FOREST GROVE – Pacific pitcher
Rob Dittrick (So., Mililani, Hawaii) not only threw his way to one of the best seasons in school history, but the best season in the Northwest Conference.
League coaches selected the sophomore as the 2011 NWC Pitcher of the Year, leading six Pacific selections to the 2011 All-Northwest Conference Baseball Team, which was announced today. In a year of great pitching in the conference this season, Dittrick beat out George Fox's Brian Ranta and Linfield's Ryan Larson for the league's top honor.
Dittrick becomes the first Pacific player to be named pitcher of the year and is the first Boxers' player to be selected for one of the league's top honors since Kevin Roth was named NWC Player of the Year in 2002.
“I am extremely proud of Rob for earning this award during his sophomore season and I am very excited to see his continual improvement during his next two years at Pacific,” said Pacific Head Baseball Coach
Greg Bradley. “It is great to have a Boxer receiving this prestigious award and representing all of his teammates in the process.”
Second baseman
Nate Rasmussen (Jr., Sandy, Utah) joined Dittrick as a first team selection. Starting pitcher
Chad Fahey (Jr., Keizer, Ore.) earned second team honors. Catcher
Scott Rowland (Sr., Salem, Ore.), center fielder
Kevin Schwartz (Jr., Milwaukie, Ore.) and closer
Dan Wolfe (Sr., Warrenton, Ore.) all earned honorable mentions. The six helped lead Pacific to a 21-16-2 record and a tie for third place in the NWC standings at 14-10.
After winning just one game as a freshman, Dittrick finished 2011 with an 8-3 record and a 2.26 earned run average. His eight wins tie him for second most in school history as he threw a school record 87.2 innings. Dittrick earned a decision in all 11 starts, threw five complete games and won six straight games between Feb. 19 and Mar. 26. His best effort was a complete-game four hitter in which the Boxers shut out Whitworth 2-0 on Apr. 16.
Dittrick finished the regular season tied with George Fox's Ranta for first in the NWC and ninth among NCAA Division III pitchers with eight wins. He also ranked fifth in the NWC in earned run average. His 66 strikeouts led the NWC and ranked 49th nationally among Division III hurlers. Dittrick's numbers are especially impressive considering the Boxers' relative lack of offense. The Boxers hit just .249 as a team and scored just 4.1 runs per game in support of their ace.
“Rob's consistency from inning to inning, game to game, series to series was amazing,” Bradley said. “He had a year that puts him in a very select group of pitchers in Pacific history. He already had the respect of his teammates and coaching staff, and now this award shows the respect he has earned with the coaches in the conference.”
An honorable mention selection as a sophomore, Rasmussen provided the Boxers a steady presence at second base to earn his first team nod. Rasmussen hit .270 in 36 games, finishing with 33 hits and two home runs. His 17 doubles led the NWC and is second most in school history for a single season. Defensively, Rasmussen committed just one error 165 chances and was among the league leaders by helping to turn 19 double plays.
Rasmussen finished with multiple hits in seven games, topped by a 2 for 4 effort against Willamette on Apr. 2 that included two doubles and two runs batted in. In addition to his work in the field, Rasmussen made six appearances as a relief pitcher. He amassed a 1.59 earned run average and picked up victories against Whitman on Apr. 9 and Whitworth on Apr. 17.
“Nate had a year very deserving of first team status,” Bradley said. “He moved from third base to second base this year. He committed only one error the entire season and, along with
Jared Van Hoon, formed a very good double play combination. He has the passion to play the game of baseball and he has high standards that he constantly strives to reach.”
Fahey, a junior transfer from Chemeketa CC, was another essential cog in a solid starting rotation, finishing with a 4-2 record and a 3.07 earned run average. In 11 starts and 76.1 innings pitched, Fahey struck out 51 batters and held opponents to a .277 batting average. He finished the season ranked sixth in the NWC in innings pitched, eighth in strikeouts and 10th in earned run average. His most impressive outing came in a win against Corban on Feb. 22 where he struck out 14 batters in six innings.
Fahey also contributed to the Boxers both at the plate and in the field. He played in 18 games as a starting outfielder and finished with a .269 batting average. He went 3 for 4 with a run and a run batted in to help the Boxers beat Linfield on Mar. 6.
Schwartz finished the season as the Boxers' leading batter with a .343 average, which included 46 hits, 12 doubles and 19 runs batted in. He finished in a three-way tie for the team lead with 10 stolen bases and finished tied for sixth in the NWC in doubles. Schwartz finished with four hits on three occasions, topped by a 4 for 5 day with three runs scored against Menlo on Mar. 27. Schwartz continued the tradition of strong defensive outfielders for the Boxers. As the team's regular starting center fielder, Schwartz did not commit an error in 92 chances.
Rowland provided Pacific a steady presence behind the plate as the Boxers' regular starting catcher. In 24 starts, Rowland succeeded in throwing out five base stealers. He finished the season with a .169 batting average.
Wolfe finished the 2011 season as one of the top closers in the nation. In a league-leading 17 appearances, Wolfe finished with six saves and ranked 28th among NCAA Division III stats in the category. He earned his lone win of the season in a relief appearance against Lewis & Clark on Feb. 27.
QUICK LINK: All-Northwest Conference Baseball Team
