SPOKANE, Wash. - Northwest Nazarene's Jon Keller and Sean McDonald were unanimous first-team selections and Zeb Sneed was named Freshman-of-the-Year as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference released the 2010 GNAC All-Conference Baseball Team this week.

 

Keller repeats as a first-team selection at first base this year, while McDonald makes his first appearance as an outfielder on the top squad.  Both were one of only 10 unanimous selections to the team.  Keller (6-1, 200, Sr., Eugene, OR) hit .352 with a league-leading 52 RBI, while McDonald (5-9, 165, So., Boise, ID) led the conference in batting average at .374, total hits with 73, and doubles with 23.

 

Jesse Gwaltney and Kalen Hruza join Keller and McDonald on the first-team, with Gwaltney named as a starting pitcher and Hruza earning the only relief pitching spot.  Gwaltney (5-11, 200, Jr., Vancouver, WA) finished the year 5-4 overall with 59 strikeouts, while Hruza (6-0, 206, Jr., Caldwell, ID) had a league-high 32 appearances, earning two saves and finishing with a 2-0 record.

 

Sneed (6-4, 190, Fr., Twin Falls, ID) was named the top Freshman in the conference, finishing his rookie season 4-4 overall and ranked 10th in the GNAC in Earned Run Average.

 

Second-team selections for NNU included Greg Christensen (5-9, 215, Sr., Rupert, ID) at first base, Ryan VanBeek (6-0, 205, Jr., Yakima, WA) at second base, Cameron Louie (5-9, 165, Jr., Boise, ID) at shortstop, and Ty Windall (5-11, 165, Jr., Davis, CA) as an outfielder. 

 

Honorable mention picks went to J.T. Brodrick (6-6, 205, Jr., Riverton, WY) as a starting pitcher, Connor Rankin (6-2, 210, Sr., Shoreline, WA) at catcher, and Joel Oliver (5-11, 215, Sr., Menifee, CA) at third base.

 

Player of the Year:  Kyle Boe, Western Oregon

Pitcher of the Year:  Jacob Pettit, Western Oregon

Newcomer of the Year:  Daniel Dillard, Western Oregon

Freshman of the Year:  Zeb Sneed, Northwest Nazarene

Coach of the Year:  Jeremiah Robbins, Western Oregon