Outburst helps Trojans surprise UVC
Kennedy, the defending 2A/1A state champions, won a state-final rematch Wednesday evening over 2022 state runner up Umpqua Valley Christian. The undefeated Trojans (9-0) scored nine runs on 10 hits in the fourth inning to turn around a two-run deficit and cruised to the 10-4 win over the previously-unbeaten Monarchs (8-1).
Behind offense from Ty Hellenthal and Daniel Withers, UVC scored single runs in the first two frames to go ahead. Hellenthal, a sophomore righthander and UVC’s ace, held Kennedy down for three innings, but the potent Trojan offense got to him the second time through the lineup. Brian Beyer and Andrew Cuff drove in multiple runs apiece in the inning. They each finished with four hits. Withers’ second triple of the game helped UVC pulled within 9-4 in the bottom of the fourth, but that was as close as the Monarchs would get.
Kennedy finished with 14 hits, four for extra bases. Brian Beyer finished 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Umpqua Valley Christian had 10 hits. Withers drove in three of the Monarchs’ four runs.
Ethan Kleinschmit, a First Team All-State pitcher in 2022 after throwing to an ERA of 0.12, was touched for three earned runs over four innings of work but got the decision for Kennedy. Hellenthal suffered his first loss of the season for UVC.
“Ethan wasn't quite as sharp as he has been, but give credit to UVC and their hitters,” said Kennedy coach Kevin Moffatt. “It was good for us to be down with our ace on the mound and have to battle back. Fun game for sure, with two good teams on a really nice yard.”
400!
Two coaches, Dave York of UVC and Jake Anders of Lake Oswego, recently joined the 400 career win club. Fewer than 40 coaches have notched that many in Oregon baseball. Only 12 have reached 500 or more.
York reached the milestone on March 22 versus Camas Valley. He has been coaching for 23 years.
Anders reached the milestone on March 21 versus West Salem. He has been coaching for 24 years.
Together they have won four state championships. Each has only coached at UVC and LO, respectively.
Dave Gasser, who coached at four schools over 34 seasons, is the state wins leader among coaches with 750.
York and Anders join Jeff Stolsig of Lebanon and Kevin Moffatt of Kennedy, who reached the 400-win mark late last season.
Coaching milestones
Despite reaching the lofty 400-win mark, York, Anders, Stolsig and Moffatt all remain outside the top 25 coaches in career wins. How many active coaches are among the top 25? Eight! That means we have 12 coaches currently in dugouts who rank among the top 40 all-time in career wins.
We talk all the time about how this is a golden age of Oregon baseball, given how many talented players there are. Let’s not forget that we have talented coaches, too.
The eight active coaches among the top 25, by the way, are these:
Matt Nosack, Santiam Christian – 631 wins over 34 seasons rank fourth all time.
Randy Brack, North Marion – 611 wins over 36 seasons rank sixth.
Lennie Wolfe, Warrenton – 572 wins over 35 seasons rank eighth.
Bill Crowson, Monroe – 548 wins over 28 seasons rank tenth.
Jeff Davis, North Douglas – 485 wins over 31 seasons rank 14th.
Casey Webster, Gladstone – 481 wins over 31 seasons rank 15th.
Joe Baumgartner, Banks – 450 wins over 29 seasons rank 19th.
Jeff Miller, Knappa – 433 wins over 20 seasons rank 24th.
Moffatt (411 wins), Stolsig (410), York (404) and Anders (404) all could join the top 25 with strong finishes to this season and equally strong campaigns next year.
Unbeatens
The 2023 season is barely three weeks old and how many of the OSAA’s 199 teams are still undefeated? A grand total of five!
In 4A, Gladstone, with Webster coaching, is 6-0. Molalla hasn’t lost in five contests.
In 2A/1A, Kennedy, with Moffatt on the bench, is 9-0. Reedsport is 7-0 and 1A St. Paul, despite all the injuries, is 6-0.
What’s gotten into Lake Oswego?
Lake Oswego isn’t unbeaten, but, at 9-1, the Lakers are off to the most impressive start in 6A. LO, which graduated seven starts from a 15-14 team last year, wasn’t supposed to be this good. But anchored by senior OF Grant Maxwell, Lake Oswego proved its bona fides by going 3-1 in Arizona over Spring Break. One of those wins came over Arizona’s Horizon HS, which is 14-4. That same Horizon squad that stomped defending 6A champion West Linn, 15-5, two days later.
Roughriding across the desert
Roosevelt joined many other Oregon baseball programs in the Arizona desert this Spring Break. For the Roughriders, however, this marked the first such trip in program history.
The team went 2-2 at the Coach Bob Invitational. The highlight game occurred on March 30, an 18-5 win over 14-7 Apollo of Glendale, Arizona. Easton Lasich led off the game with a home run to deep left field. Senior catcher Jonathan Schmer played great defense in the game. He made an awesome tag on a runner trying to score from 2B, which resulted in a collision that left a cut on his forehead. He hung onto the ball and got the out and stayed in the game, later throwing out a runner at 2B.
News and notes…
Check out this stat line from South Umpqua senior RHP Jace Johnson in a 13-1 win over Coquille: 15 Ks over five innings, two walks, two hits and one unearned run. Johnson did not, however, strike out the side in every inning. One strike out victim reached on a wild pitch. Fourteen outs by strike out, one via a caught fly ball…
Grant senior CF Sam Giansante had a three-game run where he went 9-for-12 with two doubles, a triple and 9 RBIs…
Lebanon senior OF Dre Smith’s two-game line in Florida over Spring Break: 5-for-9, 4 doubles, 7 RBIs, 4 runs scored…
Bend senior Logan Malinowski was masterful in blanking Casteel of Queen Creek, Arizona, 2-0 on March 31. Casteel is 15-4 overall and has sandwiched seven wins around the loss to the Lava Bears.
Lincoln sophomore OF Gabe Coltman had two homers and 10 RBIs over a four-game stretch at the Coach Bob Invitational in Arizona. The Cardinals went 2-2…
Senior RHP Carson Waples was stellar on the bump for Silverton on March 31, the Foxes’ second game of the day in the Springfield Tournament. Waples gave up a first-inning run, then shut down the Highlanders the rest of the way in the route-going 6-1 win…
Junior SS Max Ellerbrook had a terrific Arizona Spring Break stretch for Sunset, going 9-for-15 with six runs, three extra base hits and 11 RBIs over four games…
USA Baseball's mid-season Golden Spikes Award Watch List this year includes three high school players. One of them, senior RHP/1B Noble Meyer, hails from Oregon. The University of Oregon recruit plays for Jesuit...
Going going gone goodbye!
In this space, and the ones below, we have recurring categories that will appear in every baseball notebook for the rest of the season. Varsity coaches may add to these categories by email to [email protected].
Everyone digs the long ball.
Here, we will recognize those Oregonians who have gone yard three 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.
4 -- Blake Sehorn, senior utility, Glencoe
3 -- Diego Richards, junior 3B, Glencoe
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.
Ben Christensen, senior RHP, Grant
Blake Crawford, junior LHP, West Linn
Finn Edwards, junior RHP, Summit
Zach Justice, senior RHP
Matt Koskerka, junior RHP, Sandy
Noble Meyer, senior RHP, Jesuit
Connor Molony, sophomore RHP, Thurston
Maddux Molony, senior RHP, Thurston
Trey Newmann, senior RHP, North Medford
Connor Parry, sophomore RHP, Sherwood
Grady Saunders, freshman RHP, Thurston
Kruz Schoolcraft, freshman LHP, Sunset
Kellen Segel, senior RHP, Grant
Kaden Starr, senior RHP, Marist Catholic
Owen Thompson, senior RHP, Cascade Christian
Nolan Umlandt, junior RHP, Sherwood
Alex Via, sophomore RHP, Summit
Mark Wiepert, sophomore RHP, Wilsonville
Paul Wilson, senior LHP, Lakeridge
Speed merchants
In this space, we recognize Oregon baseball players who have 10 or more stolen bases at this point in the season, based on the information we have received.
18 – Tyson Smith, freshman SS, Country Christian
16 – Tanner Crandall, junior C, Country Christian
13 -- Cole Collins, senior SS/C, Oakland
12 – Brayden Webb, junior SS/C, Oakland
Get a whiff of this!
Missing bats is an art.
This list recognizes those pitchers who have fanned two or more batters per inning after a minimum of 10 innings pitched.
Riley Brock, senior RHP, The Dalles – 38 Ks over 19.2 innings
Drew Camp, sophomore LHP, South Umpqua – 24 Ks over 10.1 innings
Cole Collins, senior RHP, Oakland – 39 Ks over 19 innings
Levi Hazes, junior RHP, Century – 33 Ks over 14.2 innings
Jace Johnson, senior RHP, South Umpqua – 22 Ks over 11 innings
Matt Kosderka, junior RHP, Sandy – 28 Ks over 14 innings
Clay Smith, sophomore RHP, St. Paul – 20 Ks over 10 innings
Tyson Smith, freshman RHP, Country Christian – 55 Ks over 23.2 innings
Owen Thompson, senior RHP, Cascade Christian – 33 Ks over 16 innings
Wait! What?
In this space, we recognize hitters who have put up outrageous stat lines in a single game.
Greg Bologoff, sophomore 1B, Westview – 2-for-3 with two-run double and go-ahead three-run homer for five RBIs in 9-5 win on March 3 versus Corvallis
Robert Campbell, senior SS, Franklin – 2-for-4 with grand slam, 7 RBIs and 3 runs score in 21-13 win, March 31 versus Glencoe
Eli Crist, junior INF, Thurston – 2 for-4 with two doubles and 6 RBIs on March 16 in 9-1 win over Sheldon at PK Park
Sam Giansante, senior OF, Grant – 4-for-4 with two doubles and 4 RBIs in 10-8 win over Lowell of San Francisco on March 29
Maddox Montoya, junior INF, Sunset – 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs in a 15-6 win, March 30, versus Desert Mountain of Arizona
Braden Schwartz, senior 3B, The Dalles – 4–for-4 with three doubles and 5 RBIs on March 22 in 15-1 win over Taft
Jordan Webber, junior 1B, Hood River Valley -- 2-for-3 with two home runs and 6 RBIs in 13-3 win over Glencoe on March 31
Perfecto!
Below, we recognize pitchers who have thrown seven-inning no-hitters this year.
Cole Collins, senior RHP, Oakland -- March 20 v. Riddle / Glendale (fanned 17 in 11-0 win)
Kruz Schoolcraft, freshman LHP, Sunset -- April 5 v. Mountainside (struck out nine, walked one in 1-0 win)
.600 or better batting average
Below, we recognize those hitters who, with a minimum of 20 plate appearances, are hitting .600 or better on the season.
.708 -- Braden Schwartz, senior 3B, The Dalles
.619 -- Henry Frish, senior OF, Roosevelt
.611 – Cody Agidus, sophomore 1B, The Dalles
10 or more RBIs
Below we recognize those Oregon hitters with 10 or more runs driven in this season.
19 – Braden Schwartz, senior 3B, The Dalles
16 – Tyler Crawford, senior 3B, St. Paul
14 – Kolton Buys, freshman 3B, Country Christian
13 – Max Ellerbrook, junior INF, Sunset
12 – Grayson Grover, junior 3B, Scappoose
12 – Ty Percell, junior INF, Oakland
12 – Cole Katayama Stall, junior SS, Westview
12 – Eli Crist, junior INF, Thurston
12 -- Kaden Starr, senior 3B, Marist Catholic
11 – Nate Hubbard Sage, junior 1B, Hillsboro
11 -- Nick Biagi, senior 1B, Marist Catholic
10 – Gabe Coltman, sophomore OF, Lincoln
10 – Seth Fillinger, senior 3B, Roosevelt
10 – Collin Smith, sophomore utility, Gladstone
10 – Cooper Cartwright, senior 3B, North Valley
10 – Maddox Montoya, junior INF, Sunset
10 – Dre Smith, senior OF, Lebanon
10 -- Cole Weiland, senior OF, 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 71 commitments we have so far:
Ty Alleman, senior RHP, Jesuit – Santa Clara University
Ben Allen, junior C, McNary -- University of Portland
Luke Anzellotti, senior C, Central Catholic – Chaminade University (Honolulu)
Fischer Barber, sophomore RHP, Bend – Oregon State
Luke Bents, senior OF, Summit – Whitworth
Nick Biagi, senior 1B, Marist Catholic – Linn-Benton CC
Elliot Brown, senior INF, Grant – Lane CC
Ryan Cooney, senior SS, Jesuit – University of Oregon
Easton Corey, junior RHP, Pendleton – Oregon State
Andrew Cuff, senior RHP/3B, Kennedy -- Centralia CC
Owen Cummins, senior SS/RHP, Gresham -- Lower Columbia CC
Nate Davis, senior C, Sunset -- University of Oregon
Andrew Demianew, senior Utility, Pendleton – Linn-Benton CC
Quin Dufort, junior LHP, Ida B. Wells – University of Portland
David Duvalle, senior RHP, Mountain View - Pacific University
Adam Evans, senior RHP, Canby -- Yakima CC
Joe Fagan, sophomore SS, Scappoose - University of Portland
Michael Fitzgerald, senior LHP, Sunset – Mt. Hood CC
Henry Fovinci, senior OF, Lincoln -- Whitworth
Carson Gantz, senior RHP/INF, Jesuit – Regis University
Cade Gehlen, junior OF, Central Catholic – University of Portland
Parker Guinn, senior C, McMinnville – Cal State Bakersfield
Aiden Horsley, senior OF, North Medford – Lower Columbia CC
Gabe Howard, junior RHP, West Linn – University of Oregon
Levi Jones, senior 3B, Jesuit – Oregon State
Jack Joyce, senior RHP, Canby -- Mt. Hood CC
Zach Justice, senior C, Summit -- University of Oregon
Johnny King, senior RHP, North Medford – Mt. Hood CC
Ethan Kleinschmit, senior LHP/OF, Kennedy – Linn-Benton CC
Payton Lambert, senior SS, Pendleton – Santa Clara
Brock Leitgeb, senior C, Jesuit – University of Michigan
Simon Lemke, senior RHP, Mountain View - Columbia Basin College
Armand Lettiere, senior RHP/OF, Central Catholic – University of Puget Sound
Ethan Matsuoka, junior INF, Tualatin -- University of Portland
Noble Meyer, senior RHP, Jesuit – University of Oregon
Andrew Mhoon, sophomore INF, Sprague – Univ. of Portland
Maddox Molony, senior SS/RHP, Thurston – University of Oregon
Cooper Mullens, senior INF, Marist Catholic – University of Michigan
Carter Nelson, junior RHP, South Salem – University of Oregon
Trey Newmann, senior RHP, North Medford – University of Oregon
Jacob Ogden, senior OF, Wilsonville – Chaminade University
Chase Olsen, senior INF, Scappoose – Centralia CC
Russell Petersen, senior RHP, Ida B. Wells – Whitman
Anthony Pezqueda, senior 2B, North Valley – Lassen CC
Cal Pickhardt, senior INF, Mountain View - Yavapai College
Isaac Pfeifer, sophomore C, Tualatin -- Arizona State
Aiden Rice, sophomore INF, Central Catholic – University of Portland
Caleb Ruchaber, senior INF, Jesuit – University of La Verne
Dawson Santana, senior 2B, Lakeridge – University of Oregon
Kainoa Santiago, sophomore OF, Jesuit – Gonzaga University
Grady Saunders, freshman RHP/Utility, Thurston – Oregon State
Colton Schmokel, senior 1B, Lincoln -- Centralia CC
Teagan Scott, freshman C, South Salem – Oregon State
Kellen Segel, senior RHP/Utility, Grant – Linn-Benton CC
Walker Still, senior C/INF, Crescent Valley – University of Redlands
Connor Stone, senior 1B/OF, Sunset – Centralia CC
Charlie Sturm, senior C, Jesuit – Chapman University
Drew Talavs, senior P, West Linn – Oregon State
Owen Thompson, senior RHP, Cascade Christian – Lane CC
Owen Tilden, senior C, Canby -- Missouri Baptist University
Sam Tsiatsos, senior Utility/RHP, La Grande – Blue Mountain CC
Nolan Umlandt, junior RHP, Sherwood – University of Portland
Ryan Vanden Brink, junior C, West Linn – Oregon State
Joe Vaccaro, senior OF, Mountain View - Chemeketa CC
Alex Via, sophomore RHP, Summit -- University of Portland
Jake Von Lubken, senior OH/ RHP, Hood River Valley – Linn-Benton CC
William Wallace, senior RHP, Jesuit – Pomona Pitzer
Carson Waples, senior RHP, Silverton -- Mt. Hood CC
Cole Weiland, senior OF/RHP, South Salem -- Whitworth
Mark Wiepert, sophomore C/3B, Wilsonville -- Oregon State
Paul Wilson, senior LHP, Lakeridge – Oregon State
If you are a HS coach and want to add someone to the list, by all means email me, [email protected], put “baseball commitment” in the subject line and provide the info in the manner shown above.
johnt@osaa.org
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