Baseball team previews
Preseason outlooks as reported by area coaches (as of March 17)
4A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
BATTLE GROUND
No report provided
CAMAS
No report provided
EVERGREEN
No report provided
HERITAGE
Coach: Mitch Ratigan
Key players: Jarod Luedecker, jr., of; Bryce Hendy, sr., inf/p; Brandon Hoek, sr., inf; Braeden Ross, sr., of/c; Paul Aguayo, sr., of; Jackson Wagner, jr., ut/p; Trevor Murphy, jr., p; Coley Foley, so., c; Trevor Wharton, so., ss/p.
Outlook: We expect to be in the hunt for a playoff berth and league championship. We are led by an experienced core of returners. While we lose some dynamic players from last year’s team, we have better overall depth at nearly every position. Our success will be attributed to how well our sophomores adapt to the speed of the varsity game. I feel like this is the fastest team I have ever coached and we expect to run, run, run!
SKYVIEW
Coach: Eric Estes
Key players: Alec Chaney, sr., of; Brian Valentine, sr., of; Brooks Hanson, sr., p; Austin Greene, sr., p; Curtin Perrin, sr., inf; Mav Yamaguchi, sr., p; James Brooks, sr., ut; Jordy Freese, sr., c; Jake Dennis, sr.; Sam Pritchard, sr.; Adam Walker, sr., p.
Outlook: The Storm have several players back from the 2013 state championship team. Expectations remain high.
UNION
Coach: Ben McGrew
Key players: Jake Hawken, sr., of; Jack Bauer, jr., c; Cody Hawken, jr., DH: Ethan Beniga, sr., inf; Thomas Lampkin, jr., inf; Jared Dean, sr., p.
Outlook: Skyview will be the league favorite this year after winning the league, district and state title last season. We look to compete with them for the league title and make a run in the state tournament.
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3A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
COLUMBIA RIVER
Coach: Stephen Donohue
Key players: Andrew Haley, sr., 1B/p; Seth Raybrun, sr., p; Jay Becker, sr., inf; Sam Walker, sr., inf/p; Alex Peterson, sr., p; Brady Benson sr., c.
Outlook: With a strong pitching staff returning and three of our four starting infielders back we hope to be able to again compete for a GSHL title and secure another state berth. We will be led on the mound by seniors Seth Rayburn and Alex Peterson. Both missed significant time last season and with their return we should have two of the top arms in the league. Offensively we return 1st team all-league 1st baseman Andrew Haley, along with returning infielder Sam Walker who should give us two solid bats in the middle of the order.
FORT VANCOUVER
Coach: Owen Frasier
Key players: Jacob Brugman, jr.; Hayden Green, jr.; Matt Hossner, sr.; Ernie Montgomery, sr., p.
Outlook: We are still probably a year away from being competitive. We have a strong junior class and some promising young guys. Our leadership is incredible and my young men are amazing. River, Kelso and Mountain View are the clear favorites. All of them are replacing some key guys, but still a cut above the rest.
HUDSON’S BAY
No report provided.
KELSO
Coach: Scot Meeker
Key players: Sasha Jabusch, sr., p; Steve Christen, jr., of/p; Davis Radcliffe, jr., of/p; Dyllan Reynolds, jr., inf/p; Hayden Gillen, ut/p; Mason Meeker, jr., of; Matt Hellem, sr., 1B/DH; Tyler Parson, jr., 1B/p.
Outlook: Kelso graduated a big class last year, and only return four seniors. We look to compete with a mix of those seniors and a group of juniors. I would say that it will come down to Kelso, Mountain View, and Columbia River. All three schools have quality pitching and should contend for the league title.
MOUNTAIN VIEW
Coach: Aaron Coiteux
Key players: Dakody Clemmer, sr., p; Alex Torson, sr., p; Alex Smith, sr.; Nolan Biggs, sr.; Preston Jones, so.; Colin Biggs, so.; Jake Ryan, so.
Outlook: We are very young, and unproven, in the field with some top line pitching. Should be a fun and exciting year with lots of room to grow.
PRAIRIE
No report provided.
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2A GREATER ST. HELENS LEAGUE
HOCKINSON
Coach: Shaniko Ristau
Key players: Justin Anderson, sr.; Nich Eland, sr.; Taylor Ellensohn, sr.; Taylor Guzman, sr.; Greg Lord, sr.; Taylor Rennaker, sr.; Cody Ristau, sr.; Joel Worden, sr.; Jordan Zubieta, sr.
Outlook: We have high hopes this season with nine seniors; six of them are returning starters. We have some great younger players: one junior, two sophomores and one freshman filling the varsity roster. As for league favorites? A few teams lost a lot of key seniors last year but have plenty of good talent to fill their spots. I think it will be a battle for the league title like always.
MARK MORRIS
Coach: Brice Richards
Key players: Riley Johnston, sr., inf/p; Max Tilton, sr., 1B/p; Sam Harris, 1B/P/DH; Cameron Mosier, c; Riku Kusakabe, inf; Cody Enholm, of; Spencer Best, c/of.
Outlook: Strengths: Returning players from a successful program who know who we play and what it takes to win. Weakness: Graduated 11 last year so there is a lack of varsity experience to start the season.
R.A. LONG
Coach: Mark Hulings
Key players: Hunter Jones, so., ut; Spencer Thorsen, jr., inf/p; Morgan Baker, sr., ut; Carter Casey, jr., c; Tanner Ruffe, sr., of/p; Jose Hinojosa, sr., of/p; Ryan Peerboom, sr., inf/DH; Matt McGraw, sr., of; Brady Hulings, sr., ss/p; Tyler Messinger, jr., inf/p; Wil Teigen, jr., c; Austin Beavers, jr., of; Tristan Goldner, jr., inf/p; Stevie Smith, sr., 1B/DH.
Outlook: After a couple of rebuilding years, Hulings has high hopes for the 2014 Lumberjacks. With 10 returners, the Jacks look to compete for the 2A GSHL title.
RIDGEFIELD
Coach: Nick Allen
Key players: Nick Martin, sr., p; Jarrett Brown, jr.; Luke Oja, so.; Aaron Canton, sr.; Michael Martin, so.
Outlook: We have a young club but a solid core of juniors with some great baseball experience. League favorites: Sounds like Hockinson is going to be senior heavy and pretty solid. R.A. Long next.
WASHOUGAL
No report submitted
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1A TRICO LEAGUE
LA CENTER
Coach: Rob Williamson
Key players: Connor Fulton, sr.; Isaiah Block, sr.
Outlook: It should be between us and Woodland for the league title. However, Kalama and Castle Rock will be factors.
STEVENSON
No report submitted
WOODLAND
Coach: Stephen Short
Key players: Hunter Huddleston, sr., inf/p; Tanner Huddleston, sr., inf; Colton Lucas, sr., inf; Trevor Huddleston, jr., of/p; Austin Holcomb, jr., 1B; Aaron Shoup, jr., of/p; Joe Rodgers jr., of.
Outlook: We return seven regular starters, including all of our pitching and infield, so there is plenty of experience. We expect to compete for a league title with La Center, Castle Rock, and Kalama. The league will again be up for grabs.
