (6-0, 190, Jr., Tucson, AZ). Relief Pitcher -Travis Vincent, MSUB (6-2, 230, Sr., McMinnville, OR). Catchers  – Scott David, WOU (6-1, 205, Sr., Pleasanton, CA); Chandler Tracy, SMU (6-2, 215, So., Newcastle, WA). First Base  – Sam Cook, NNU (6-1, 195, Jr., Nampa, ID). Second Base - Brody Miller, MSUB (5-9, 175, So., Missoula, MT); Kasey Bielec, CWU (5-11, 205, So., Port Orchard, WA). Shortstop -Joel Johnson, CWU (6-1, 175, Jr., Olympia, WA).  Outfielders -Austin Rue, MSUB (5-9, 168, Sr., Clancy, MT); Tim Rausch, WOU (5-10, 190, So., Polson, MT); Chris Bradshaw, WOU (5-11, 195, Jr., Medford, OR).  Designated Hitters -Mack Unruh, MSUB (6-0, 190, Sr., Salem, OR); Travis Shaw, SMU (5-11, 190, So., Mililani, HI).

Honorable Mention: Pitchers - Joe Arlt, CWU (6-3, 205, Jr., Spokane, WA); Brendon Jeffers, SMU (6-4, 220, Sr., Issaquah, WA). Catcher -Jamie Mitchell, NNU (6-0, 200, Sr., Calgary, AB). Shortstop - Mario Sanelli, SMU(5-11, 180, Sr., Issaquah, WA). Utility  -Tyler Marsh, NNU (5-9, 155, So., Boise, ID).  Outfielders – Ethan Sterkel, CWU (6-2, 210, Jr., Ellensburg, WA); Charlie Gorzo, NNU (6-1, 220, Sr., Murrieta, CA).

SPECIAL AWARDS: Player of the Year – Kyle Sani, Central Washington.  Pitcher of the Year – A.J. Burke, Western Oregon.  Newcomer of the Year – Spenser Watkins, Western Oregon.  Freshman of the Year – Kramer Ferrell, Central Washington.  Coach of the Year – Kellen Walker, Western Oregon.