Note: Coaches were asked to submit preseason reports by Friday, March 20. Here are the reports we have received to date:

4A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE

Battle Ground

Key players: Zach Jones, 2B, sr.; Willie Bratcher, ss, jr.; Cory Thomas, p, jr.; Jordan Drake, p, so.

Outlook: Jones and Bratcher provide solid defensive up the middle … The Tigers will have a young roster, with only two seniors.

Evergreen

Key players: Tommy Thorpe, p-of, jr.; Cody Clune, p-of, sr.; Josh Vizcaino, 2b, sr.; Justin Wyatt, of, sr.; Jared Powell, 1b, sr.

Outlook: The biggest change for the Plainsmen is a new coach. Chad Burchett made the move from Prairie. … Thorpe is a tough left-handed pitcher who has been starting since his freshman year. … Clune will pitch and bat lead-off. … Evergreen also gets Wyatt back after missing all of last season.

Kelso

Key players: Lane Sari, of, sr.; Brandon Middleton, 3b-p, sr.; Justin Gillen, ss-p, jr.; Blake Giles, c-p, sr.; Makaio Mobbs, 2b, jr.

Outlook: Middleton was a first-team all-league pick in 2009 … Mobbs was a second-team all-state player. … Hilanders expect to be in the mix for the league title.

Mountain View

Key players: Kyler Spears, 1b, sr.; Austin Tremel, of-p, sr.; P.J. Jones, c-p, jr.; Ryan Johnson, 1b-p, so.; Dominique Lincoln, of, jr.

Outlook: The Thunder are aided from some fresh faces. Lincoln arrives from Grant HS in Portland, and junior Josh Coombs comes from Camas. … Johnson was a second-team all-GSHL pick last year as a DH. … Thunder only lost three starters from last year’s team, and many younger players gained quality experience last season.

No reports: Heritage, Skyview.

3A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE

Camas

Key players: Taylor Williams, p, sr.; Drew Drlik, c, sr.; Kurt Yinger, p, jr.; Austin Barr, 1b-c, so.; Derek Atkinson, of, sr.; Logan Grindy, ss-3b, jr; Caleb Malychewski, of-3b, sr.

Outlook: All seven aforementioned players are returning all-league performers. … Williams signed with Washington State in December. … Barr was a first-team as a freshman and is draw looks from scout. … Williams, Drlik and Atkinson have a combined 110 games of varsity experience. All three are two-time all-league players.

Columbia River

Key players: David Anderson, 1b-dh, sr.; Skye Adams, p-of, sr.; Christian Bannister, p-of, sr.; Andy Breshears, ss, sr.; Steven Porter, c, sr.; Trevor Cass, 2b, sr.; Quin Walker, 3b, sr.

Outlook: The Chieftains have a senior-laden roster, with 16 seniors … Coach Stephen Donohue thinks as many as nine Chieftains will go on to play college baseball. … Anderson has signed with George Fox. … Adams has signed with Edmonds Community College. … Bannister is listed as one of the top 60 prospects in the state.

Fort Vancouver

Key players: Hayden Heying, p, so.; Cody Martin, of, sr.

Outlook: It’s a rebuilding year for the Trappers. … Heying is Fort’s top pitcher.

Hudson’s Bay

Key players: Danny Christensen, ss-p, sr.; Jordan Harrington, p-1b, jr.; Travis Roberts, p-c, jr.; Matt Hymas, 3b-p, jr.

Outlook: Coach Ben McGrew says with a few new additions, the Eagles are looking to make a run at the district tournament with solid defense and timely hitting.

Union

Key players: Caleb Whalen, 3b, jr.; Clint Coulter, 1b, so.; Colton Krueger, p-c, jr.; Leko Galusha, p, sr.

Outlook: The Titans will depend on good starting pitching and solid offense to be in the mix in the 3A GSHL.

No report: Prairie.

2A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE

Hockinson

Key players: Casey Sawyer, 3b-ss-p, sr.; Connor Perry, ss-p, jr.; Jake Manson, 3b-dh, fr; Zach Borge, ut-p, sr.; Casey Herzog, of-p, sr; Brady Hylton, 2b-p, jr .

Outlook: The Hawks will be depending on some youger players this season, including Jake Manson, who coach Stephen Short calls one of the best freshmen in the area. .. Sawyer was the 2A GSHL player of the year and a first-team all-state pick … Perry was a first-team all-league pick each of the past two seasons.

Mark Morris

Key players: Cody Erdman, ss., sr.; Nolan Burnett, of, sr.; Braydon Poole, 3b/p, sr.

Outlook: Erdman and Burnett were both all-league last season … The Monarchs have 13 seniors on the roster and hope to compete for a league title and qualify for playoffs.

Ridgefield

Key players: Jake Atchley, p/3b, sr.; Spencer Randel, ut, sr.; Alex Sheridan, dh/1b, sr.; Devryk Campbell, of, sr.; Christian Boyer, of, jr.

Outlook: Atchley was an all-league player in 2009 and leads a solid pitching staff that also includes junior Marcus Deal … Sheridan was an all-league DH last season … Junior infielder Chris Bones is a transfer from Michigan with great hands and a solid hitter.

Washougal

Key players: Blake Mulholland, p-of, sr.; Jake Kasowski, p-of, sr.; Kevin Monsrud, 2b-p, jr.; Tory Leahy, ss, sr.; Robert Milton, p-3b, jr.

Outlook: The Panthers’ strength may be in their pitching, which goes six or seven pitchers deep. … Monsrud was an all-league pick last season.

No reports: R.A. Long, Woodland.

1A TRICO LEAGUE

La Center

Key players: John Bechtold, p-2b, sr.; Zach Morain, p-c, sr.; Yuma Hayashi, ss, jr.

Outlook: Coach Rob Williamson says this year’s team is the most experience in his tenure in La Center. … Bechtold is an all-league candidate … Morain is new to La Center … Hayashi is a Japanese exchange student.

Kalama

Key players: Nick Laroy, p-1b, sr.; Sean McVicker, c, sr.; Dylan Slunaker, ss, sr.

Outlook: Laroy was the league player of the year in 2009 … McVicker and Slunaker were all-league first teamers … The Chinooks are young after losing six starters to graduation. Still, Kalama hopes to be in the hunt for the league title.

No reports: Castle Rock, Ilwaco, Stevenson, White Salmon

Scroll to top