For the eighth-consecutive season, a Bellevue University baseball player has been named the captain of the Omaha World-Herald all-Nebraska team as junior shortstop Kory Longaker (Edmonds, Wash.) was named the honorary captain today, joining four other Bruins on the first team. The team consisted of players from all NAIA and NCAA Division III teams in the state of Nebraska.
Along with Longaker, junior catcher Travis Tanaka (.329/.399/.506, 18 XBH, 32 RBI), sophomore first baseman Riley Baasch (.331/.418/.674, 29 XBH, 55 RBI), junior outfielder Gary Dixon (.346/.412/.663, 18 XBH, 28 RBI), and senior pitcher Reid Feeley (6-2, 2.80 ERA, 70 SO), were all first-team selections. Honorable mention recognition was given to senior pitcher Max Dwyer, junior outfielder Stuart Eurich, and junior catcher/designated hitter JT Patterson.
A second-team NAIA All-American honoree, Longaker wrapped up his first season in a Bruin uniform with an excellent .399/.456/.610 slash line which was accompanied by 27 extra-base hits and 47 RBIs. He led the team in six offensive categories, including; hits (91), runs (63), batting average (.399), on-base percentage (.456), doubles (16), and total bases (139). Additionally, he ranked second on the club in extra-base hits (27) and stolen bases (21), third in RBI (47), and fourth in both home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.610).
Longaker led the conference in runs scored (63), hits (91), doubles (16), and total bases (139) while also ranking among the league leaders in the NSAA in numerous categories, including; stolen bases (21), batting average (third), RBI (fourth), home runs (fifth), on-base percentage (sixth, and slugging percentage (seventh).
Longaker was one of just two players in the NSAA – along with teammate Riley Baasch – to bat over .300 in at least 200 at-bats. Nationally, Longaker ranked 12th in hits (91), 14th in assists (157), and 21st in hits per game (1.54).
Bellevue wrapped up the 2018 season with a 38-23 overall record (17-5 NSAA) and won their second North Star Tournament in the last three seasons. The Bruins earned their eighth-straight NAIA Opening Round bid and 21st NAIA National Tournament Appearance in the program's storied history.
