by Kyle Bohigian
The following seniors are graduating this year from the baseball team: Kevin Valerio, Nathan Johnson, Eric Anderson, Michael Taylor, Ben George, Liam O’Brien, Nick Ashley, Kittrick Kane and Kyle Krustangel.
Valerio an outfielder from Kennewick, named All-NWC Honorable Mention as a junior, when he hit .340 as an outfielder. As a senior, he has hit .295, while scoring 35 runs and hitting 26 RBI’s. He also has two home runs this season.
Johnson, pitcher from Colfax, started in at least seven games in all four of his seasons at Whitworth. As a junior, he also played in 20 games as an infielder and batted .323. As a senior he posted a record of 5-4 with an ERA of 4.14. He led the team in strikeouts with 33, as well as in complete games (3), and shutouts (1). He also batted .247 with seven RBI’s.
Anderson, a pitcher from Vashon Island, pitched his first two seasons of collegiate baseball at Green River Community College. As a senior, he started five games, and had a record of 3-1, with a 3.09 ERA. He had a .206 BAA, and also had three saves as a relief pitcher.
Taylor, a pitcher from Brewster, spent his freshman through junior years of college playing Division I basketball at Montana State University and Eastern Washington Unversity. As a senior baseball player, he appeared in six games, and started in three. He had a 2-0 record and a 4.12 ERA.
George, a pitcher from Vancouver, started five times with a 2-2 record as a junior. As a senior, he appeared in six games and started in two of them. He finished the season with a 0-3 record and an ERA of 6.75.
O’Brien, a pitcher from Prosser, started in six games as a junior. As a senior he started in seven games and had a 3-3 record. He completed the season with a team best 2.45 ERA, as well as a team best .195 BAA.
Ashley, an outfielder from Lind, played his first two seasons at Wenatchee Valley Community College. As a junior he played in 28 games and batted .272. As a senior he batted .310 and had 24 RBI’s and two home runs. He started in 37 games this season.
Kane, a pitcher from East Wenatchee, spent his first two seasons playing at Walla Walla Community College, and had a 3.60 ERA in 10 appearances for Whitworth as a junior. As a senior, he has played in two games, with a 7.71 ERA.
Krustangel, a senior from Spokane, was named to the All-NWC Second Team last season when he led the team in home runs with eight. This season he has batted .231 in 33 games. He had two home runs and 12 RBIs.