Evan Willow has become a true Bulldog in more ways than one.
The Victoria Mariners graduate from Lambrick Park sank his teeth right into a starring role with the McPherson College Bulldogs of the Kansas Collegiate Athletics Association, recently named freshman of the year.
Playing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, Willow has adjusted nicely to the next level.
“Individually, my season went a lot better than I expected. I had personal goals at the beginning of the year and I achieved almost all of them,” Willow said via e-mail exchange while still at school.
“I know I did well as a freshman, but I was not expecting to get recognized as the freshman of the year and also honorable mention all-conference [as designated-hitter], especially in a league that is primarily juniors and seniors.”
Willow, a catcher and designated hitter when spelled off behind the plate, played 48 of 56 games, injured for the other six.
In 44 conference games he finished with a .293 batting average with three home runs and 18 runs batted in. In 140 at-bats he collected 41 hits, including 11 doubles, walked 15 times and scored 16 runs.
“Going through the Mariners program in Victoria set me up very well to succeed at the college level,” added Willow, whose younger brother Jason, 16, is currently with the Mariners. “It was a big adjustment going from one of the oldest in the league in the PBL to one of the youngest starters in the KCAC conference.
“It was a big difference to play against 22-24 year olds. But I just have to take it one day at a time and realize that I’m young in this league, and can’t let failure effect me,” said the 19-year-old bio-chemistry student, who is joined at McPherson (in Kansas) by former Mariners teammate Matt Bryan.
“My goals at the beginning of the season were to bat over .275, hit three home runs, have 20 RBIs and have seven doubles — tying my PBL best.”
His .293 average led the team, as did his 11 doubles, 15 walks and 61 total bases.
“Hitting the ball comes from both confidence and seeing the ball well,” he said. “Some days you don’t see the ball well, that’s when you have to be confident in your abilities and trust your instincts. It’s definitely a better hitting area in Kansas than Victoria, the ball really flies down here.
“In this game, you don’t take breaks, especially at the college level. We work 365 days a year to prepare for the season and, this season, hard work paid off for me. I hope to carry over my achievements into the next three years I have of eligibility,” he added.
And they look bright for the young man, who is also a standout academically. His achievements on and off the field are not a surprise for his former Mariners manager Mike Chewpoy, who earlier sent Bryan and Austin Russell to the school.
“He’s had a really good year offensively and defensively he’s always going to be good,” Chewpoy said of the six-foot-three, 215-pounder. “They got what they were hoping for in Evan. If you can do that as a freshman they start to build a club around you.
“There are 23 NAIA conferences and if you’re one of the top freshmen, like he was, you start to open up some eyes.”
EXTRA INNINGS: This season the Mariners will send seven players onto either Canadian or American schools including Sam Glowicki and Jake Bosence to Big Bend Community College in Washington; Nolan Bruce, Cole Russell and Chris Blaskovich to Douglas College; Nate Seltsam to Mount St. Mary’s, Maryland; and Nick Dawson, Salt Lake CC in Utah.
