At least every other week during the spring season, we’ll talk some Oregon high school baseball. This is the place!
Sprague’s season-opening winning streak Stall-ed
Sprague ran into Cole Katayama-Stall and the Westview Wildcats on Wednesday. The result was an 11-6 loss, snapping the Olympians’ season-opening 15-game winning streak.
Katayama-Stall, Westview’s senior 3B, did a lot of the damage, going 5-5 with three home runs, a double and eight RBIs to lead a 14-hit offensive attack. Maxwell Stuart was the beneficiary. The junior RHP went six innings on the mound, yielding four hits and three earned runs to collect the win.
Westview, which started 1-3, is now 8-5 on the year and will ride a four-game winning streak into next week’s conference series with Southridge.
Sprague will attempt to rebound versus Ida B. Wells on Friday. The Olympians have a team batting average of .334 and have been led offensively by junior catcher Boyd Messman, who has seven long balls and 31 driven home. He has benefited by having on-base machines Henry Mhoon and Andrew Mhoon batting in front of him.
Perhaps more impressive than Sprague’s prodigious offense is the team’s pitching. Sprague had to replace 165 varsity innings pitched, which graduated last spring, and have done so largely thanks to the quarter of Jace Dalton, Hayden Laudette, Cameron VanKempen and Avery Lohrman, who have combined to record all of the team’s decisions.
Unbeatens
Two weeks ago, six Oregon teams had yet to lose. That total now stands at one.
South Salem is now 13-1 after losing to Lincoln, 5-3, on April 9.
Sandy started 9-0 but is now 12-2 after close losses to West Linn and Central Catholic.
Ontario is on a four-game losing streak after a 7-0 start, but the losses have come at the hands of powers Pendleton / Nixyaawii and La Grande.
Crosshill Christian was 2-0 two weeks ago, but the Eagles have since lost six games in a row.
That leaves Sunset as the state’s lone unbeaten team. The Apollos are 14-0 heading to tomorrow’s series finale versus 4-9 Southridge.
Junior lefty Kruz Schoolcraft is having an unbelievable year on the mound. In a 13-0 win over Beaverton on April 9, he struck out 13 and walked none. One week later, the southpaw fanned 17 over six innings in a 5-1 win over Southridge. Schoolcraft has yet to allow an earned run this season.
Sophomore RHP Parker Raubuch and senior SS Max Ellerbrook have also shined in recent wins. Raubach went five shutout innings, striking out nine, in an April 10 five-inning no-hitter versus Beaverton. Ellerbrook had a three-run homer and four RBIs in the 5-1 win over Southridge.
Sunset should be tested next week when it takes on Jesuit in a three-game series starting Tuesday. Jesuit is 10-3 on the year and riding a seven-game winning streak.
Oh K, oh K, oh K!
Tyson Smith, a sophomore RHP for Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian, set a state record on Tuesday when he struck out the first two batters in a game versus Kennedy. That ran his strike out streak to 21 over four games.
The sophomore fanned the last batter in a complete game win over Molalla on April 2. He then fanned 15 batters in a five-inning perfect game versus Salem Academy on April 8, a game in which he also drove in five. Smith pitched one inning on April 12 versus Salem Academy, whiffing three, before getting two more to start the Kennedy game.
The previous state record was 14 Ks in a row, set by Blane Peal of Weston-McEwen in 2022.
News and notes
Will Booth and Cooper Klindt combined for a no-hitter in The Dalles’ 4-1 win over Hood River Valley on March 22. Booth struck out 10 and Klindt fanned four.
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Blanchet Catholic (14-1) is undefeated in Oregon. More than one-third of the Cavaliers’ wins have been no-hitters.
Most recently, senior RHP Riley Pratt tossed a five-inning perfect game at Colton, striking out 10 on April 15.
The four other no-hitters were combined efforts. Drew Bartels and Carson McNally blanked Cascade on March 14. Pratt and Landon Gerig teams for a no-no two days later versus Thomas Jefferson of Washington. Gerig, Josh Mosar and Pratt did the trick versus Dayton on April 2. And Bartels and Pratt teamed for a no-hitter versus Western Christian on April 10.
STATS CATEGORIES
The idea for our 2024 stats categories is to recognize only those players achieving at the highest levels in the state of Oregon. They are not designed to produce massive, labor-intensive lists.
Any varsity baseball coach wanting to add someone to a list may email [email protected], list the category and supply the name of a player using the specific format for the category.
Going going gone goodbye!
Everyone digs the long ball.
Here, we will recognize those Oregonians who have gone yard five or more times so far this season. We will add to it in subsequent Baseball Notebooks as coaches tell us about the players who are dinger ringers.
7 – Boyd Messman, junior C, Sprague
6 -- Reid Linkmeyer, junior SS, Liberty
6 – Gavin Price, junior OF, South Salem
6 -- Cole Katayama-Stall, senior INF, Westview
It’s a blur
Throwing hard in high school is the easiest way to get outs.
Here, we recognize those Oregon hurlers who hit 87 mph or higher when they get on the bump.
Drew Bartels, junior RHP, Blanchet Catholic
Blake Crawford, senior LHP, West Linn
Slater de Brun, junior LHP, Summit
Gavin Derr, senior LHP, Mountain View
Finn Edwards, senior RHP, Summit
Mac Garrett, senior RHP, Corbett
Gabe Howard, senior RHP, West Linn
Aidan Kelly, senior RHP, Sherwood
Matt Kosderka, senior RHP, Sandy
Andy Manning, senior RHP, Sherwood
Connor Molony, junior RHP, Thurston
Connor Parry, junior RHP, Sherwood
Isaac Pfeifer, junior RHP, Tualatin
Grady Saunders, sophomore RHP, Thurston
Justin Schramm, senior RHP, Wilsonville
Kruz Schoolcraft, junior LHP, Sunset
Griffin Scott, senior LHP, Ida B. Wells
Nolan Umlandt, senior RHP, Sherwood
Alex Via, junior RHP, Summit
Mark Wiepert, junior RHP, Wilsonville
Speed merchants
In this space, we recognize Oregon baseball players who have 15 or more stolen bases at this point in the season, based on the information we have received.
29 – Braden Marthaller, freshman 1B, Toledo
26 -- Mason Koker, junior 3B, Toledo
26 – Micah Jayne, junior C, Union / Cove
24 – Caden George, senior SS, Heppner / Ione
20 – Noah Hancock, junior 2B/SS, Blanchet Catholic
20 – Noah Koenig, senior C, regis
19 -- Maddox Law, freshman OF, Toledo
17 – Colby Crowell, sophomore C/SS, Riverside
17 – Gunnar Pedersen, senior SS, Westview
17 – Wilson Medina, junior OF, Sherwood
16 – Jace Elzy, senior SS, North Valley
16 – Peyton Tyner, senior OF, Marist Catholic
16 -- Riley Tyler, freshman SS, Toledo
15 -- Christian Retherford, senior C, Toledo
15 -- Ramon Iniguez, senior 1B, Nyssa / Adrian
15 -- Jace Bateman, senior 3B, Nyssa / Adrian
15 -- Kolby Coxen, junior 1B, Toledo
15 -- Easton Curtis, junior OF, North Medford
15 -- Orion Houck, sophomore SS, Burns / Crane
Get a whiff of this!
Missing bats is an art.
This list recognizes those pitchers who have fanned 50 or more batters this season.
84 -- Zack Hankins, sophomore LHP, Taft
78 -- Kruz Schoolcraft, junior LHP, Sunset
67 -- Tyson Smith, sophomore RHP, Country Christian
67 – Bryson Nygren, junior RHP, Regis
60 -- Braden Marthaller, freshman RHP, Toledo
59 -- Matt Kosderka, senior RHP, Sandy
58 – Ty Percell, senior RHP, Oakland
55 -- Grady Saunders, sophomore RHP, Thurston
55 – Bryant Starr, senior RHP, Lebanon
53 -- Mac Garrett, senior RHP, Corbett
51 -- Sam Shaver, senior LHP, The Dalles
50 – Josh Riddle, junior RHP, Santiam Christian
Wait! What?
In this space, we recognize hitters who have put up outrageous stat lines in a single game.
Tygue Barron, senior 1B, Umpqua Valley Christian – 3-for-3 with a double and four RBIs in 8-2 win over Kennedy on April 2
Drew Bartels, junior SS, Blanchet Catholic – 3-for-4 with a home run and six RBIs in March 16 win over Thomas Jefferson of Washington
Greg Bologoff, junior 1B, Westview – 2-for-4with two HRs, four RBIs and two runs scored in 13-5 win over Mountainside on April 9
Brayden Buck, junior OF, Tualatin – 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored on March 15 in 6-2 win over Willamette
Kaeden Cruse, junior INF, Grant – 2-for-2 with two grand slams and nine RBIs in 18-0 win over Roosevelt on April 10
Dylan Cuff, junior C, Blanchet Catholic – 2-for-2 with a double, triple and five RBIs in April 2 win over Dayton
Cole Katayama-Stall, senior INF, Westview – 3-for-3 with two HRs, four RBIs, four runs scored and two walks in 13-5 win over Mountainside on April 9
Cole Katayama-Stall, senior INF, Westview – 5-for-5 with three HRs, 1 double and eight RBIs in 11-6 win over Sprague on March 17
Reid Linkmeyer, junior SS, Liberty – 3-for-3 with three HRs and nine RBIs in 17-6 win, March 28 versus Milwaukie
Boyd Messman, junior C, Sprague – 3-for-3 with three HRs and five RBIs in 17-1 win March 15 versus Grant
Gavin Price, junior OF, South Salem – two three-runs homers in 9-0 win over Reynolds on March 28
Kaiden Roberts, senior 1B/2B, Harrisburg – 2-for-2 with two HRs, including a grand slam; five RBIs and three runs scored in March 16 rout of Sheridan
Teagan Scott, sophomore C, South Salem – 4-for-4 with five steals and an RBI in a 5-0 win over Tigard on March 18. Scott also threw out a would-be base stealer
Jordan Webber, senior DH, Hood River Valley -- 4-for-4 with a home run, double, two runs scored and two RBIs in April 16 loss to Putnam.
Karver Wilkins, junior 1B, Heppner / Ione – 3-for-4 with back-to-back grand slams in 22-10 win over Irrigon on April 6
Perfecto!
Below, we recognize pitchers who have thrown seven-inning no-hitters this year.
Mac Garrett, senior RHP, Corbett – Fanned 15 in 9-0 win over Vernonia on March 21
Matt Kosderka, senior RHP, Sandy – Struck out 15 and walked none (two errors) in 3-0 win over Lakeridge on April 2
.500 or better batting average
Below, we recognize those hitters who, with a minimum of 40 plate appearances, are hitting .500 or better on the season.
.688 -- Teagan Scott, sophomore C, South Salem
.575 – Riley Lantis, senior C, Riverside
.558 -- Jace Bateman, senior 3B, Nyssa / Adrian
.542 – Peyton Tyner, senior OF, Marist Catholic
.531 --- Boyd Messman, junior C, Sprague
.529 – Kruz Schoolcraft, junior 1B, Sunset
.529 – Braden Marthaller, freshman 1B, Toledo
.500 – Lukas Blood, junior INF, Grant Union / Prairie City / Monument
.500 – Kayle Pisano, senior 1B, Clackamas
20 or more RBIs
Below we recognize those Oregon hitters with 20 or more runs driven in this season.
32 – Kaiden Roberts, senior 1B/INF, Harrisburg
31 – Boyd Messman, junior C, Sprague
30 – Drew Bartels, junior SS, Blanchet Catholic
28 – Dylan Cuff, junior C, Blanchet Catholic
25 -- Gavin Price, junior OF, South Salem
24 – Jack Knips, senior 1B, Cascade Christian
23 – Reid Linkmeyer, junior SS, Liberty
22 -- Tauj Flora, junior INF, Sutherlin
20 – Weston Suchorski, sophomore INF, Grant Union / Prairie City / Monument
20 – Peyton Tyner, senior OF, Marist Catholic
20 – Grady Sickler, freshman C, Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian
ERA of 0.80 or lower
Below we recognize pitchers with a current earned run average of 0.80 or lower with 18 or more innings pitched.
0.00 -- Kruz Schoolcraft, junior LHP, Sunset (34.1 innings)
0.54 -- Matt Kosderka, senior RHP, Sandy (39 innings)
0.66 – Bryant Starr, senior RHP, Lebanon (31.2 innings)
0.77 -- Sam Shaver, senior LHP, The Dalles (27 innings)
0.78 -- Nolan McCormack, senior RHP, Tualatin (27 innings)
Catcher pick offs
In this space, we list those catchers who have, at least five times this year, cut down would-be base stealers at second or third, or back picked a runner at any of the infield bases.
14 – Christian Retherford, senior, Toledo
13 – Caiden Gould, senior, North Eugene
9 -- Jeremiah Robbins, senior, North Medford
9 – Ty Sheldon, senior, Liberty
8 – Cam Hammer, junior, Ida B. Wells
7 -- Tanner Crandall, senior, Country Christian
6 -- Talon Van Cleave, senior, Grant Union / Prairie City / Monument
6 – Kevin Penna, senior, Westview
6 – Braden Corgain, junior, Thurston
6 -- Riley Lantis, senior, Riverside
5 – Carter Howard, junior, West Salem
5 – Jace Otteson, senior, Pendleton / Nixyaawii
5 – Teagan Scott, sophomore, South Salem
Outfield assists
In this space, we list those outfielders who have, at least three times this year, thrown out runners trying to take an extra base.
4 – Ezra Vice, senior, Westview
3 – Gavin Price, junior, South Salem
College-Bound!
In this space, we list those players, in the current senior class and younger, who have signed National Letters of Intent in baseball or have made a commitment to attend a college or university of their choice. Congrats! It can be so demanding but at the same time is so rewarding.
Here are the 84 commitments that have been reported to us.
Ben Allen, senior C, McNary -- University of Portland
Jake Allen, senior OF, McNary-- University of Portland
Fischer Barber, junior RHP, Bend – Oregon State
Jonah Barkoff, senior LHP, Lake Oswego – University of Oregon
Jacob Bishop, senior LHP, Jesuit - Linfield University
Jaxson Bowen, senior RHP, Sherwood - Centralia CC
Julius Christensen, senior LHP/OF, Jesuit – Lawrence University
Dakota Chun, junior C, Sunset -- University of Portland
Blake Crawford, senior LHP, West Linn – University of Oregon
Eli Crist, senior 3B/RHP, Thurston -- Bushnell University
Donavin Crouch, senior SS, Sandy – Eastern Oregon University
Gavin Derr, senior LHP, Mountain View -- Washington State
Alex Dexter, senior LHP, Lincoln – Occidental College
Nolan Donivan, senior INF/RHP, The Dalles - Lane CC
Ervin Dorsett, Jr., senior INF -- Sacramento State
Quin Dufort, senior LHP, Ida B. Wells – University of Portland
De’Quan Duncan, senior OF, Tualatin – Mt. Hood CC
Adam Elliott, senior OF, Thurston -- Mt. Hood CC
Reuben Elliston, Sr.. OF, Grant - Centralia Community College
Jace Elzy, senior SS, North Valley - Oregon Tech
Quintin Esmay, senior RHP/OF, Canby – Blue Mountain CC
Parker Fabrycki, senior RHP, Sherwood - Eastern Oregon University
Joe Fagan, junior SS, Scappoose - University of Portland
Reece Fisher, senior OF, Lincoln – Clark CC
Cade Gehlen, senior OF, Central Catholic – University of Portland
Will Goodman, junior INF, Bend – University of Washington
Caiden Gould, senior C - North Eugene -- Linfield University
Calvin Gregory, junior LHP, Lakeridge – Oregon State
Grayson Grover, senior 3B/RHP, Scappoose - Southwestern Oregon CC
Luke Haener, senior RHP, Wilsonville- Regis University
River Hamilton, junior RHP, Barlow – Oregon State
Joseph Herbert, senior 2B, Marshfield -- Simpson University
Gabe Howard, senior RHP, West Linn – University of Oregon
Casey Julkowski, senior RHP, Gresham - Centralia CC
Cole Katatyama-Stall, senior RHP/INF, Westview -- University of Portland
Aidan Kelly, senior RHP, Sherwood - Eastern Oregon University
John Kent, senior RHP, Grant - Kenyon College
Liam Kliever, senior C, Sherwood - Pacific University
Matthew Kosderka, senior RHP/OF, Sandy - Lower Columbia CC
Kheller Larson, senior INF/ RHP, Wilsonville- Arizona Christian University
Luke Larson, senior OF, Wilsonville - George Fox University
Landon Lea, senior OF, South Eugene – Linn-Benton CC
Nykori Lewis, senior C, Tualatin – Mt. Hood CC
Glen Maduro III, senior 1B/RHP, Tualatin – Mt. Hood CC
Ethan Matsuoka, senior INF, Tualatin -- University of Portland
Mickey McClaskey, senior RHP, Jesuit – University of La Verne
Nolan McCormack, senior 1B, Tualatin – Mt. Hood CC
Andrew Mhoon, junior SS, Sprague – Loyola Marymount
Henry Mhoon, junior OF, Sprague – Loyola Marymount
Nolan Miller, senior LHP, Sheldon – University of Portland
Connor Molony, junior 1B/RHP, Thurston -- University of Oregon
Jayden Nakamura, junior SS, Aloha – University of Washington
Carter Nelson, senior RHP, South Salem – University of Oregon
Sawyer Nelson, sophomore SS, South Salem – University of Washington
Hudson Normand, senior RHP, Clackamas - Centralia CC
Jace Otteson, senior C, Pendleton – Mt. Hood CC
Connor Parry, junior RHP/1B, Sherwood - University of Portland
Gunnar Pedersen- senior INF, Westview -- Eastern Arizona College
Isaac Pfeifer, junior C, Tualatin -- Arizona State
Kayle Pisano, senior 1B, Clackamas - University of Oregon
Riley Pratt, senior RHP, Blanchet Catholic – Corban University
Trevor Ratliff, senior SS, McNary -- Umpqua CC
Berkley Reents, senior INF, Wilsonville- George Fox University
Aiden Rice, junior INF, Central Catholic – University of Portland
Jeremiah Robbins, senior C, North Medford – Umpqua CC
Mitch Rowe, senior SS, West Linn – Centralia CC
Frankie Rutigliano, senior SS/RHP, North Medford – University of Portland
Kainoa Santiago, junior OF, Jesuit – Gonzaga University
Grady Saunders, sophomore RHP/Utility, Thurston – Oregon State
Garrett Schmokel, senior RHP, Lincoln – Everett CC
Justin Schramm, senior RHP, Wilsonville - Colorado Mesa University
Griffin Scott, senior LHP, Ida B. Wells – University of Utah
Teagan Scott, sophomore C, South Salem – Oregon State
Bryant Starr, senior RHP/SS, Lebanon - Linn Benton CC
Nolan Umlandt, senior RHP, Sherwood – University of Portland
Ryan Vanden Brink, senior C, West Linn – Oregon State
Alex Via, junior RHP, Summit -- University of Portland
Ezra Vice, senior OF, Westview – Lane CC
Jordan Webber, senior LHP/1B, Hood River Valley - Chandler-Gilbert CC
Danny Wideman, junior SS/OF, West Linn – University of Oregon
Mark Wiepert, junior C/3B, Wilsonville -- Oregon State
Kellen Willer, senior RHP/1B, North Medford – Grays Harbor College
Vince Williams, senior OF, Lake Oswego -- Pacific University
Cade Wynn, senior INF, Silverton – Mt. Hood CC
Email [email protected] to make corrections or add to this list.
