SPOKANE, Wash. - Nate Slonaker was named the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Freshman-of-the-Year and joins Zach Aakhus and Jimmy VanBeek as first-team all-conference selections as the 2008 GNAC All-Conference Baseball Team was announced by the conference office.

Slonaker, a freshman from Nampa, Idaho, posted a 7-2 record and also had seven saves and a 1.45 earned run average, leading the team in victories.  Also named to the first-team all-conference squad, Nate made 25 relief appearances for the Crusaders this season.

Both unanimous first-team selections, Zach Aakhus was named at catcher and Jimmy VanBeek at first base.  Aakhus, a senior from Bakersfield, Calif., led the league in home runs with 16 and also set the NNU single-season home run record.  VanBeek, a junior from Yakima, Wash.,  hit .335 with 42 RBI and five home runs.

Second-team picks included pitcher Chris Mahelona (6-1, 215, Sr., Kailua, HI), second baseman Ryne Phillips (5-9, 165, Sr., Brewster, WA), shortstop Severo Rodriguez (6-1, 180, Sr., Othello, WA) and outfielders Cole Smith (5-8, 185, Sr., Pasco, WA) and Ryan Bailey (5-10, 185, Jr., Richland, WA).

Honorable mentions honors were given to pitcher Alex VanOeveren (6-2, 205, Sr., Fall City, WA) and designated hitter Tim Puckett (5-11, 200, Sr., Hillsboro, OR).

GNAC Award Winners
Player of the Year - Jamie Nilsen, Central Washington
Pitcher of the Year - Mike Eisenhauer, Western Oregon
Newcomer of the Year - Dylan Bruck, Western Oregon
Freshman of the Year - Nate Slonaker, Northwest Nazarene
Coach of the Year - Jeremiah Robbins, Western Oregon

2008 GNAC ALL-CONFERENCE BASEBALL TEAM

FIRST TEAM: Pitchers - +*Mike Eisenhauer, Western Oregon (6-1, 185, Jr., West Linn, OR);  +*Tyler Levin, Central Washington (6-4, 230, Sr., Everett, WA); *Mike Ward, Western Oregon (6-4, 200, So., Eugene, OR); Michael McCanna, Central Washington (6-5, 185, So., Addy, WA).  Relief Pitcher - Nate Slonaker, Northwest Nazarene (5-10, 215, Fr., Nampa, ID). Catcher - +*Zach Aakhus, Northwest Nazarene (6-1, 205, Sr., Bakersfield, CA).  First Base - *Jimmy VanBeek, Northwest Nazarene (6-0, 235, Jr., Yakima, WA).  Second Base - Andy Cole, Saint Martin's (5-10, 165, So., Kennewick, WA). Shortstop - +++*Jamie Nilsen, Central Washington (6-0, 185, Sr., Federal Way, WA). Third Base  - *Shane Schoeneberg, Saint Martin's (6-0, 190, Sr., Kennewick, WA).  Infielder - Cesar Lopez, Western Oregon (5-10, 185, Jr., Walla Walla, WA).  Designated Hitter  - Nate Rylaarsdam, Central Washington (6-5, 230, Sr., Mount Vernon, WA). Outfielders - *Dylan Bruck, Western Oregon (5-10, 180, Sr., Wilsonville, WA), ++*Nate Baker, Saint Martin's (6-0, 185, Sr., Bothell, WA); *Brandon Kuykendall,  Saint Martin's (6-2, 195, Sr., Bonney Lake, WA); Jonathan Schlender, Montana State Billings (6-2, 200, Jr., Bozeman, MT). 

*Unanimous  +Repeater +Two-Time Repeater +++Three-Time Repeater

SECOND TEAM: Pitchers - Jordan  Moore, Central Washington (6-3, 200, Sr., Nine Mile Falls, WA); Chris Mahelona, Northwest Nazarene (6-1, 215, Sr., Kailua, HI).  Relief Pitcher - Jared Neyens, Western Oregon (6-0, 200, Sr., Bothell, WA).  Catcher  - Taylor Mieras, Western Oregon (5-11, 205, Jr., Reno, NV). First Base - Levi Johnson, Montana State Billings (6-0, 180, Jr., Great Falls, MT). Second Base - Ryne Phillips, Northwest Nazarene (5-9, 165, Sr., Brewster, WA).  Shortstop - Severo Rodriguez, Northwest Nazarene (6-1, 180, Sr., Othello, WA). Third Base - Frank Donangelo, Central Washington (5-11, 205, Sr., Monterey, CA).  Designated Hitter - Luke Abbott, Saint Martin's (6-0, 220, So., Centralia, WA). Outfielders - Craig Yuhas, Saint Martin's (6-0, 185, Sr., Phoenix, AZ); A.J. Gosney, Central Washington (5-10, 185, Jr., Spokane, WA); Drew Humphrey, Western Oregon (6-0, 200, Jr., Pleasant Hill, OR); Cole Smith, Northwest Nazarene (5-8, 185, Sr., Pasco, WA); Ryan Bailey, Northwest Nazarene (5-10, 185, Jr., Richland, WA).

HONORABLE MENTION: Pitchers - Andrew Neisinger, Saint Martin's (5-10, 180, Sr., Bothell, WA);  Nick Bolthouse, Saint Martin's (5-10, 185, Sr., Eagle, ID); Derek Shoemaker, Central Washington (6-0, 190, Jr., Moses Lake, WA); Mike Cusick, Western Oregon (6-2, 185, So., Salem, OR); Ben Shivers, Western Oregon (5-10, 175, Sr., Silverton, OR); Tyler Liebelt, Saint Martin's (5-9, 165, Sr., Washougal, WA); Alex VanOeveren, Northwest Nazarene (6-2, 205, Sr., Fall City, WA).  Second Base - Tyler Moore, Western Oregon (5-10, 185, Sr., Portland, OR); Kevin Walkenhauer, Central Washington (6-1, 170, So., Yakima, WA).  Third Base - Eric Renander, Western Oregon (6-0, 175, Jr., Forest Grove, OR).  Designated Hitter -  Tim Puckett, Northwest Nazarene (5-11, 200, Sr., Hillsboro, OR).  Outfielders  - Tyler Scoggin, Central Washington (6-2, 190, Sr., Lacey, WA); Jeff Ridgeway, Montana State Billings (6-0, 190, Fr., Billings, MT).