Sports Notes-Prep Grad Sports Edition
All State baseball includes lots of CVC players, Former Saxon baseballer shines in minor leagues, and more..
After a giant “Bits and Pieces” earlier in the week, it is time to go with more bite-sized sports items on graduation night for many students in the mid-Willamette Valley. These tidbits are only slightly smaller than that last collection of sports briefs.
OSSA 6A All State Baseball Team
The OSAA State Baseball Championship went to West Linn, who repeated as champions with a 2-0 shutout of Jesuit. Lost in the middle of the baseball craziness were 6A all-state selections announced by the OSAA. Several Salem-Keizer players were recognized, with a Sprague Olympian making the first team.
Brandon Stinnett, a 5-9 senior shortstop, was a unanimous first team pick. For the season, Stinnett hit .465 with 6 home runs, including 2 in Sprague's second round game versus Sherwood-- the second of which broke up a tie in the seventh in the form of a dramatic walkoff HR. A factor in his selection might also be his solo home run off of potential first round MLB draft pick Noble Meyer of Jesuit—who rarely gives up hits, much less home runs. Coaches estimated the pitch speed at 97 mph when Stinnett drove the ball over the right center field fence. That quarter-final homer for Brandon was the last run of the Olympians’ season. Sprague lost the quarterfinal road contest 11-1 in six innings.
The South Salem Saxons landed the CVC’s mother lode of the 6A all-state picks. Two youngsters were the top South selections. Strong armed freshman catcher Teagan Scott—who is already committed to play at Oregon State, landed second team honors behind the plate—sharing with Jesuit’s catcher, senior Charlie Sturm.
Also landing a second team pick for the Saxons was sophomore outfielder Noah Scharer. The speedy Scharer, who also had a solid football season at linebacker—recorded important plays in center field for South all season long.
Three more South players were honorable mention selections. Two Saxon pitchers were chosen. Senior Cole Weiland—headed for Whitworth University, and junior Carter Nelson both made the all-star ballot. The right handers were reliable arms on the mound during the course of the CVC season, a year that landed South the conference championship with a record of 7-2, and a sweep of second place Sprague. And all of that accomplished with a make-shift home schedule due to vandalism of Gilmore Field.
Also named as an honorable mention pick at first base was senior Braedy Vogt—another quick, athletic player who also was a key member of the Saxon football team in the fall.
The list of South Salem players making the all-state squad is especially remarkable after the team failed to advance beyond the second round, falling to CVC rival McNary 6-5. McNary, by the way, lost on the road in the quarters to two-time state champion West Linn 4-1.
Congratulations to all the Central Valley Conference teams who participated in the state tournament. And a special salutation to the all-state players locally.
Former Sprague trackster representing Oregon State at Track Nationals
Oregon State will have three chances to secure the school's first individual national track champion since 1975 this week at the NCAA National Championships in Austin Texas.
Former Sprague High distance runner Kaylee Mitchell and Beaver teammate Grace Fetherstonhaugh opened the weekend in the 3,000-meter steeplechase prelims. The top five finishers in each heat, as well as the next two best times advance to Saturday's finals.
Mitchell won her heat, and finished sixth overall in the preliminaries with a time of 9:51.46. Fetherstonhaugh finished ninth overall after coming in third in the same heat as Mitchell with a qualifying time of 9:52.02. Notre Dame junior Olivia Markezich won the prelims with a time of 9:40.81.
Mitchell crushed the OSU record during the Pac-12 championships at Washington State by breaking the 10 minute mark—putting her among the nation’s best.
OSU’s Jade Whitfield was also in the second of two discus heats scheduled for Thursday evening, but failed to qualify for the Saturday finals.
If either of the remaining Beavers earns a national title, it would be OSU's first in the NCAA Women's Track and Field Championships since snagging the two mile relay crown in 1979. Joni Huntley—who was two-time Olympic competitor for the USA—is Oregon State's last individual NCAA national champion with high jump and long jump victories in 1975.
Mitchell has already qualified herself for the Olympic trials in the steeplechase.
Former Saxon On A Tear in the Minor Leagues
Ex-South Salem Saxon and University of Oregon baseball standout Gabe Matthews “had a series” this past week in Northwest League baseball action, earning him NWL Player of the week honors—the first for his team this season.
The 6-2 first baseman for the Tri City Dustdevils started all six games against the Spokane Indians. He hit .421 (8-19) for the home series, scoring five runs and driving-in five runs.
Matthews had a game tying HR in the series finale’ last Sunday—a game won by Tri City 8-7.
The Dust Devils are just two games out of first in NWL play, with a record of 27-26.
Matthews was a dynamic member of the Oregon Ducks baseball team during a career that includes a pair of pandemic-influenced seasons in 2020 and 2021. He was first team all-Pac 12 and a third team all-America pick for the Ducks his senior year, hitting .322 with eight homers. Matthews ended his career as Oregon’s all-time hits leaders (246), RBI (137), and tied for runs scored at 135 total.
A read OFF of this writing website
Folks, I like to read other sports writers, and hope you will, too. I have directed all of you to check out John Canzano, who has gone independent after years at the Oregonian—and who continues to put out good work.
Today—I would like to direct you to a story from long time Oregon Journal, Oregonian, and Portland Tribune Sports scribe Kerry Eggers—who wrote about the occasion of the late Bill Schonely’s birthday.
The story also deals with the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame—which is currently in mothballs. I won’t add any more, but it is tragic and compelling.
Check out Eggers’ work for free at this link
That is it for local sports shorts. Congrats to our high school graduates locally.
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