Below please find 91 team previews for baseball programs in the 2026 OSAA season.
Information for the previews was taken directly from forms that varsity head coaches were requested, on more than one occasion, to complete.
The previews are separated by classification but are in no particular order within each classification. That’s to prevent you from merely reading about the top teams and skipping the rest. ALL teams deserve equal run here, especially in the pre-season where everyone is 0-0.
Note that coaches who did not have the opportunity to complete a preview before this article was published may still do so using the link provided previously. (They can also email me for the link at johnt@osaa.org) Those additional team previews will appear in the first Baseball Notebook next week.
6A
McMinnville parlayed a second consecutive Pacific Conference Championship into a deep 6A playoff run before falling to state champion Sunset in the semifinals.
The Grizzlies expected to come into the 2026 season as a contender to play in their first-ever state final, but off-season injuries to their top two returning pitchers make the situation murky. Cam Hyder, one of many seniors on the squad; is a returning First Team All-State 1B and All-league pitcher. If healthy, he could carry a staff that includes seniors Tyler Brummitt and Agustin Ponce-Lopez. Junior Taylor Carnahan, who followed up a strong sophomore campaign with a terrific summer on the mound, is questionable after suffering an injury during football season.
In the field, look for OF Aaron Rolfe, INF A.J. Morrison and Drew Bizonn to be anchors. Dynamic freshman Bradley Woodward could make an immediate impact at shortstop, taking over for graduated Nash Opitz, one of three key players 10th-year head coach Todd Peterson will need to replace.
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South Eugene won just three games last year, but still enjoyed watching sophomore Gino Humphrey have one of the best offensive seasons in 6A.
The Axe graduated seven seniors and had two starting pitchers transfer, making this essentially a brand new team for first-year coach Bryan Dearinger. South Eugene does get Humphrey back, and juniors Liam Donln and Jonah Alexander, so the Axe have three All-Conference players to build around. The team should score, but pitching will be the issue as Dearinger and his coaching staff work to build back better.
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Sprague won 16 games last spring, including a rout of Lake Oswego in the first round of the state playoffs. This is a program that is always competitive and captured state titles in 1995 and 2005.
Seven positional starters graduated off of last year’s team, leaving only OF Cameron VanKempen and Riley Wilson as returning regulars. Both were All-League picks last year, as were pitcher Holden Rasmussen and utility man Grant Moyer. All four our seniors on a roster with 11 upperclassmen.
Head coach Luke Buchheit, in his 14th year, likes how hard his team works and the togetherness he sees. The Olympians should be fine on the mound. Replacing all of that graduated offense will probably determine whether Sprague is playoff-bound again this season.
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Tualatin is a perennial top 10 team that last year won 17 games and reached the second round of the 6A playoffs. The Timberwolves graduated five from that roster, including First Team All-State catcher Isaac Pfeifer, called by head coach Jake Austin “arguably the best offensive player in Tualatin history.”
With the offense expected to be less dynamic, Tualatin will rely on its staff for wins. It’s a good thing, then, that the team’s top three pitchers all return, including First Team All-State senior Trenton Hertzog. Other arms to watch include seniors Cole Newton and Ben Fong and juniors Shane Haddad and Parker McCormack.
Defense will all be a plus, led by senior shortstop Owen Hagerman and senior OF Calen Simonelic. Look for newcomer Lucas Sy also to make an impact with the glove at second, third or short.
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Jesuit has been one of the top teams in 6A over the past decade. The Crusaders have two state titles, in 2016 and 2019. They went 24-7 last year, with a team that hit .330 and pitching to an ERA just above two, and reached the playoff semifinals for the third consecutive season.
Six starters have graduated. For most teams, that would be a death knell. Not for Colin Griffin’s ‘Saders, who reload thanks in part to a JV team that was 20-4 last spring. Thee newcomers will join several returning varsity contributors, including SS Jake Rolling, C/1B Ryder Listy, LHP Chase Kelly, OFs Kyle Goodwin and Riley Teed and infielders Griffin Nichols and Henry Vanderhoff. This is a team that competes for all seven innings and had the depth to do it game in and game out.
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Ida B. Wells has been a playoff team for the past 10 seasons. Last season was no different, as the Guardians won 17 games and made the playoffs only to lose in the first round, 3-2, because of a seventh-inning South Medford rally.
Five talented and very experienced seniors have graduated, including All-State players Cody Roletto and Jackson Poole; leaving Jeremy Shetler’s team without a returning senior starter for the first time in 30 years.
Junior catcher Ramsey Prentice, an on-base machine, is the top offensive piece back. Others to watch – juniors Jack Burnham and Grae Wilson and sophomore Oliver Hastings – are the team’s most effective pitchers. Micah Burrell started full-time at 2B as a freshman, the first at Wells to do so in 40 years.
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Brandon Silowka takes over as head coach at Westview, replacing Matt Bailie, who is now the school’s Athletic Director. The Wildcats have a strong baseball tradition and last won the 6A title in 2018, Bailie’s first year as head coach.
Can Silowka duplicate the feat this spring? He will have an experienced team -- a dozen seniors – that reached the first round of the playoffs in 2025. Senior SS Nate Kim, senior C Maddox Nichols, senior INF/RHP Taisei Sasaki and senior RHP Brody Rogers are four upperclassmen to watch. Juniors Caleb Bailie and Will Klein should also make deep impacts.
This is a deep team with a capable mound presence. That alone should bring about an improvement from last year’s .500 season.
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Grants Pass is a team on the rise. The Cavemen have won playoff games the past two seasons and are just one year removed from their first conference championship in 60+ years.
Three key players – all now experiencing the college game – have graduated. But there’s a lot back for fourth-year coach Kyle Garrison, who will put an athletic and versatile lineup on the field that should prove very strong defensively. Players to watch include catcher Nathan Basset, utility player Evan Valenzuela, INF/RHP Cam Holland and outfielders Treyton Powers and Max Hayes. Garrison has a ton of newcomers he’s very excited about, including INF/RHP Erick Pezqueda and LHP Mason Scott. Those hurlers will be key in determining whether Grants Pass is a team that just makes the playoffs or is one that can go beyond the first round.
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Barlow made the playoffs last year as the 17th seed, but could not escape the first round, losing to Sheldon, 3-2. Seven seniors have graduated off of the Bruins’ 13-15 squad, leaving coach Brady Burdick with a young squad, but one he says is “as deep as I have seen in my time at Barlow.”
Two returning All-Conference juniors, SS/RHP Amari Reynolds and 3B/RHP Zaydon Marguth, should lead the team. The Curtiss twins, Ryder and Maddox, are other juniors to watch. Seniors DJ Garcia, Adam Pintado and Kai Meyer, an OF/LHP who missed last year due to injury, will also feature prominently.
Burdick said to watch for a slew of freshmen and sophomores to push the veterans for playing time. Freshman LHP Landon Elmer and freshman catcher Ozzee Marguth are both top 10 in their class statewide, said the coach, which backs up his belief that Barlow will be “very competitive” for years to come.
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The tony Murray Hill neighborhood in Beaverton was once a Little League power, which may explain why Southridge was so good in the early part of this decade. More recently, the Skyhawks have struggled – they won just three times last year --- but 10th-year coach Kyle Chamberlain is confident that his charges will return to prominence in the near future.
The 2026 edition probably will not win a state title, but improvement is a certainty with a team that is athletic 1-9 and beyond. Seniors Jackson Cobb, Xander Hickox and Jonas Kilchle and junior Zach Turner are foundational pieces. Look for big things from sophomore Tate Schwisow, a big stick and southpaw on the bump.
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Lincoln was a breakeven 14-14 team last spring but returns most of its key performers, including six who earned All-League honors: seniors Graeme Warner-McGee, Blake Timothy and Harrison Mayhew, juniors Jack Aleskus and Grady Wilmot and sophomore Hunter Arana. Warner-McGee is a big-time athlete with a heater in the 90s, Timothy is a speed merchant and Wilmot is a University of Portland recruit who plays steady at short and has a potent left-handed bat.
Head coach CJ Watson, in his 12th year at the helm, says that his Cardinals have experience and depth to challenge state-runner up Grant for the PIL title.
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Lake Oswego has long been one of the top programs in the state. Though the Lakers were under .500 last year at 12-16, they still managed to make the state playoffs for the 26th time in head coach Jake Anders’ 28 years on the bench.
Six starters, including three on the infield, have graduated, but LO returns a deep team that includes 14 seniors. Senior OF Caden Gerritz, senior hurler Merik Adler and junior INF Ryder Lemm were all First Team All-TRL choices a year ago. Senior catcher Carsten Lemon was a Second Teamer.
Anders says that health has been a problem for Lake O the past two seasons. A healthy season with consistent pitching should have the Lakers in contention for a league title.
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Liberty was once formidable in 5A but hasn’t found the same success as a 6A program. The Falcons won just seven games last year, but was able to win their series versus rival Glencoe.
The good news for Liberty is that only two seniors played prominent roles last year and head coach Ryan Raagas thinks he has players capable of filling the void left by their graduation. Add ample experience gained by the returning contributors and this is a dangerous Liberty team flying under the radar. Players to watch include RHP/INF Ben James, 1B Jack Moore, OF Luke Newport and emerging sophomore standouts Jaxon James and Ty Parrish.
Raagas said that finishing around .500 and making the playoffs would be a step forward for the Falcons, who move back to 5A after this season.
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Newberg was 13-13 last season and made the 6A playoffs for the first time in more than a decade. The Tigers graduated two cornerstone players off of that squad, but they were the only two lost to graduation, making Andrew Reichenbach’s team a contender for the Pacific Conference title in 2026.
Newberg will have nine seniors leading the way, including All-Conference catcher Carter Hawes and pitcher Judah Campos. Parker Sellner and Zadek Bowlby are two others to watch on a team brimming with athletes and loaded with experience on the mound and at the dish.
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Sheldon won state titles in 2013 and 2015 and is a perennial contender. The Irish lost in the second round of the playoffs last year, 12-11, in extra innings to top-seeded South Salem. With seven returning players and two impact transfers, look for Brian Vogel’s team to be one of the top 10 teams in 6A this spring.
Leading the way for Sheldon should be junior INF/RHP Cam Thomas, the Southwest Conference Pitcher of the Year; plus returning All-League performers Eli Wallace, Jaxon Detzler, Jose Leon and Keaton Welch. Sophomore Chase Colling and junior Barry Miles also figure prominently, as does utility player Beau Travis. Marist Catholic transfer Chad Turner has speed and a hit tool. Andrew Roadman was an All-League pitcher last year for South Eugene and will be one of Sheldon’s top arms.
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Aloha has made the state playoffs the past three seasons, only to fall in the first round each time. Last year’s Warrior squad finished 14-14 but the team’s best players were young, giving hope for the future.
Enter first-year head coach Ronnie Keaton, whose goal is to build a strong culture in the program that can last for years while maintaining the competitiveness within the Metro League that the team has demonstrated recently.
Aloha will build around its two returning First Team All-League picks, senior LHP Achilles Garcia and sophomore catcher Sunny Corpus.
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South Salem had a regular season for the ages in 2025. The Saxons went 27-0 and won their third straight league title. Max Price’s team was still undefeated going into the quarterfinals, but ran into a buzzsaw and lost to Grant, 12-0, in a mercy-rule game. That’s baseball sometimes. You’re the highest scoring team in 6A and you get shutout in the biggest game of the season.
Five key bats have since graduated, leaving South Salem with trying to build around its two returning First Team All-State superstars, senior SS Sawyer Nelson and senior catcher Teagan Scott. Nelson, a Loyola Marymount commit, led the state in home runs and RBIs last year. Scott, who will play for Oregon State in 2027, is a defensive stalwart and a hitting machine with a terrific blend of power and speed. Logan Scott, Ben Greer and Jimmy Ordaz, Jr. should all find their way into the everyday lineup and contribute.
On the mound, the Saxons are well-positioned with two starters back in juniors Kellen Bowman and Harrison Buckingham. Senior Blake Kansky is a strong third option. Add it all up, and South Salem will be very, very good. Not 29-1 good, in all likelihood, but the Saxons could match their 2024 run to the semifinals or go even one game further.
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Century’s 12th win of 2025 came in walk off fashion on Senior Night and ensured the Jaguars of a playoff spot in Keean Kondo’s first season as head coach. Century has been a playoff team every year for more than the past decade.
This spring looks promising for the Jaguars as they return all of their pitching, led by Landon Springer, Jace Willett, Diego Lopez and Kale Naone. The defense also will be strong, anchored by All-League SS Damian Elizarraras. Jordan Farness, Camden Gager, Naone and Lopez also will be integral offensive pieces on a team that graduated three offensive starters and should be at least as good in 2026.
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What a fascinating year for Sunset! The Apollos were the pre-season No. 1 6A team in the state according to the Coaches Poll, but slipped to 11th in the computerized rankings come playoff time. John Barnes’ team then ran the table to win State for the first time in more than 30 years. Amazing!.
Eleven seniors have graduated off of that team, including Kruz Schoolcraft, who was a First-Round pick of the San Diego Padres in July; and standouts Dakota Chun, Gabe Coltman and Will Slater. Those are massive shoes to fill.
The good news for Sunset is it returns senior RHP Parker Raubuch, the winning pitcher in the 2025 state final. All-League infielder Luke Sullivan also returns. The Apollos also will benefit from two junior transfers, OH/RHP Liam Heaphy from Liberty and C/RHP Riley Via, who helped Summit to the 5A title last spring. Both should help make the pitching staff consistently competitive and keep the Apollos winning games deep into the spring.
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Grant won the PIL in 2025 then made a magical run all the way to the state championship game. The Generals graduated six talented and experienced players off of that squad, which will hurt, but Matt Kabza’s team is blessed with sufficient depth to absorb those losses.
The top returning players include All-State pitcher Jinki Tomita, All-State pitcher/outfielder Elliot Raiton, junior All-League SS Grant Snidow, senior OF Martin Elardo and senior INF Luke Caron. That’s a solid returning nucleus. Add newcomers Calvin Sorensen and Miles Brown and the offense should be dynamic enough to help the pitching staff not only contend in league play but also make another deep playoff run.
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Roosevelt last made the state playoffs in 2023 and won just seven games last year. The Roughriders, however, should be improved in 2026.
Two starting pitchers and two position players graduated off of Daniel Stauffer’s team. That means an experienced team will return, especially on the offensive side. Sophomore OF Callahan Hare, senior C Milo Salomone and sophomore SS Ezra Arp are sparkplug players to watch.
Roosevelt will be light on experience on the mound. An easier non-league schedule will allow the new pitchers to get their feet wet in the hopes of building momentum heading into PIL play.
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West Salem made the playoffs last year despite winning just 10 games and almost made it to Round 2. The Titans had powerful Sherwood on the ropes before losing in walk off fashion.
Ten seniors graduated off of that team, including all three starting pitchers. This may be a building year coach Taylor Blair, who is in his seventh season heading the program. Senior OF/P Dallan McDonald and senior P/3B Conrad Sotelo will lead the team, which will play with great chemistry and energy and should improve rapidly as the season goes along.
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Central Catholic entered the state playoffs last year with a record of 23-4 and was the No. 3 overall seed. The Rams dominated their first two postseason games but ran into eventual champion Sunset in the quarterfinals and lost, 6-4.
Justin Barchus’ team will be young in 2026, the result both of graduating six positional starters and one starting pitcher; and having a talented freshman team that went 24-1. Pitching will be a strength, as sophomore lefty Sam Smith returns, as does junior RHP Grady Olson. Cole Thomas and Jake Wight, both returning varsity players, also can sling it, but Central Catholic could really be formidable if sophomores Luke Lucas and Will Emerson and freshman Cole Migaki develop rapidly.
Smith, catcher Jake Pachmayr and senior SS Spencer Ames will head the offense. One huge change for the Rams will be practicing and playing at the former Concordia University facility. No more practicing on the school’s practice football turf. Add it all up and look for Central to be a team that gathers momentum as the season progresses. This is a Ram team that might need one more year, but could be ready for the prime time come playoffs.
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A lot of smart folks are picking Clackamas to be the team to beat in 6A this season. The Cavaliers were young last year, yet still won 20 games and reached Round 2 of the playoffs before losing at home to eventual champion Sunset, 3-1.
J.J. Winkle’s team returns EVERYONE, so there will be big expectations, both externally and within the squad. All-State catcher Nolan Foglio will lead the offense. Junior RHP Ben Foglio returns to anchor the staff. Other impact players include senior hitters Justin Larsen, Caleb Tiede, Jacob Strube, Kyle Kristensen and Nick Sousa. Junior OF Jonah Lam was a Second Team All-State pick in 2025 and also figures prominently on offense. Juniors Cade King and Jaxon Weztler are part of a talented trio of arms that should hold down scoring by upset-minded opponents.
As the season nears, Winkle is rightfully confident in his charges and the chance that Clack can add to the three state titles won under now-AD John Arntson. They are talented, love to work and have one goal in mind, he said.
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Well, it had to end sometime. West Linn’s unprecedented string of three straight 6A titles came to an end last year in a stunning Round 2 loss to South Medford, when the Panthers scored four times in the top of the seventh to win, 4-1.
Four seniors have graduated for the Lions, including superstar Danny Wideman, a four-year impact player. The cupboard remains loaded, however, as OF/RHP Caden Klouda, 2B Hank Curdy, SS Ryan Hemsley, RHP/1B/DH Carson Doblie and OF Sloan Baker return to lead a West Linn team that head coach Joe Monahan believes should compete well in the TRL and state playoffs.
“We have a lot of depth at all positions this year and a lot of competition for starting spots,” Monahan said. “I love how our players are working hard to make each other better.”
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Roosevelt ended 2025 on a six-game winning streak to finish one win shy of .500 at 13-14. Hopefully that gives this scrappy bunch momentum heading into the spring slate.
Head coach Kyle Swoboda, in his 15th year leading the troops, graduated two starting pitchers and his catcher from last year’s roster. There is, however, enough returning experience on this senior-dominated squad to compensate.
Senior Ty Sconfienza, the team’s shortstop and a right handed pitcher, is the top player back after earning Honorable Mention All-State honors as an infielder last year. Aiden Wake, Anthony Boag and Kaden King all received All-League recognition.
Reynolds will be a fast team and a veteran one, with nine seniors on the roster. “We feel we bring a brand of baseball that will put pressure on our opponents’ defense with our speed, and be able to make routine plays consistently with our defense,” Swoboda said.
5A
La Salle Prep won 20 games last year under head coach Trey Norton and made the quarterfinals of the 5A playoffs before losing a slugfest to state runner-up Canby. The Pioneers have made the playoffs nine straight years and, in eight of them, have gotten out of the first round.
This year’s edition is very promising. Sluggers Roscoe Mithoefer and Evan Hamlin return, as do All-League hitters Declan O’Brien, Kiernan Kelly and Jack Schweitzer. LSP graduated two of its top arms, but its ace, O’Brien, a First Team All-State pitcher last year, returns, as does reliever Ethan Kissee, Look for Julius Shelton, a Gresham transfer; and sophomore Gram Bagby to add thump to the lineup and, in the case of Shelton, a strong lefty on the mound.
La Salle Prep has made the semifinals only once in its history, but never in 5A. This year’s team is young, but has top-end talent with depth. The Pioneers could make a run.
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Bend’s 2025 season included 17 wins, a state playoff appearance and a series win over state-champion Summit. The Lava Bears have made the state playoffs the past 15 years and have reached the semifinals three times since 2012.
The key returnees include pitchers Marco Silva and Cole Cooper and catcher Kaden Cooper.
Pitching will be a strength for Bend, with its top three pitchers back. The offense, with a boost from junior infielder Quentin Romney should be speedy and score enough to make the Lava Bears competitive in every game. Bend will be sharpened by playing in the tough Intermountain Conference and should be ready to make a deep run come the postseason.
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Silverton had a 2025 season to remember. Its 20 wins were second-most in program history and the Foxes made the state playoffs for the first time since 2022. Silverton has a rich and storied athletic history, but baseball has been an outlier. Third-year coach Colton Meyer says that his goal is to elevate baseball at Silverton so that it reaches consistent excellence.
Silverton goes into 2026 needing to replace two arms and three bats from last year’s team, as well as the leadership the seniors brought. Meyer says he believes in the abilities of the players stepping into those roles. Combine them with six returning All-League picks, notably junior 1B James Collier, an Honorable Mention All-State selection; and the Foxes are well-positioned to duplicate last year’s achievements, provided the team stays healthy. The other returning All-Leaguers are Nolan Horner, Colson Swartz, Henry Briggs, Trey Carstensen and Luke Collier.
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Canby won 25 games in 2025 and reached the 5A title game three years after playing in the 6A state final. The Cougars graduated 16 players off of last year’s team, including seven starters. This may be a building year for coach JJ Stolsig’s team.
Canby does return junior RHP Jack Brauckmiller, the NWOC Pitcher of the Year and a First Team All-State pick. He will be a foundational piece, as will senior catcher Blake Miller. Juniors Cooper Ackerman and Payton Burke should step into the lineup and contribute on the mound and at the plate. Sophomore Brody Joyce, an infielder who also pitches, is primed for a breakout season.
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Central missed the playoffs last year, finishing fifth in the tough Mid-Willamette Conference. The Panthers, however, may be a state title contender in 2026. They last won State in 2019.
Third-year head coach Ben Kramer returns all but one player off of last year’s team. That includes his entire pitching staff and First Team All-State performers Joe Mendazona (Catcher) and JT Girod (INF), both juniors. Junior Jackson Barba is the top returning pitcher.
Central will be junior dominated this year. If the team doesn’t fulfill expectations in 2026, it will be favored to take it all in 2027.
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North Eugene rode a late eight-game winning streak to the state playoffs in 2025. Expect more winning this spring from the Highlanders, as head coach Kenny Niles returns all of his starters.
The team will build around junior catcher Aiden Hibler, a First Team All-State pick a year ago. OF Duncan Roudabush and RHP Michael Buschelman also earned All-State honors. Mason Baer, Blake Singleton and Riley Whitewood received All-League nods as hitters. This is an experienced team that will be better than last year. Pitching depth is an area of concern and could prevent a deeper playoff run than last year.
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Hood River Valley’s 2025 season included making the playoffs and defeating 4A champion Pendleton / Nixyaawii. The Eagles graduated their starting shortstop and No. 1 starter, but coach Max Reitz has a talented group returning, which is capable of eclipsing last year’s 15-win total.
There are six key seniors on the squad this year, led by All-League catcher Kingston McAdam. Bodie Stuben, who will play short and pitch; is another. Junior OF Davin Snyder, a Second Team All-State pick in 2025; and sophomore Tyson Jacobs also are integral to team success. Look for sophomore lefty Landen Pratt to be a difference maker on the mound after a great offseason.
Hood River Valley will play one of the most challenging schedules in 5A, with an eye toward competing for a league title and making a deep playoff run. This is a senior-laden team that has had success and knows what it will take to take the next step.
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Playing in 4A a season ago, Crook County compiled a 7-15 record. The Cowboys have a new coach in Ryan Cochran and make the move to the brutal Intermountain Conference after graduating four starters.
This year’s team will feature only two seniors. This will be a building year for Crook County, with junior Carson Wilkins leading the way on the mound and as a corner infielder. Seniors Kolton Martinez and Daxon Pennington and juniors Quinten Bailey, Carter McAda and William McDaniel are others to watch.
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Lebanon made the state championship game in 2022, but hasn’t been past the quarterfinals since and missed the playoff altogether last spring. This is a good, well-coached team, however, and should be much better in 2026.
The Warriors bring back all but P/2B Zane Cox from the 10-16 team of a year ago. Coach Jeff Stolsig’s team, with seven returning seniors, has enough depth and experience to challenge in the Mid-Willamette Conference. Players to watch include senior catcher Wyatt Jenkins, senior pitcher Trenton Lewis and senior P/INF Preston Bryan.
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Summit won the 5A state title in 2025 as the 5-seed, beating Canby, 5-1, in workmanlike fashion. A repeat is unlikely, however, as Aaron Boehm’s team lost seven defensive starters, including MLB First-Round pick Slater de Brun; and its entire pitching staff.
The Storm return OF/RHP Jackson Parker and INF Charlie Wiscovich but will have a lot of newcomers, many from last year’s 14-6 JV team. Bend is a baseball hotbed, however, and counting Summit out is a mistake. Expect fast improvement and for the Storm to vie for a playoff spot and be dangerous if they qualify for the postseason.
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Crater has won three state titles since 2000. After going 17-10 last year, will the Comets contend for another state title in 2026?
Just two seniors graduated off of the 2025 team and coach Jay Campbell is confident that he has the horses to mitigate their loss. Crater returns four players who earned All-State honors, senior Alex Johnson, a First Team All-State choice at DH; senior Mason Snopl, a Second Team pitcher; and HM infielders Morgan Austin and Caleb Cornett.
The team will fill in around that quartet with young talent that could take this team from good to great, notably freshman UTIL/P Carson Noce. Crater will need to stay healthy, however, because the impact players go only about a dozen deep. But a deep playoff run is possible under the right conditions.
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In Jason Rasco’s first season as head coach, Wilsonville stormed into the postseason undefeated and as the No. 1 seed, but fell to champion Summit in the quarterfinals, three wins short of its first state title. Six starters have graduated, including superstars Mark Wiepert and Drew Hall. The impact of their loss is immeasurable.
The goal for this year is to build and develop a roster, with an eye to 2027 and beyond. Senior pitchers Colby Kosderka and Grady Wiese will guide the culture for the younger guys, including SS Cole Weber and OFs Beau Johnson and Ben Wiepert.
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Thurston fell two wins short of a third straight 5A title in 2025, but the Colts did win 26 games and won the Midwestern League title for the seventh straight year. Dennis Minium’s team graduated eight impact seniors, which will hurt. But it returns 5A Player of the Year Grady Saunders and First Team All-State infielder Brock Johnson, so some foundational pieces remain.
Three other seniors, Cam Nosack, Bryson Bowser and Jackson Lane, also return and the newcomers, both homegrown and Sheldon transfer Parker Edwards, are talented. Thurston will pitch effectively, play defense and wreak havoc on the basepaths. If the newcomers play within themselves and try not to do “too much,” the Colts could find themselves reloading rather than rebuilding come playoff time.
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Churchill snuck into the playoffs last year thanks to a clutch late win over 6A Sheldon, the Lancers’ first playoff appearance in four years. Churchill graduated six, including an All-Conference pitcher and All-Conference shortstop, coach Mitch Bousquet is confident that his team can at least reach the 14 wins it recorded last season.
Reason for the optimism can be traced to the return of four senior pitchers, lefty Chase Hartley and righthanders Jace Litten, Blake Mikel and Parker Emmons. All threw more than 25 innings last year. The team’s offensive production, led by the four mentioned above, catcher Brady Bousquet and INF Lucas Gansen, also returns largely intact. This is a team that may fly under the radar early in the year, but should be living in the top 10 most of the season.
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Mountain View is 79-49 over the past five years, with two trips to the quarterfinals. In that context, the Cougars’ 9-18 season can be viewed as both an aberration and a statement on how tough the Intermountain Conference is.
Three starters were lost to graduation, including All-State OF Brady Kennedy. Coach Ryan Johnson will build around three talented All-League juniors, catcher Ryder Carpenter, OF Tanner Loch and infielder Carson Bottemiller. This is a young, athletic roster that can make big improvements if the pitching staff can match the production of the offense.
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Corvallis won a conference title and 21 games a year ago. The Spartans made it to the quarterfinals in coach Eric Dazey’s first year back as head coach after a three-year stint as an assistant coach for the team. It’s hard to believe, with a school that has such a rich tradition as Corvallis does, that the Spartans have not won a state title in 40 years.
Three starters and five seniors total have graduated. The losses are huge. Axel Prechel was Conference Player of the Year and did so much for the team, batting, defensively in center, and on the mound. Gavin Price caught every inning and batted clean up. And Korhan Haller was an All-League outfielder.
Corvallis returns quality arms in Andrew Street and Roy Bannister, which will help it win lots of games. The middle of the diamond, with those two and Ben Weiss, is super solid. Bottom line is Corvallis is a baseball town. There will always be ballers ready to step into an opportunity, compete and help the Spartans be successful.
4A
Newport won 23 games last year and reached the 5A quarterfinals. The Cubs graduated 10, including their entire outfield, but return their All-State shortstop, Colin Fierro; and All-State pitcher, Ryder Hockema. All-Conference 2B Matt Colton also returns.
Among newcomers, keep an eye on freshman Trey Scarberry, who will show off his great range in center field.
Despite graduating so many, head coach Donald Chipman says that the team has veteran leadership that will elevate the entire squad. Team speed will also be an asset. “We are going to play Newport baseball,” Chipman said. “Throw strikes, play defense and score one more run than them.”
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North Bend made the playoffs in 2025 after winning 17 games. The Bulldogs have never won a state title but the high school is notable for the baseball coaches it has produced over the years, including Donny Harrel, the current head coach at Seattle University.
Luke Wheeling was the only starter to depart the team. The OIT freshman was the team ace and a big part of North Bend’s batting order. The Bulldogs will be relatively young again this spring, with a slew of impact juniors and a freshman, Blaze Wheeling, who is expected to impact the team on the mound and in the field. Seniors to watch include Jackson Swanson and Dylan Swanson.
Brad Horning, in his 26th year coaching North Bend, says that his team will versatile and athletic defensively. Developing pitching from good to great may determine how the team fares in the tough Sky-Em League and beyond.
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Randy Brack (who gave hitting lessons to my son when he was 8) is in his 40th year at North Marion, which has made 36 playoffs appearances over the span, with one state title. The Huskies, playing in a co-op with Gervais, did not have a great 2025 season, winning just 10 times while squeaking into the playoffs, but they were young, with just four seniors on the roster.
Guess what? North Marion is young again, with only two seniors, OF Riley Jones and 1B/P Cole Laninga. Brack says that youth will be the team’s greatest strength and biggest area of concern. He expects the team, which has athletes, to develop quickly as the season goes on and add to the school’s playoff appearances.
***
Kyle Baker is the new head coach at Stayton, which won 11 games and reached the 5A playoffs last spring. Baker previously was the boss man at Regis.
Baker inherits a Stayton team that won its only state title in baseball more than 50 years ago. Four Eagle position players have graduated but four others, seniors all, return with All-League credentials: Mason Silbernagel, Oliver Hunt, Colton Connally and Owen Mitzel. Look for newcomer Wade Bergdahl to be a big bat in the lineup.
Baker says that Stayton will be a good hitting team. Pitching is an area of concern. The JV team was 21-0. Look for the Eagles to lean into that team to fill holes on the mound and in the lineup.
***
Twice in the past two years, Marist Catholic has found itself in the state title game, looking for its first championship. Twice, the Spartans have come up short.
Eight seniors graduated off of the 2025 state runner-up team, impacting the team especially on the mound and on defense. Noah Breslaw’s team does have talent returning, including All-State pitcher Gianni Lambardi, hitters who batted 3-4-5 in the championship game lineup and Jalen Smith, who was 2-for-2 in that game from the 7-hole.
Marist won 25 games last year and was the No. 1 seed heading into the playoffs. The Spartans will have pitching, team speed and experienced older players. A return to the championship game is possible if the younger players step up, as expected.
***
Scappoose went hunting for a third straight state title in 2025, but eventual champion Pendleton / Nixyaawii took Cameron Webb’s team out in the semifinals. Five varsity starters graduated – players who formed the core of both state championship runs, That included three different league Players of the Year and two different state Players of the Year.
So what will Scappoose do? Lean on All-League pitcher Will Kessi, All-League OF Nolan Lennox, several other returning varsity contributors and a strong JV team to continue the string of success. Webb says he has a deep team that is hungry to prove itself, not just on the summer ball circuit, but also during the spring slate.
***
No team in Oregon history has won more baseball state championships than Henley’s nine. The Hornets almost added a tenth last year, but lost a 7-5 decision to Marist Catholic in the semifinals.
Mark Carpenter, the two-time State Player of the Year, has graduated, as has All-State utility player Beau Pyle. Although they cannot be replaced, coach Sean Teaters has enough returning talent to make Henley a 4A threat again in 2026.
Among the returning players are two who were First Team All-State a year ago, senior SS Conner Shively and sophomore catcher Jacoby Tacchini. The Hornets also return two named Second Team All-State, senior OF Ryan Douglas and junior pitcher Corbin Hamilton. Few teams return that level of talent. Add two who were injured half of last year, plus players off of a JV team that went 23-3 a year ago and Henley may well be the favorite to win it all this spring.
***
No team in Oregon history has won more baseball state championships than The Dalles’ nine. The Riverhawks won their first more than 70 years ago and their latest almost 25 years ago now. The move back to 4A from higher classifications has been beneficial to the baseball team, with three consecutive playoff appearances.
Another playoff berth is likely this year despite the graduation of five. Though Pat Clark’s team will be very, very young, The Dalles have lots of talent, and depth, especially on the mound. Lone senior Evan Ortega, who also plays short, will pitch, as will junior Sawyer Dray, sophomores Chase Peterson, Kale Beardmore, Gunner Bustos and others. Dray, a First Team All-League catcher, will be a foundational piece of the starting nine.
***
Molalla’s 2025 season included winning 21 games, capturing a conference title for the first time in 30 years and making the playoffs for the first time in a decade. The team has a new head coach, Jonathan Bishop, and a returning squad that can continue the momentum established last year.
Nyxon Hopping, a First Team All-State catcher, is one of two who ran out of eligibility after last year. LHP Kyler Dickerson, also First Team All-State, returns along with a slew of other seniors, six of whom earned All-League recognition. This is a team that will be strong in all phases of the game and should not only defend its TriValley Conference title, but also be a factor at the state level.
***
Philomath may have as much talent, top to bottom, as any 4A team in the state. The Warriors won more games last year – 21 --- than any Philomath team since the new millennium, and should be even better in 2026. Last year’s quarterfinal berth may look like just a stepping stone after this season is over.
Philomath graduated four All-League players off of last year’s squad. Head coach Levi Webber will lean heavily on First Team All-State pitcher Caleb Babcock and Second Team All-State OF Jacob Hernandez. Others to watch include pitcher Wylie Griffith and vastly improved hitter AJ Altishin.
Cam Herbert will take over at catcher and there are several players who could fill roles on a pitching staff that lacks experience behind Babcock and Griffith. How they develop may determine whether the Warriors are league champions at the end of the year and fighting for their first-ever state crown.
***
Gladstone won 13 games a year ago and made the 4A playoffs. The Gladiators have contended often in Casey Webster’s 35 years leading the program.
Five have graduated, including four arms and a catcher. Replacing them will be a challenge which, if handled successfully, could lead to a strong season, because Gladstone will be strong defensively and create scoring opportunities on offense with its team speed.
Players to watch include All-League returnees Eli Mecklem, Sully Marcoe and Nolan Marcoe. Will Budworth, Matthew Contreras and newcomer to varsity Cohen Fuller are other keys to a successful season for the Gladiators.
***
Pendleton / Nixyaawii won the 2025 4A championship as the seventh seed, snapping a streak of six state championship appearances without a title. The title, in the third season under head coach Justin Speer, was done the “Buckaroo Way,” a culture of hard work, dedication and representing the community with pride on and off the field.
Pendleton baseball doesn’t rebuild; it reloads. So, losing nine seniors to graduation – including key contributors on the mound, in the field and to offensive production – will not deter the Bucks from another successful season, Speer said. Catcher Vance Nelson, OF Colin Harrington and SS Tugg McQuinn, who combined to go 7-for-11 in the state championship game, return to the lineup. All will pitch as well. A strong group of younger players will complement well the returnees and should make the Bucks formidable once again.
***
Junction City’s 2025 season included 21 wins and a trip to the 4A quarterfinals, where it lost to the eventual champs, 9-6. The Tigers have been a fixture in the top 10 the past decade, winning at least one playoff game every year over that span.
Junction City graduated five off of last year’s squad, including staff ace Jayden Lucas (First Team All-State) and two Second Team All-State infielders. Coach Tony Stavros, who has coached this group for two decades, says they will be hard to replace.
Connor Clift, the Sky-Em League MVP and First Team All-State at 1B, is back, which is good news. So, too, is Second Team All-State utility player Kaden Shafer, Second Team All-League OF Landon Van Hecke and others. The team also boasts three very talented freshmen who could quickly turn this team from good to great.
3A
Burns has won three state titles in baseball since 2007. The Hilanders, in a co-op with Crane last year, won 15 games and reached the state quarterfinals. The co-op will continue this year.
The team has a new head coach, Burns alumnus Cam Hueckman, and his staff all have deep ties to the Hilander program. Three starters have graduated, all position players. Pitching, headed by strikeout machine Jack Wright, returns intact and will make Burns very strong. Hurlers Dylan Johnson, Tyson Breshears, Wyatt Sewell and Jasper Skunkcap also are back.
This is a team whose players expect to win and have had success on the gridiron and in the wrestling room as well. If three talented freshmen thrive in this environment, Burns could be primed for a deep playoff run.
***
Warrenton could not duplicate its 2024 state title last year, but reached the semifinals for the 11th time in coach Lennie Wolfe’s 35 years.
Seven starters have graduated from the 2025 team that went 23-6. These are big losses for the Warriors, but Wolfe looks at it this way: the team has new guys that will make things exciting.
Returning players include junior Ryan Palmer, who was All-League in 2025; junior Aaron Neahring and Zephan Pierce, the team’s lone senior, who will catch this year. The return of starting pitcher Eli Neahring, who missed all of last year due to injury, will be a huge boost. A strong sophomore class and pitchers everywhere you look should make the Warriors a tough out come playoff time.
***
Horizon Christian won 17 games last year and advanced to the second round of the state tournament. The Hawks have now made the playoffs for three straight years. They won state in 2011 and have been in the state final twice since, last in 2018.
Sam Sumner is in his fifth year coaching the team and will need to replace five starters. But he says there is enough returning starting pitching and some exciting newcomers for Horizon Christian to be more than competitive this season. Players to watch include Second Team All-State infielder Gavin Massingill, First Team All-League pitcher Drew Bergh and infielders Grant Sumner and Ben Sorrentino.
Among newcomers, freshman catcher Dexter Roben should make an immediate impact defensively, while juniors Blake Jones and Zach Cooper, both outfielder/pitchers; should help the team in all phases. There is a lot of talent on this team and this is a cohesive bunch. The Hawks did not make the top 10 in the pre-season coaches poll but will likely make an appearance before the season is done.
***
A two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning pushed a run across to clinch the first-ever state title for Blanchet Catholic last spring. The Cavaliers were the best team in the regular season and backed it up on the biggest stage.
Eleven seniors – many of them superstars with years of experience – have now graduated. It’s time for a new era of Blanchet baseball. Junior Henry Wort, who will play short; senior Josh Mosar (1B) and senior LF Lakaios Quintero all started in the championship game last year and will be the backbone of the team along with juniors Nate Rouch and Evan Hancock. Junior Sam Mosar, who missed last year with an injury, returns to give this young team a boost.
Coach Jason Black says that Blanchet Catholic will develop as its players gain experience. We believe him!
***
Cascade Christian won 24 games last year and made the title tilt for the second time over the past three seasons. The Challengers won their lone title in 2012.
Coach Kevin Shafer returns a promising lineup for 2026. All-State shortstop C.J. Bonner has graduated, as have two other starters; but All-State catcher Grady Sickler leads a group of nine returning players with talent and experience. Blake Patereau, when healthy, is one of the top pitchers in 3A. Bryson Walker is an offensive table setter with game-changing speed. Wyatt Hurley is a run producer and Andy Alvarez is a strong two-way player. Look for freshman Nate Cool to make an immediate impact as a middle-of-the-order bat.
Cascade Christian is very young – with only one senior on the roster – but don’t let that fool you. The Challengers return almost all of their pitching, which recorded a team ERA of 2.19. This is the team to beat in 2026.
***
Dayton won 11 games last year but may be one of the most improved teams in 2026. The Pirates, headed by Reed Rainey, return all but one player, including junior infielder Nathan Coburn, and add speedy senior Asher Maxwell and three impact freshmen.
This will still be a young team whose best years lie ahead, but a strong defense with skill at key positions may have the Pirates fighting for a playoff spot as soon as this spring.
***
One year after graduating nine, Brookings-Harbor still made the playoffs. The Bruins, under longtime head coach Keith Wallin, are primed to make a big jump in 2026 back to the team that has been in the state semifinals or better three of the past five seasons.
Four returning All-League performers will anchor the team, including sophomore 1B Brody Bavaro, senior infielder Sammy Brouillard, junior infielder Aiden Holmes and senior pitcher Lincoln Rosenberg. The team will be very strong on the mound and play good defense and could see a newcomer or two make a significant impact.
***
Umatilla won a dozen games last season, the best showing by a Viking team in 15 years. The playoffs have been out of reach since 2008, but may be in play this season for coach Tracy Robertson’s squad.
Stolen base machine R.J. Estrada has graduated along with three others, but All-State OF David Garcia and record-setting pitcher Carter Griggs lead a contingent of five returning impact players. Add four heralded freshmen and, if Umatilla can get reliable pitching at the end of its rotation and in the pen, the Vikings could make the postseason dream a reality in 2026.
***
Six seniors, including all three outfielders, have departed a Sutherlin program that compiled a 9-15 record a year ago. The Bulldogs return all of their starting pitching, including seniors Cameron King, Jackson Tillett and Jake Narkiewicz; and have a large and exciting freshman group that has coach Bret Prock excited about the future.
Prock says that his charges are super coachable and have a “team-first” mentality. There will be struggles but this is a program on the rise.
***
Santiam Christian won 20 games last year and made the Second Round of the 3A playoffs. That would be a good year for most schools, but few have the history that the Eagles do: four state titles since 1999; three other state championship appearances; five additional semifinal appearances. Coach Matt Nosack has built quite the program in his 38 years.
Standout pitcher Josh Riddle has graduated, along with three starting outfielders, but six returning starters are sparking enthusiasm for a successful season. Junior catcher Chase Lewer and senior infielder Hunter Hedlund lead the returning group. Both were First Team All-League in 2025. Second Team pitcher Landon VanLueven also returns, as does senior Jace O’Malley, who was injured midway through the 2025 season.
There are new players joining the varsity who will make an impact, including sophomore OF Harrison Hedlund, who runs well and has some pop from the left side. With solid defense and a deep staff, Santiam Christian will make the playoffs once again and should be in the running to top Special District 3.
***
Taft allowed the fewest runs in the state en route to a 22-6 record and appearance in the 3A semifinals in 2025. The Tigers came within one run versus state champion Blanchet Catholic from making its first appearance in a state final.
Eleven seniors, seven of whom were starters, have graduated for Taft and head coach Dustin Hankins. Repeating last year’s success would appear to be a tall order, but Hankins believes his team has the guts to do just that. Start with senior LHP/1B Zack Hankins, the 3A Pitcher of the Year. Hankins set a state ERA record for a season in 2025, virtually ensuring a win whenever he takes the mound. The other lone returning starter is senior utility player Logan Lovel.
Coach Hankins says that several sophomores will make deep impacts for the Tigers, both on the mound and with their bat-to-ball skills at the plate. The staff should keep Taft in most games and the Tigers will score runs thanks to a well-balanced lineup with speed, power and a high contact approach.
***
It’s been a while since Valley Catholic has made a deep playoff run in baseball. Head coach Dan Cooper describes his team as gritty and one that will use small ball and solid pitching and defense to win games.
Three seniors who both pitched and were stalwarts on the infield have graduated from last year’s 10-14 team. This year’s edition will be young, with mostly juniors comprising the core. Brandon Yee, who pitches and plays both first and outfield, is a returning All-Conference pick. Freshman Jason Pike is an impact newcomer with a mature offensive game.
***
South Umpqua won its only state title in 2022. The Lancers have followed that up with a trip to the semis in 2023 and the quarterfinals last season. That’s a nice start to the career of coach Steve Stebbins, now in his ninth year.
The good news in Myrtle Creek is that only three seniors graduated from last year’s 19-9 squad. The bad news is one was Drew Camp, a First Team All-State performer and Far West League Player of the Year for his work at first and as a lefty hurler.
Four First Team All-League players do return, 2B Braxton Hamilton, LHP Logan Schwerdt, 3B/RHP Trace Esterbrook and OF/RHP Camden Black. Two Second Teamers also come back, SS Brock Wells and OF/LHP Talen Lamm. South Umpqua is combining with Days Creek this season and will get a boost by the additions of seniors Xane Hopkins and Camden Stufflebeam. The pitching is still developing after Schwerdt, but this is a Lancer team with the depth to find the right lineup and ride it deep into the playoffs.
***
Bo DeForest won 15 games in his first year coaching Vale. The Vikings went 10-2 in league play and made it to the second round of the state playoffs. Only two graduated and most of the impact players are back, making this a team with the ability to make a deep run in 2026.
OFs Tommy Rodriguez and Maddox Hartley and pitcher Cal Johnson all earned All-State recognition last spring. Tate Cook, Rocco Shafer, Peyton Hood and Kellen Hartley got All-League nods. This is a talented team with a deep bullpen. The sky is the limit, but it bears keeping in mind that Vale remains a young team with only two seniors on the roster.
2A/1A
Umpqua Valley Christian repeated as state champions in 2025, capturing the title as the No. 1 seed after a 24-win regular season.
Ty Hellenthal, the winning pitcher in the title tilt, is one of four who have graduated from longtime head coach Dave York’s team. That leaves the Monarchs with a strong returning core, including four All-State juniors, Caleb York, Teagan Sprague, Ryan Shaver and Max Chrisenberry. This is an athletic, baseball-smart group that loves playing with one another. Another successful season is in the offing.
***
Kennedy won 26 games in 2025 and came within one run of winning a state title for the third time in four years. Kevin Moffat’s Trojans graduated two key players, leadoff hitter Rylee Walker and RBI machine Kody Graves. The team does, however, return seven seniors and should be well positioned for another deep playoff run.
Pitchers Henry Beyer, Brody Panuke, Gio Vaquera, Jake Beyer and Colby Rich will be part of a very deep pitching staff that should determine this team’s success ratio. All also will be in the starting nine when not on the bump.
***
Central Linn won 11 games last year. One of the wins came versus Regis, a team it had not defeated in five years. The Cobras also made the league playoffs last year, a step in the right direction under second-year coach Ty Kohler.
Five seniors have graduated from Central Linn. The Cobras will be young in 2026, with just one senior, RHP Colton Northern. A strong junior class, headed by RHP/OF Jacob Helms; and a talented freshman group expected to produce from the start should put Central Linn on the path to success, taking one step this season while expecting even bigger things in 2027.
***
Regis won 19 games and made the playoffs a year ago. The Rans have a new coach, Jesse Eaton, and with only two having graduated, are looking forward to a strong year in 2026.
Regis returns four All-Conference quality starting pitchers and six All-Conference quality everyday players. Top players to watch include senior infielder Rook Smith, junior pitcher Owen Eaton and junior OF Korben Schumacher. All three received All-State recognition last spring. Add Hayden Lulay, Jake Bohnke, Ban Validates-Cormier and a quintet of capable freshmen and you have a team that expects to compete in all situations against all teams.
***
Rob Herder is the new head coach at Nestucca after the Bobcats won just five times last season. Nestucca brings back eight players with experience and should field a good pitching staff, led by seniors Eli Love and Jaxon Jensen; and juniors Owen Love, Jace Jensen and Brady Hurliman.
***
Crosshill Christian won 17 games last year in a season of firsts for the Eagle program. Until 2025, the team had never had a winning record and had never won a District playoff game. The next step for coach Ben Northrop’s team is qualifying for the state tournament. The team fell one spot short in 2025.
No player graduated off of last year’s squad. The Eagles will have League Player of the Year Miles Lute back as one of just two seniors. There is a very strong sophomore class, including Wesley Zorn, Tayden Isaacson, Johan Phillips, Carter Hinderks and Kaleb Koontz, all of whom achieved All-League recognition.
With deep pitching and aa roster that gained experience and confidence last year, Northrop said that the next steps include not only getting that state berth but also making a deep run in the playoffs. We will be watching…
***
Oakland went 5-17 a year ago. The Oakers, coached by Ben Lane, will be young, just as they were last year, but the team should be improved, thanks to a trio of talented freshmen and the experience of the returning players.
Karter Spencer, Kody Pfaff and Knox Brooksby are the newcomers. They will pitch and play infield and come into the program already with years of baseball experience. They should blend well with four returning Second Team All-League picks, senior Andrew Mason, juniors Tanner Swearingen and Shepard Brooksby and sophomore Jachai Myers. This is a team that should win more than last year due to improved pitching and overall team speed.
***
Culver has been a playoff team the past three years. In 2025, the Bulldogs had the best record in Special District 3 at 17-4 (tied with Regis) and finished 22-6 overall.
Four starters have graduated, including All-State infielder Houston Wittenberg, and their loss will be felt. Culver returns impact players Dakota Guest, Joel Taylor and Kapp Novelli, but Kyle Kuust’s team will be young and lacking in experience. The Bulldogs do have a large group out for the sport and there is strength in numbers. And the team will be versatile on the mound, which could present problems for opponents. Culver likely won’t match last year’s 22 wins, but it will compete from the start and improve as the season wears on.
***
Portland Christian entered the 2025 playoffs at 12-9 and the No. 19 overall seed, then shocked three higher-seeded teams on the road to reach the semifinals. Can the Royals repeat that feat?
Jack Mazurowski and Joseph Diesel, two middle-of-the-order bats and potent arms for head coach Kyle Wilson, have graduated, which hurts. But seven starters return, including Donovan Endres, Noah Humphrey, Pasquale Walker, Evan Satre and Keylon Kittleson; which gives Portland Christian the defense and experience it needs for another playoff run. Keep an eye on freshman Jackson “JR” Lottis, who should boost the offense with his middle-of-the-order bat.
***
Crosspoint Christian had a very successful 2025 as a first-year baseball program four years after the unification of Hosanna Christian and Triad. Coached by Casey Grimes, the Warriors went 12-16, qualified for the state playoffs and blanked Regis, 10-0, in Round 1.
The team had only two seniors last year, so expect improvement led by junior All-State returnee Nate Gibson.
***
2025 was a building year for Bandon, which won more than it lost the second half of the year to finish near .500 at 9-10. Only two part-time outfielders have graduated for coach Michael Hershberger’s team, so expect to see a Tiger team akin to those that made the state playoffs and won games between 2022-2024.
The returning core is headed by senior infielder Hayden Thompson and junior catcher Brennan Jones. There are nine juniors and seniors on the roster, so this is an experienced bunch that expects to contend for a league title and make more than a cameo appearance in the state bracket.
***
Garrett McPherson has taken over as head coach at Western Christian, which won just once last year; and he has a dream of elevating the Pioneer baseball program to the same status as the vaunted boys basketball team.
Western Christian graduated two, including All-League 1B Zach Sommer; but both will be part of the new coaching staff. Two sophomores, Noah Rice and Evan High, will lead the returning players. Both are infielders on a sophomore-dominated team that also will see an influx of talent from an athletic group of freshmen. It is said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Look for the Pioneers to take that step and a few more on their way to respectability, starting this season.
***
Heppner / Ione went 16-9 last year and won a playoff game before losing in Round 2 to eventual state runner up Kennedy. The Mustangs, coached by Tim Wiilkins, have been to the state playoffs the past five years, which has driven participation in the program.
Heppner lost three to graduation, two starting outfielders and Karver Wilkins, the 2024 league Player of the Year, who was limited in 2025 due to bulging disks in his back. Six starters return, including several who earned All-League recognition a year ago. Senior Ryan Haugen is the staff ace and one of just two seniors on the team. Junior infielder Caylan Proudfoot joined Haugen on the First Team. Junior infielder Alakae Rodriguez and sophomore OF Jace Wilson were Second Team picks. Senior Caleb George, a Swiss Army Knife player and strong leader, also returns.
Junior Brody McDaniel will join the rotation this spring after a strong off-season of work. This is an experienced bunch that will need to work through some early injuries before finding its stride as the season progresses.
***
Clatskanie was the third seed in the state playoffs before being ousted in Round 2 by surprising Portland Christian. The Tigers, under longtime head coach Ryan Tompkins, finished 19-5.
Four starters have now graduated, including cornerstone defenders Ben Blackwood and Brendan Shroll. Shroll also was a reliable arm, tossing 33 innings, third most on the team. That’s the bad news. The good news is the bulk of the team returns, including most of its deep impact players.
Lefties Luke Andreasen and Zack Mollenhour are back to lead the mound core. Both were First Team All-State picks for their offense. OF Cash Doney, a senior like Andreasen and Mollenhour; was an Honorable Mention All-State pick. Two more impact seniors, OFs Finn McDonald and Bode Shulda, also return. Junior Gunner Engen will take over for Blackwood behind the plate and should be strong defensively and with the stick. This is a good Clatskanie team, folks. Another high playoff seed is probable.
***
Jeff Miller’s 24-year run leading the Knappa Loggers is over, though he will still be involved. During his tenure, Knappa was a perennial title contender and four times a state champion. Trevor Oja is the new coach and he intends to adopt Miller’s approach of making the development of men a priority over the enhancement of baseball skills.
You can do both, as Knappa proved over the past two decades and last year, when the Loggers won 19 times before losing in the state semifinals. Five seniors graduated and they were good, but absence creates opportunity and Oja is excited to see what the next generation of Loggers can do. Knappa does return cornerstone players in junior Oliver Stevens and Ethan Olsen. Add senior Blake Miller, junior Owen Baldwin, sophomore Turner Hughes and freshman Blake Harrington and Knapps has the foundational pieces, barring injury, to contend in the league and state again this season.
***
Mohawk played its first year of league play last year after a few years playing as an Independent. The Mustangs had to build a temporary field to use and went 1-25.
No seniors graduated for coach Robert Watkins, who will have an experienced team for the first time. Look for seniors Nathan Watkins and Caleb Ogg to lead the way. Three other seniors, Jay Andrews, Justin Cassidy and Ashton Ehrmatrout; and junior Kamryn Langley; also will be key on a resilient team that will fight for wins in 2026.
***
Union / Cove was a senior group in 2025 in the throes of a successful 18-win season when it was stunned by Portland Christian in the opening round of the state playoffs. The Bobcats will reload rather than rebuild, relying on All-League returnees KJ Klebaum, Derek Miller and Jonah Jayne, as well as lots of young, talented athletes. Union / Cove may lose a few games this year due to the youth on the roster, but it will win more than it loses because of the talent those youngsters possess.
***
Toledo’s bad luck making the state playoffs extended to two straight years in 2025, as a 13-7 record found Bruce Marthaller’s Boomers one spot out of making the field yet again.
Five seniors have graduated including All-State picks Ayden Alekson and Kolby Coxen. They will be hard to replace. Toledo does bring back four impact juniors in Connor Mason, Braden Marthaller, Maddox Law and Riley Tyler. Mason, Marthaller and Tyler all played over the summer on the 20U American Legion Team out of Newport. They should help Toledo win its fair share of games in 2026.
***
Monroe / Alsea won 23 games last year and made the state quarterfinals without a senior on its roster. One player has transferred, but venerable coach Bill Crowson returns eight of nine starters on a team that now has the experience to make a deep playoff run.
Four of the returnees earned All-State honors last year, led by First Team catcher Owen Roberts, one of two impact seniors along with Asher Strand, who was Third Team as a DH. Junior Jesse Sexton was a Third Team pick as a pitcher and sophomore Aidan Strand also made the third team as an infielder.
That quartet is bolstered by sophomore Kyler Campbell, who was a Second Team All-League pitcher; and junior Sean Fanger, an Honorable Mention All-League outfielder. The Dragons have made the state playoffs 15 of the past 16 seasons, winning their only state title in 2014. They will be deeply in the mix this year.
***
Oakridge won 16 times in 2025 and played in its first state playoff game since 2018. The Warriors have a rich tradition in baseball, spawned by Jerry Snyder, who led the squad for 28 years in a Hall of Fame career.
Four All-League players are back for coach Joey Brissette, helping to mitigate the loss of five to graduation. Senior Jonathan Miller is the most acclaimed, while junior Mason Hogue also was a First Team All-League selection. Sophomores Rowdy Williams and Cole Walters were named to the Second Team. Defense will be a strength of this team in its quest to repeat its achievements of the 2025 season.
***
Country Christian / North Clackamas Christian won 16 games last year, including a first-round state playoff game versus Grant Union / Prairie City. The Cougars, coached by Matt Haring, have made the playoffs the past three seasons.
A fourth straight trip to the post-season is likely as Country Christian graduated just two. Key returning players include senior RHP Tyson Smith, the District 2 Pitcher of the Year; senior Jesse Hernandez, a First Team All-League infielder; and two more seniors, First Team outfielders Ethan Hiebenthal and Shane Allphin. Freshman Brayden Cooper will likely round out what should be a strong pitching staff.
***
There is excitement in Halfway, because Pine Eagle Charter is fielding a baseball team for the first time in more than 10 years. Gavin Dolence is the first-year head coach for the Spartans, who will field an athletic team using multi-sport participants, most of whom haven’t played competitive baseball in some years.
“We are excited to start this program back up as we have a strong little league program and now the kids can continue on into high school,” Dolence said.
***
St. Paul has a new head coach, Tim Crawford, but the same expectation: to be one of the elite 1A-sized schools competing in the 2A/1A classification.
Last year’s team posted a 14-8 record and won the season series over state runner-up Kennedy. The Buckaroos finished in the state top 10 for the fourth straight year.
St. Paul returns five starters and a total of eight players with varsity experience. A small school where numbers might be a problem, Edwards has 23 out for baseball this year, anchored by strong upperclassmen. The Bucks made the state semifinals in 2023. Can they make their first championship game appearance in program history in 2026?
johnt@osaa.org
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