PORTLAND, Ore. – With five student-athletes earning the honor for at least the second time, the Western Oregon University baseball team was well represented on the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic Team with 11 being named to the list.
Anthony Zellner is a three-time recipient, while Mike Peterson, Jacob Maiben, Derek Maiben and Justyn Herzog earn the honor for a second time. Joining them on the team includes Joe Kinsky, Ryan Witt, Jacob Memmott, Spencer Six, Matthew Dunaway and Darian Noll.
Zellner holds a 3.40 GPA while majoring in business. The senior catcher from Salem, Ore., has put together another solid season. Catching pretty much both ends of each doubleheader for the past few series, Zellner has started 28 games this season, holding a .253 average with 25 hits, 14 runs, eight doubles, a home run, 15 RBI and 11 walks. He has multiple hits in nine games, reaching a season-high three against Fresno Pacific. He drove in a pair of runs in four games, most recently at Montana State Billings. Zellner has caught the past nine doubleheaders, playing both games of the day behind the plate. He has 13 assists and has thrown out four stolen base attempts this year.
Peterson holds a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in organizational leadership. The senior right-handed pitcher from Pullman, Wash., has settled into another big season on the mound this year. He has pitched in 35 innings this year, posting a 3.34 ERA and is 1-0 with 34 strikeouts to just four walks on the season. He is holding opponents to a .241 average and has a 1.03 WHIP. Peterson tossed an eight strong innings against Saint Martin's to pick up the win, coming away with eight strikeouts. He added a pair of seven strikeout games against Central Washington and Northwest Nazarene. In five appearances this season, Peterson has allowed two or less runs.
Jacob Maiben holds a 3.61 GPA while majoring in criminal justice. The senior centerfielder from Newberg, Ore., is once again among the team and conference leaders in several categories. He is hitting .353 with 41 hits, 26 runs, four doubles, a triple, a home run, 12 RBI, 20 walks and 12 stolen bases while playing in 34 games that includes 33 starts. He leads the team in average and walks, while sitting second in hits, runs and stolen bases. Maiben has 12 multi-hit games, reaching three in a game on three different occasions against Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin's and Montana State Billings. He tallied multiple runs scored in five games and drove in two runs against Montana State Billings (twice). Maiben has a stolen base in 12 different games this season.
Derek Maiben holds a 3.50 GPA while majoring in interdisciplinary studies. The senior shortstop from Newberg, Ore., is also right there near the top on the team and in the conference in several categories. He holds a .336 average, coming away with 42 hits, 29 runs, three doubles, a triple, a home run, 22 RBI, 12 walks and 17 stolen bases. Maiben leads the team in hits, runs and stolen bases, while sitting second in RBI and batting average starting 34 games this season. He has nine multi-hit games, reaching a season-high four against Stanislaus State and has four other games with three hits. Maiben tallied seven games scoring multiple runs, with a season-high three against Montana State Billings. He drove in a season-high three against Stanislaus State and has seven games with multiple RBI. He has two games with multiple stolen bases, swiping three against Central Washington and two against Northwest Nazarene.
Herzog holds a 3.42 GPA while majoring in exercise science. The junior third baseman from Hillsboro, Ore., is starting to hit his stride down the stretch. He is hitting .257 with 18 hits, 17 runs, three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 16 RBI and 11 walks while playing in 24 games that includes 20 starts. Herzog is second on the team in home runs and fourth in RBI. He has three multi-hit games going for a season-high three against Fresno Pacific. Herzog scored a trio of runs against Fresno Pacific and Saint Martin's and drove in four also against the Sunbirds. He added four other games with multiple RBI. Herzog has hits in 10 of his last 11 games.
Kinsky holds a 3.95 GPA while majoring in organizational leadership. The senior right-hander from Denver, Colo., has pitched in six games this season and logged 7.2 innings. He is 1-0 with 13 strikeouts. Kinsky went two innings twice against George Fox, including picking up the win in the first meeting on the road. He has strikeouts in five of his appearances, reaching four against Bushnell and adding a pair of three strikeout games against George Fox.
Witt holds a 3.78 GPA while majoring in education. The senior first baseman from Monroe, Wash., has played in 26 games this season that includes 23 starts. He has posted eight hits, 10 runs, two doubles, five RBI, 15 walks and a pair of stolen bases. Witt is tied for second on the team in walks. He has hits in eight games this season, most recently tallying a pair of hits in the doubleheader against Saint Martin's. Witt scored a trio of runs against Central Washington and has two other games with two runs scored. He has an RBI in five games this season.
Memmott holds a 3.75 GPA while majoring in exercise science. The sophomore right-hander from Central Point, Ore., has been out this season due to injury.
Six holds a 3.44 GPA while majoring in biology. The sophomore utility player from Roseburg, Ore., has seen time in four games this season that includes three starts. He has a run scored and an RBI, along with three walks. Six tallied his run and RBI both against Bushnell. Behind the plate he has added an assist with one caught stealing attempt.
Dunaway holds a 3.37 GPA while majoring in psychology. The right-hander from Mililani, Hawaii has pitched in 21.2 innings, coming away with a save on the year. He is holding teams to a 0.83 WHIP and .120 batting average, striking out 36 and walking just nine to hold a 3.32 ERA. Dunaway has multiple strikeouts in five games, reaching a season-high 12 against Stanislaus State. He added nine against Fresno Pacific. He went six innings against Stanislaus State and added a five inning outing against Eastern Oregon. Dunaway tallied his save against Saint Martin's going two innings of shutout relief in a 2-1 victory.
Noll holds a 3.37 GPA while majoring in exercise science. The sophomore outfielder from Tolovana Park, Ore., has played in 11 games that includes four starts this season. He has three hits, three runs, two RBI, a walk and a stolen base on the season. Noll has a hit in three games, scored a run in three games and drove in two runs against Bushnell. In the field he added a putout against Central Washington and George Fox.
