SURPRISE, Ariz. - The National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) announced Friday their NCCAA Baseball All-Region honors. In the West Region, OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez was named West Region Coach of the Year, while six members from the squad were named to the NCCAA All-West Region Baseball Team. Both Greg Saenz and Chandler Reynard were named to the First Team, while Josh Meyer, Adrian Salazar, Hayden Durkiewicz and Colton Follett were all named to the Second Team.

First Team

Second Team
 
"I am extremely proud and excited for our six young men who made first and second team NCCAA All-West Region," said OUAZ head baseball coach Tim Montez. "These young men not only did it on the field, but also in the classroom with a cumulative GPA of over 3.0. I am excited for our staff, team and for our university; as this is a great honor for our first year program."
 
Montez continued, "We still have a lot of baseball left and I look forward to the opportunity we have in front of us in the national tournament coming up in South Carolina starting Wednesday."
 
Senior Greg Saenz had a year to remember for the Spirit, playing at both second base and third base. Saenz finished the regular season with a batting average of .333; which ranks fourth best on the Spirit. He currently leads the Spirit in homeruns (5), doubles (17), and RBI's (38). Saenz currently boasts a .511 slugging percentage and a .371 on-base percentage.
 
Junior Chandler Reynard joined Greg Saenz on the NCCAA All-West Region First Team following his stellar season with the Spirit. Reynard finished the regular season by starting and playing in all 45 games for OUAZ, while hitting .318 on the year. Reynard has one homerun and 30 RBI's to this point, with a team high 25 walks and 23 stolen bases. Reynard's current slugging percentage is .370, with a .412 on-base percentage.
 
Making the NCCAA All-West Region Second Team from OUAZ were Josh Meyer, Adrian Salazar, Hayden Durkiewicz and Colton Follett. Josh Meyer spent time at first base, catcher and as the designated hitter during his senior year. Meyer; who transferred to OUAZ from Grand Canyon University, came to Surprise and made an instant impact both on the field and in the locker room. Meyer played in all 45 games this season for the Spirit, while batting .308 on the year with three homeruns and 35 RBI's. Meyer has drawn 22 walks this season and leads the team in hit-by-pitches, with eight. To this point in the season, Meyer sports a .491 slugging percentage and a .406 on-base percentage. Shortstop Adrian Salazar was reliable in 2018, starting in all 45 games for the Spirit. He ranked third on the team in batting average, with a .341 average. Salazar has one homerun and 24 RBI's to this point with 32 runs scored, 14 stolen bases, 12 doubles, and 11 walks.
 
Two pitchers from the Spirit also earned spots on the NCCAA All-West Region 2^nd Team, they are Colton Follett and pitcher/hitter Hayden Durkiewicz. Follett has been a solid lefty for the Spirit, appearing in 15 games to this point while making a pair of starts. Follett currently sports a record of 4-1 with one save and a team low 2.65 ERA. He has thrown 34 innings to this point, while allowing 11 runs; ten earned with 43 strikeouts and just 18 walks. Hayden Durkiewicz has been solid on the bump as well, as he currently sports a record of 6-3 with a 3.59 ERA. Durkiewicz has thrown 52.2 innings while allowing 25 runs; 21 earned with 26 strikeouts and 16 walks. In the batter's box, Durkiewicz is hitting .226 on the year with a homerun and ten RBI's. He has scored 12 runs on the year and stole four bases.


 
Head Coach Tim Montez is currently in his first year at the helm of the OUAZ Spirit baseball team. Montez boasts a resume of 25 years as a college coach and took the Spirit; a school currently in their first year of competition and guided them to a current record of 24-21 with a trip to the NCCAA World Series coming up. Montez was chosen as the NCCAA All-West Region Coach of the Year over candidates from the #1 overall seed and the #6 overall seeds respectively in the NCCAA World Series, because of the amazing work he has accomplished with a first year team.
 
"As I told our players, anytime one of your teammates wins an award, it's a team thing this West Region Coach of the Year is the same thing," said Montez. "It is not only a team award, but more importantly a staff award. I have seen my young staff grow over this past year and they deserve much of the credit."
 
Montez continued, "This is a direct result from our administrators, admissions office, professors, all the way down to our friends across the street who gives our program the opportunity to practice and play in one of the nicest venues in the country; being Surprise Stadium, the MLB Spring Training home to the Kansas City Royals & Texas Rangers."
 
The Spirit are set to return to the diamond this coming Wednesday, when they open up pool play at the 2018 NCCAA Baseball World Series in Easley, South Carolina. As the #8 seed, OUAZ opens play against the #1 seed Biola University. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm EST/11am Arizona time from the JB "Red" Owens Sports Complex.
 
   
 
 
About Ottawa University
Founded in 1865, Ottawa University prepares professional and liberal arts graduates for lifetimes of personal significance, vocational fulfillment and service to God and humanity within a Christ-inspired community of grace and open inquiry. Ottawa University is a comprehensive, not-for-profit educational institution serving 4,000 students through its residential campuses in Ottawa, Kan., and Surprise, Ariz., and adult campuses in Overland Park, Kan.; Phoenix, Queen Creek and Surprise, Ariz.; Brookfield, Wis.; Jeffersonville, Ind.; as well as online. For more information, visit www.ottawa.edu. 
 
For more information about OUAZ athletics, visit http://www.ottawa.edu/ouaz/athletics. Follow OUAZ athletics on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/OUAZSpiritAthletics/ and on Twitter twitter.com/OUAZSpirit.