MONMOUTH, Ore. – Over the next three days, we will honor the 18 Western Oregon University baseball seniors. We start with Mitchell Hulse, Ryan Santa Cruz, Hunter Johnson, Jayden Hanna, Blayze Arcano and Sam Jones.

Mitchell Hulse (Infield, Littleton, CO)

Hulse has been with the Wolves since the 2019 season after transferring from Barstow CC. Hulse has seen time at several positions in the infield for WOU throughout his career. This season, Hulse played in the series opening series against Saint Martin's tallying a run scored.

Last year in the shortened 2020 season, Hulse started 11 games coming away with four hits, a double, a triple, a home run, three RBI and five runs scored. He had a hit in four different games, tallied two RBI against Montana State Billings and scored two runs in a game twice versus Montana State Billings and Fresno Pacific. In the field, he collected eight putouts and 17 assists.

In his first season with the Wolves in 2019, Hulse played in 26 games that included 20 starts. He tallied 16 hits, five doubles, three triples, two home runs 14 RBI and 17 runs scored. He also added a stolen base. Hulse had three multi-hit games, going for a season-high three against Montana State Billings. He added five multi-RBI games, driving in a season-high three against Northwest Nazarene. In the field, Hulse tallied 69 putouts and 78 assists.

Before arriving at WOU, Hulse played at Barstow in California playing in 36 games, tallying 41 hits, 12 doubles, 21 RBI, 38 runs scored and six stolen bases.

For his career, Hulse has played in 74 games, collecting 61 hits, 18 doubles, four triples, three home runs, 38 RBI and 60 runs scored. Plans after WOU: Hulse is majoring in exercise science and will move to Mississippi to be a graduate assistant strength coach at Delta State.

Ryan Santa Cruz (Catcher, Irvine, CA)

Santa Cruz has been a mainstay behind the plate for the Wolves during the 2021 season, playing in 12 games that includes 10 starts. He has five hits, two doubles, two RBI, seven runs scored and five walks. Santa Cruz tallied two hits against Montana State Billings, while also scoring three runs in that same game. He drove in a run against both Montana State Billings and Northwest Nazarene. Behind the plate, Santa Cruz has 80 putouts and 12 assists, catching five stolen base attempts.

During the shortened 2020 season, Santa Cruz played in five games that were all starts. He came away with three hits, three runs scored, three RBI and four walks. Behind the plate, he collected 46 putouts, three assists and threw out one stolen base attempt.

Before arriving at WOU, Santa Cruz was at Utah Valley State and Irvine Valley. While he didn't see time on the field at Utah Valley State, Santa Cruz played in 70 games throughout two years at Irvine Valley. He tallied 49 hits, 36 runs scored, eight doubles, 18 RBI, 24 walks and tallied four steals.

For his career, Santa Cruz has played in 87 games coming away with 57 hits, 10 doubles, 46 runs scored and 23 RBI. Plans after WOU: Santa Cruz is majoring in communications and will look to move home with family to pursue a career in screenwriting and the film industry.

Hunter Johnson (Infield, Salem, OR)

Johnson spent his entire career with the Wolves arriving in 2017. This season, Johnson has played in nine games that have all been starts. He has 11 hits, four doubles, a home run, five RBI, 10 runs scored and a walk. He has four multi-hit games, going for a season-high three against Central Washington. He drove in two runs against Saint Martin's and has scored multiple runs in a game three times, with a season-high four versus Montana State Billings. In the field, Johnson has eight putouts and 13 assists.

During the shortened 2020 season, Johnson played in six games that included five starts. He collected two hits, a run scored, two RBI and a walk. He posted hits against Fresno Pacific (twice) and added RBI hits against Fresno Pacific and Montana State Billings. In the field, he had two putouts and four assists.

During the 2019 season, Johnson played in 16 games that included four starts. He posted three hits, a double, two runs scored and an RBI, along with a walk. In the field, Johnson recorded 18 putouts and seven assists.

During the 2018 season, Johnson played in 26 games that included 21 starts. He posted 17 hits, four doubles, 12 RBI, eight runs scored, three walks and two stolen bases. Johnson tallied three multi-hit games, going for a season-high three against both Montana State Billings and Saint Martin's. Johnson drove in a season-high two RBI three times, Saint Martin's (twice) and Lewis-Clark State. In the field, he tallied 25 putouts and 64 assists.

Johnson began his career with the Wolves during the 2017 season, playing right away as a true freshman. He played in 17 games that included 14 starts. Johnson tallied seven hits, eight runs scored, four RBI and six walks. He tallied two hits against Concordia (OR) and drove in two runs against Montana State Billings. In the field, Johnson had nine putouts and 35 assists.

For his career, Johnson has played in 74 games coming away with 40 hits, nine doubles, a home run, 24 RBI and 29 runs scored.

Jayden Hanna (Infield, Beaverton, OR)

Hanna arrived at WOU during the 2019 season after transferring from Lane CC. This season, Hanna has played in 10 games that includes nine starts. He has eight hits, a double, a triple, a home run, four RBI, eight runs scored and five walks. Hanna tallied two hits against Montana State Billings and drove in three runs in that same game. He scored two runs against Saint Martin's and Montana State Billings. In the field, he has 10 putouts and 12 assists.

During the shortened 2020 season, Hanna played in nine games that included six starts. He collected four hits, five runs scored, a double, two RBI and five walks. He posted two hits against Central Washington. In the field, Hanna had nine putouts and 11 assists.

Hanna redshirted in his first season with the Wolves in 2019.

During his sophomore season with Lane CC in 2018, Hanna played in 49 games coming away with 41 hits, six doubles, a triple, 15 RBI, 15 walks and two stolen bases, along with 19 runs scored.

As a freshman in 2017, Hanna also played in 49 games coming away with 38 hits, five doubles, two triples, 17 RBI, 17 runs scored and nine walks.

For his career, Hanna has played in 117 games, tallying 91 hits, 13 doubles, four triples, a home run, 38 RBI and 49 runs scored. Plans after WOU: Hanna is majoring in business management and plans to get a master's of business administration degree to try and pursue a job working at Nike.

Blayze Arcano (Outfield, Ewa Beach, HI)

Arcano arrived at WOU for the 2019 season after transferring from Lower Columbia College. It's been a big year for Arcano, being named the NCBWA National Player of the Week on May 5 after recording 11 hits, five home runs, two triples, 21 RBI and 10 runs scored against Montana State Billings. During that series, Arcano tied the new school record with Josh Berman when he hit three home runs in the game on Apr. 30 at Montana State Billings. Arcano leads the team with 37 RBI, is tied for second on the team with six home runs, is second in triples with two, second in hits with 34, third in runs scored with 22 and fourth in average with a .358 clip while starting 25 games this season. He also has four walks and five stolen bases. He has a hit in 20 games this season, posting nine multi-hit games, going for a season-high four against Montana State Billings. He also has a trio of three-hit games this year. Arcano has eight multi-RBI games, going for a season-high nine against Montana State Billings and has six games this season with at least three RBI. In the field, Arcano has 69 putouts and an assist playing in centerfield. He was recently named to the All-GNAC Second Team this year.

During the shortened 2020 season, Arcano played in nine games that included seven starts. He posted four hits, six RBI, two runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases. He drove in three runs against Fresno Pacific. In the field, Arcano had seven putouts.

During his first season with the Wolves in 2019, Arcano was named to the Second Team All-GNAC squad after hitting .304 with 41 hits, nine doubles, three triples, 27 RBI, 25 runs scored, six walks and six stolen bases while playing in 42 games that included 41 starts. He posted 13 multi-hit games, going for a season-high three hits twice against Montana State Billings and Concordia (OR). He added five multi-RBI games, with a season-high five against Concordia (OR). In the field, he had 74 putouts and three assists.

During his sophomore season, Arcano was among the team leaders with a .440 batting average, tallying 22 hits in 19 games. He added six doubles, 11 runs scored, two home runs, 21 RBI, a walk and two stolen bases.

During his true freshman season in 2017 with Lower Columbia, Arcano played in 25 games that included 10 hits, eight runs scored, two triples, seven RBI and three walks.

For his career, Arcano has played in 120 games collecting 112 hits, 19 doubles, seven triples, eight home runs, 68 runs scored and 98 RBI. Plans after WOU: Arcano is majoring in business with a focus in marketing. He plans to play baseball as long as he can, whether it be independent or pro ball.

Sam Jones (Utility, Issaquah, WA)

Jones arrived at WOU for the 2020 season after playing at both Tiffin University and Edmonds CC. This season, Jones, has played in 10 games that includes nine starts. He has 12 hits, a double, a home run, five RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base. Jones has five multi-hit games this season, as each game he has a hit in this season has been a multi-hit game. He posted a season-high three hits (twice) against Saint Martin's and Northwest Nazarene. In the field, he has 21 putouts.

During the shortened 2020 season, Jones saw time in one game against Montana State Billings starting the game and posting a steal. He also had a putout in the field.

Jones played the 2019 season at Edmonds CC seeing time in 40 games and posting a .281 batting average. He tallied 36 hits, 26 runs scored, two doubles, 14 RBI, 23 walks and seven stolen bases.

During the 2018 season, Jones played in three games for Tiffin University.

For his career, Jones has played in 54 games, tallying 48 hits, three doubles, a home run, 34 runs scored and 19 RBI. Plans after WOU: Jones is majoring in business and plans to attend law school to become a sports agent.