DII Report: DII baseball fall report — The GNAC
The GNAC isn't a large conference, but don't be fooled. There are some power players here.
The DII baseball season is creeping closer and we have a few more conferences left to review. I know it is now technically winter, but this information is from fall baseball performances, hence keeping the name the DII baseball fall reports.
Before we get into the three GNAC teams to know, get caught up on the previous reports.
Previous fall reports: SSC | LSC | PSAC | MIAA | Conference Carolinas | GSC | PBC | SAC | GLVC | RMAC | NE10 | PacWest | G-MAC | CCAA
GNAC facts to know
Northwest Nazarene won the GNAC last year, its second time since 2021. The Nighthawks made it all the way to Cary in 2021.
Offensively, several GNAC programs had their hands in the 2024 statistical pot. Central Washington led the conference in hitting (.304), MSU Billings led the conference in home runs (57), and Northwest Nazarene led the conference in runs scored (346) and stolen bases (104).
Western Oregon topped the leaderboard in ERA in 2024 (4.30), strikeouts (330), and batting average against (.251).
Ben Leid catcher and outfielder is back for Central Washington. Last year, Leid led the GNAC with a .425 batting average with nine home runs and 13 RBI earning him GNAC player of the year honors. Infielders Marcus Manzardo (.342) and Andrew Sharp (.343) and outfielder Baba Varner Jr. (.359) are all expected to back as well. The three joined Leid in the top 7 in the GNAC in batting average.
Western Oregon first baseman John Oleson was the only GNAC representative on the AFCA West Region All-Defensive team. Oleson returns for the Wolves this year.