Northwest Nazarene Baseball: A Tradition of Success

Baseball is a huge part of the Northwest Nazarene University tradition. The team has seen a lot of success over the years, and it looks like that tradition is going to continue. Check out this blog to learn more about the team, the players, and the coaches.

Introduction

Northwest Nazarene University’s baseball team has a long tradition of success, dating back to its early days as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The team has won two NAIA World Series titles and has made 10 appearances in the NCAA Division II College World Series In recent years the team has continued to be one of the top programs in Division II, winning conference championships and making deep runs in the postseason.

History

The Northwest Nazarene Baseball Team has been one of the most successful programs in the history of NCAA Division II baseball. The team has made thirteen appearances in the NCAA Division II Baseball Championship winning the national title in 2001 and finishing as the runner-up in 2000 and 2002. The Nighthawks have also won nine Pacific West Conference championships, most recently in 2017.

In addition to its on-field success, the Northwest Nazarene baseball program has also produced a number of Major League Baseball players, including All-Stars Jason Varitek and Mike Cameron.

Championships

The NNU Baseball program has a long and proud tradition of success. The team has won numerous conference and Regional Championships and has made several trips to the NCAA Division II World Series In recent years the team has been consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally, and is a perennial contender for the conference title

Players who have gone on to play professional baseball include Mike Piazza Steve Finley and Jeff Huson.

Notable Players

The baseball team at Northwest Nazarene University has had many notable players over the years. Some have gone on to play in Major League Baseball while others have made significant contributions to the game in other ways. Here are some of the most notable players in the history of Northwest Nazarene Baseball

Pete Lineberry was a pitcher for Northwest Nazarene from 1982-1985. He is the all-time leader in wins and strikeouts for the NNU Baseball Program Lineberry went on to play professionally for several years, including a stint in Major League Baseball with the Milwaukee Brewers

Dennis Martinez was a pitcher for Northwest Nazarene from 1978-1979. He also went on to play Professional Baseball including 23 years in major league baseball Martinez was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Todd Linden was a catcher and outfielder for Northwest Nazarene from 1999-2002. He is the all-time leader in batting average and home runs for the NNU baseball program Linden played professional baseball for several years, including parts of four seasons in Major League Baseball

Facilities

Northwest Nazarene baseball proudly calls Miller Park home. The multi-Million Dollar complex houses a state-of-the-art clubhouse, weight room, and training facilities. The park also features an artificial turf infield with dimensions similar to those of Fenway Park in Boston, MA.

Head Coaches

Since the program’s inception in 1957, the NNU baseball team has had just seven head coaches The most successful of these was Gary Powers, who led the team to 14 conference championships and six NAIA World Series appearances in his 20 seasons at the helm. Powers retired in 2005, and was succeeded by current Head Coach Steve Whitney. Under Whitney’s leadership, the team has won two conference championships and made one appearance in the NAIA World Series

Recruiting

Northwest Nazarene baseball has a tradition of success on the diamond, and that success starts with recruiting. head coach J.D. Grace and his staff work tirelessly to find the best talent in the Northwest and beyond to compete at the Division II level.

The recruiting process is an important one for any college baseball program, but it takes on added significance at Northwest Nazarene. The small, private school in Nampa, Idaho, is not a traditional baseball powerhouse, so the Coaching Staff has to be creative in its recruiting efforts.

The staff looks for players who are not only talented but also have the right attitude and work ethic. They want players who will buy into the team concept and be willing to sacrifice their personal goals for the good of the team.

The results of this approach speak for themselves. In recent years Northwest Nazarene has won conference championships and made appearances in the NCAA Division II tournament. The program has also produced a number of Major League Baseball draft picks and professional players.

If you are a talented baseball player with a strong work ethic, you owe it to yourself to explore the possibilities at Northwest Nazarene University.

Game-Day Experience

The game-day experience at Northwest Nazarene University is one that fans of all ages can enjoy. The Baseball Team has a rich tradition of success, and the games are well-attended by passionate fans. The atmosphere is electric, and the action on the field is sure to keep you entertained. If you’re looking for a great way to spend an afternoon or evening, come check out a NNU baseball game!

Fans

Since the inception of the Baseball Program in 1951, the fans have been a huge part of its success. From the early days at Memorial Stadium to today at NNU Field, Crusader fans have always been some of the most enthusiastic and loyal in all of college baseball

Over the years, Crusader fans have seen some of the best players and teams in the country come through Nampa. future Major Leaguers like Jeff Tam and Aaron Harang got their start at NNU, while current MLB stars like Kyle Seager and Marco Gonzales honed their skills as Crusaders.

NNU has also had its share of success on the field, winning conference championships in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 and 2019. The Crusaders have also made 31 appearances in the NCAA Division II World Series – more than any other team in the region – including 11 trips to the Championship game

Whether it’s cheering on future Major Leaguers or celebrating another conference championship win with friends and family, Crusader fans have always been a big part of what makes Northwest Nazarene baseball so special.

Conclusion

In conclusion, NNU baseball has a long and successful history. From the program’s start in 1967 to today, the team has made 23 conference tournament appearances and won 12 conference championships. The team has also been nationally ranked nine times and made three trips to the NCAA Division II World Series With a strong tradition of success, NNU baseball is poised for continued success in the years to come.