NEXT Next Level
At the bottom of this Notebook, you’ll find college commitments from 79 players, including 57 seniors. That has to be a record! Well, it got me thinking about one level beyond…who are the Oregon schoolboys currently playing professional baseball? Here’s the list I have come up with. Did I miss any? Email [email protected].
Major Leagues
Seth Brown, North Medford -- A's
Brandon Drury, Grants Pass -- Angels
Cooper Hummel, Lakeridge -- Mariners
Carson Kelly, Westview -- Diamondbacks
Keynan Middleton, Milwaukie -- White Sox
Adley Rutschman, Sherwood -- Orioles
Ryan Thompson, Cascade – Rays
Class AAA
Jace Fry, Southridge -- Tigers
Class AA
Mick Abel, Jesuit -- Phillies
Kellen Strahm, Sheldon -- Rangers
Tim Tawa, West Linn – Diamondbacks
Kenyon Yovan, Westview – Angels
Aaron Zavala, South Salem -- Rangers
High Class A
Robby Ahlstrom, North Eugene -- Rangers
Larson Kindreich, Crater -- Rangers
Gabe Matthews, South Salem – Angels
Will Matthiessen, West Linn -- Pirates
Jacob Melton, South Medford -- Astros
Zane Mills, Lincoln -- Cardinals
Class A
Dylan MacLean, Central Catholic -- Rangers
Kevin Watson, Beaverton -- Angels
Expect to see many more in the coming years, including two hurlers, RHP Noble Meyer of Jesuit and LHP Paul Wilson of Lakeridge, who could be first-round picks come July.
Unbeatens
Last week, we had five unbeaten teams in the state of Oregon. Did all remain unblemished another week?
The answer is “No.”
Both Molalla and Reedsport fell from the ranks, Molalla losing twice to Estacada and Reedsport losing a close one to Bandon / Pacific.
That leaves just 4A Gladstone (10-0), 2A Kennedy (9-0) and 1A St. Paul (6-0) without a loss. Gladstone tops the most recent OSAAtoday 4A Coaches Poll, while Kennedy sits atop the 2A/1A poll. St. Paul is fourth in that same poll.
Dealing
There were several notable pitching performances last week.
La Pine senior lefty Tyson Flack threw five perfect innings on Tuesday versus Harrisburg in a 14-0 win. He struck out eight.
Oakland senior RHP Cole Collins pitched a five-inning no-hitter and struck out 10 against Days Creek / Milo Adventist Academy on April 5. The Oakers won 15-0. Collins is 3-0 with a 0.29 ERA, which appears to be the lowest ERA in Oregon for pitchers with 15 or more innings on the mound.
Scappoose senior lefty Wyatt Anicker threw a 7-inning no hitter at Seaside last Friday, with 14 strikeouts and just two walks. Scappoose won 2-0. Anicker also is an All-State football player, 4A state champion wrestler at 195 pounds and carries and GPA over 4.0.
Lebanon senior RHP Ryan Rivers three a 7-inning no hitter versus Silverton on Tuesday. He fanned 29 and faced just 22 batters, one over the minimum. Lebanon won 6-0. CJ Kennedy led the offense with a double and triple. Tyler Walker had a double and two RBIs.
That’s a relief!
Junior Henry Stoianoff of Ida B. Wells proved to be of great help on the mound this past week in the Guardians’ series versus PIL power Grant. On the week, he earned the win in the opener and saves in the second and third games. He pitched 4.2 innings of relief and didn't allow a hit while fanning four.
Grant scored only five runs total in those three games, so credit to the starting pitchers as well, juniors Griffin Scott (5.1IP, 4 hits, 5 Ks, 2 ER) and Quin Dufort (5IP, 4 hits, 6 Ks, 0 ER) and senior Russell Petersen (6IP, 3 hits, 10 Ks, 2 ER), as they each did their part against the Generals.
Rally caps!
Against Mountain View on Saturday, South Salem pulled off an improbable comeback. The Saxons trailed 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth, and the host Cougars had the bases loaded with one out. South Salem brought sophomore Noah Scharer out of the bullpen and he induced a 6-4-3 inning-ending double play on the first pitch he threw.
In the top of the seventh, the first two South Salem hitters were retired, but Scharer kept South Salem alive with a double off the wall in straightaway centerfield. Sophomore Gavin Price then clutched up with a line drive single to center to knot the game. After a pitching change, senior Cole Weiland then singled right field on the first pitch he saw, clearing the way for freshman Teagan Scott (2026) to drive home Price with an RBI single to center, tying the game at 5-5. Four straight two-out hits! A wild pitch then brought home to go-ahead run and Scharer made it stand up by setting down Mountain View 1-2-2 in the bottom of the seventh.
News and notes…
One week ago, Corbett had played a total of three games through the first month of the season, with five in a row canceled for weather-related reasons.
“What are you going to do though” asked Corbett coach Robert Peterson rhetorically. “It's baseball in Oregon. We have had brutal rain again for the second spring in a row.”
Update: The Cardinals have managed to complete three games between Saturday and yesterday, doubling their total in five days…
Caleb McGowan’s complete-game three hitter lifted Corvallis to a 1-0 win over Dallas on Tuesday…
Knappa has had an interesting start to 2023. The Loggers scored 23 runs in their opening-day win, then lost four in a row. Jeff Miller’s team is now on a four-game winning streak, during which it has outscored opponents, 58 to 15…
After a rugged schedule to start the season, Bend can get to .500 with a win today versus Caldera that would sweep the season series with its Intermountain Conference foe. Seth Willy had a three-run dinger in Monday’s win.
Defending 4A champion La Grande lost its opener but has won nine in a row since, scoring no fewer than eight runs in any game…
STAT SUPERLATIVES
In this space, 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].
Going going gone goodbye!
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
3 -- Maddox Molony, senior SS, Thurston
3 – Brayde Owen, senior C, Gladstone
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
Drake Gabel, senior LHP, West Linn
Max Gregg, senior RHP, Corvallis
Gabe Howard, senior RHP, West Linn
Zach Justice, senior RHP, Summit
Matt Koskerka, junior RHP, Sandy
Noble Meyer, senior RHP, Jesuit
Connor Molony. Sophomore RHP, Thurston
Maddox Molony, senior RHP, Thurston
Trey Newmann, senior RHP, North Medford
Connor Parry, sophomore RHP, Sherwood
Ryan Rivers, senior RHP, Lebanon
Grady Saunders, freshman RHP, Thurston
Kruz Schoolcraft, freshman LHP, Sunset
Kellen Segel, senior RHP, Grant
Kaden Starr, senior RHP, Marist Catholic
Drew Talavs, senior RHP, West Linn
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 15 or more stolen bases at this point in the season, based on the information we have received.
21 – Tanner Crandall, junior C, Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian
20 – Tyson Smith, freshman SS, Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian
16 – Louden Cole, junior OF, South Umpqua
15 -- Cole Collins, senior SS/C, Oakland
Get a whiff of this!
Missing bats is an art.
This list recognizes those pitchers who have fanned 40 or more batters so far this season.
62 -- Tyson Smith, freshman RHP, Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian
52 -- Ryan Rivers, senior RHP, Lebanon
49 -- Cole Collins, senior RHP, Oakland
46 -- Riley Brock, senior RHP, The Dalles
46 -- Trey Newmann, senior RHP, North Medford
42 -- Levi Hazes, junior RHP, Century
41 -- Tyson Flack, senior LHP, La Pine
Wait! What?
In this space, we recognize hitters who have put up outrageous stat lines in a single game.
Cody Agidius, sophomore 1B/DH, The Dalles – 3-for-4 with three-run homer and two doubles in 10-9 win over Madras on April 12
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
Zach Justice, senior C, Summit – two homers and 6 RBIs in 15-5 five-inning win over Tualatin on April 7.
Mitchell Melton, senior OF/3B, Amity – 5-for-5, all singles, with 6 RBIs and two runs scored in a 25-3 victory over Willamina on March 17.
Maddox Montoya, junior INF, Sunset – 4-for-4 with 5 RBIs in a 15-6 win, March 30, versus Desert Mountain of Arizona
Jaxson Roberts, freshman DH, Stanfield / Echo – 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and 6 RBIs in 15-8 win over Weston-McEwen on March 13
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.
Wyatt Anicker, senior LHP, Scappoose – April 7 v. Seaside (whiffed 14 with just two walks in 2-0 win)
Cole Collins, senior RHP, Oakland -- March 20 v. Riddle / Glendale (fanned 17 in 11-0 win)
Ryan Rivers, senior RHP, Lebanon – April 11 v. Silverton (fanned 19 and faced one above the minimum in 6-0 win)
Kruz Schoolcraft, freshman LHP, Sunset -- April 5 v. Mountainside (struck out nine, walked one in 1-0 win)
.500 or better batting average
Below, we recognize those hitters who, with a minimum of 30 plate appearances, are hitting .600 or better on the season.
.536 -- Cody Agidus, sophomore 1B, The Dalles
.528 – Maximus Reynolds, sophomore 2B, Siuslaw
.514 -- Braden Schwartz, senior 3B, The Dalles
.500 – Will Booth, sophomore OF, The Dalles
.500 – Connor Logan, junior OF, Stanfield / Echo
15 or more RBIs
Below we recognize those Oregon hitters with 15 or more runs driven in this season.
22 – Braden Schwartz, senior 3B, The Dalles
18 – Jace Johnson, senior SS, South Umpqua
16 – Tyler Crawford, senior 3B, St. Paul
16 -- Kaden Starr, senior 3B, Marist Catholic
15 -- Eli Crist, junior INF, Thurston
15 -- Alec Prevett, senior 1B, Amity
15 – Max Ellerbrook, junior INF, Sunset
15 – Kolton Buys, freshman 3B, Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian
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 79 commitments -- a massive number -- 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
Jonah Barkoff, junior LHP, Lake Oswego – University of Oregon
Luke Bents, senior OF, Summit – Whitworth
Nick Biagi, senior 1B, Marist Catholic – Linn-Benton CC
Jake Brady, senior OF, Clackamas -- Eastern Oregon
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
Declan Francis, senior RHP/1B, Lake Oswego -- Linfield
Carson Gantz, senior RHP/INF, Jesuit – Regis University
Cade Gehlen, junior OF, Central Catholic – University of Portland
Calvin Gregory, sophomore LHP, Lakeridge -- Oregon State
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 INF, 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
Connor Malony, sophomore 1B/RHP, Thurston -- University of Oregon
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
Cooper Rathbun, senior 1B/RHP, Ashland — Oregon Tech
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
Garrett Strube, senior INF, Clackamas -- George Fox
Charlie Sturm, senior C, Jesuit – Chapman University
Matthew Tacheny, senior RHP, Clackamas -- Linfield
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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