BILLINGS, Mont. – The Montana State University Billings baseball team saw senior pitcher
Jackson Betancourt named to the 2025 ABCA Division II West Region All-Defensive Team, marking a historic milestone as the first Yellowjacket in program history to earn the honor.
Now in just its third year, the All-Defensive Team is selected by members of the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) under the direction of the
ABCA NCAA Div. II All-America & Coach of the Year Committee. Each region recognizes only one pitcher for defensive excellence, and Betancourt earned his spot by delivering a flawless season in the field.
HEAR FROM COACH WADDOUPS: "The best way to describe Betancourt is that pitchers ARE athletes. He was phenomenal all season and gave us quality start after quality start. He came to MSUB as a two-way and earned his way into a starting roll. His ability to get off the mound and field his position, handle the bunt game, and control the run game was outstanding. We are grateful to recieve this honor and it is a testament of his work ethic, leadership, and the quality of teammate that he is."
Betancourt posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage across 22 total chances. The left-hander also tallied 18 assists—fifth-most on the team—and recorded four putouts to cap a standout year defensively.
In his senior campaign, the San Diego native made 15 appearances with 14 starts, leading MSUB with 89.2 innings pitched and 67 strikeouts. He finished with a 3.61 ERA and notched a career-best five wins—including a landmark performance in MSUB's first-ever NCAA Tournament victory.
Over his career, Betancourt has racked up a host of accolades: Second Team All-GNAC, Academic All-GNAC, two-time GNAC Pitcher of the Week, and now a place on the ABCA West Region All-Defensive Team. He also leaves his mark in the record books as the GNAC's all-time leader in career starts. Among MSUB's all-time leaders, he ranks fifth in wins (13), third in complete games (8), second in innings pitched (264.2), and third in strikeouts (210).
Founded in 1945, the American Baseball Coaches Association is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. It's over 15,000 members represent all 50 states and 41 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include nine divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School, Youth and Travel.
2025 ABCA West Region All-Defensive Team
| Pos. |
Player |
Class |
School |
State |
| C |
Johnny Pappas |
Sr. |
Cal Poly Pomona |
CA |
| 1B |
Gio Martini |
Fr. |
Cal State East Bay |
CA |
| 2B |
Michael Soper |
Sr. |
Westmont |
CA |
| 3B |
Michael Baker |
So. |
Chico State |
CA |
| SS |
Emilio Barrera |
Gr. |
Cal State Dominguez Hills |
CA |
| OF |
Michael Cunningham |
Jr. |
San Francisco State |
CA |
| OF |
Noah Meffert |
Jr. |
Point Loma |
CA |
| OF |
Elijah Cook |
Jr. |
Azusa Pacific |
CA |
| P |
Jackson Betancourt |
Sr. |
Montana State University Billings |
MT |
