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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2017)
Page 4 East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald 3A EASTERN OREGON LEAGUE T he additions of Burns and Irrigon will provide a boost to he level of competition in what already was a tough league to begin with. Defending champions Stanfield are still the team to beat, though, and bring back more starters and all-league selections than any other team. Returning 3A state Player of the Year Dylan Grogan leads a roster loaded with upperclassmen as the Tigers play their first year under Brad Rogers, who was elevated from assistant when longtime head coach Bryan Johnson stepped down. BASEBALL Projected Finish Stanfield Tigers Burns Hilanders Vale Vikings Irrigon Knights Nyssa Bulldogs Umatilla Vikings Joseph Eagles Riverside Pirates Wednesday, March 22, 2017 2016 Final Standings Conf. Stanfield 12-0 Nyssa 7-5 Vale 10-2 Joseph 4-8 Elgin 4-8 Umatilla 3-9 Riverside 2-10 Umatilla Vikings Returning All-League Players Ovr. 29-2 14-16 16-11 7-16 4-14 7-12 3-20 Stanfield — P/INF Dylan Grogan (POY), sr.; P/INF Brody Woods, jr.; C Thyler Monkus, sr.; 1B Ryan Bailey, sr.; INF Tony Flores, jr. Nyssa — C Blake Cleaver, sr.; OF JP Martinez, sr. Vale — P/INF Dawson Eddy, sr.; OF Marco Gomez, sr.; OF Dylan Kaschmitter, sr.; Elgin — INF Andrew Luse, jr.; UT Caleb Lathrop, jr. Stanfield’s Dylan Grogan (20) and Brody Woods embrace at home plate after Grogan scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th inning of the Tigers’ 5-4 win against Santiam Christian in the 2016 state 3A championship baseball game in Keizer. HEAD COACH: John Garrett, 1st year RETURNING START- ERS: CF/3B Diego Soto, sr.; OF/1B Jesse Hernandez Dela-Paz, sr.; 3B/P Seth Cranston, jr.; 2B/C Cody Samson, jr. OTHER RETURNERS: OF/P Kole Keller-Morris, jr.; OF/C Andrew Kuf- fler, so.; 1B/INF Justin Johannbroer, so.; SS/OF Josh Brown, SS/OF EO file photo 2017 Schedule 2017 Schedule March 14 at Touchet (WA) T 10-10 March 16 vs Touchet (WA) (2) L/L March 21 vs Union 4 p.m. March 24 vs Heppner 4 p.m. April 3 at Heppner 4 p.m. April 7 vs Irrigon (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 11 at Pilot Rock 4 p.m. April 15 vs Burns (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 18 at Riverside* 4 p.m. April 21 at Vale (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 28 at Nyssa (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 2 vs Riverside* 4 p.m. May 5 vs Stanfield (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 12 at Joseph (2)* 1/3 p.m. March 16 vs Tri-Cities (WA) 4 p.m. March 18 at DeSales (WA) 11 a.m. March 23 vs Pilot Rock 4:30 p.m. March 25 vs Weston-McEwen (2) 1/3 p.m. March 30 vs Jefferson (2, at The Dalles) Noon/2 p.m. April 1 vs Rainier (2) 1/3 p.m. April 7 at Burns (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 11 vs Irrigon* 4 p.m. April 14 at Nyssa (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 18 at La Grande 4 p.m. April 21 vs Riverside (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 25 at Irrigon* 4 p.m. April 28 at Joseph (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 2 at Baker 3:30 p.m. May 5 at Umatilla (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 12 vs Vale (2)* 1/3 p.m. Stanfield Tigers EO file photo Irrigon pitcher Austin Rice follows through on a pitch during a game against Lost River last season in Irrigon. Irrigon Knights HEAD COACH: Randy Henrichs, 3rd year RETURNING START- ERS: P/INF Austin Rice, sr.; OF Hayden White, sr.; INF Adrian Roa, jr.; INF Johnny Phillips, jr.; UT Nate Gumbert, jr.; INF Zack Henrichs, so. OTHER RETURNERS: INF Tanner Mills, jr; OF Lino Covarrubia, 2017 Schedule March 14 at Pilot Rock W 9-5 March 21 vs Pilot Rock 4 p.m. March 25 at Heppner (2) 11 a.m./1 p.m. March 28 vs TBD 11 a.m. March 28 vs TBD 12:30 p.m. March 29 vs TBD 11 a.m. March 29 vs TBD 2 p.m. April 7 at Umatilla (2)* 1/3 p.m. April 11 at Stanfield* 4 p.m. April 14 vs Joseph (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 21 at Burns (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 25 vs Stanfield* 4 p.m. April 28 vs Vale (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 5 at Nyssa (2)* 1/3 p.m. May 12 vs Riverside (2)* 1/4 p.m. A longtime assistant takes the reins as the defending 3A state champion Tigers look for another deep run in the state postseason. Senior pitcher Dylan Grogan was the state’s Player of the Year in 2016, and is back along with 12 other upperclassmen to give the Tigers a formi- dable core lineup. HEAD COACH: Brad Rogers, 1st year ASSISTANT COACHES: Scott Morris, 10th year; Trevor Morris, 3rd year; Derek Monkus, 1st year RETURNING STARTERS: 1B/P Ryan Bailey, sr.; IF/P Dylan Grogan, sr.; SS/P Tony Flores, sr.; C/OF Thyler Monkus, sr.; OF Justin Keeney, jr.; UT Adrian Renner, jr.; IF/P Brody Woods, jr. OTHER RETURNERS: 1B/OF Shayne Keltz, jr.; UT Makiah Blankenship, jr. IMPACT NEWCOMERS: OF/P Klay Jensen, sr.; 1B/P Hunter Barnes, sr; 3B/2B T.J. Smith, jr. SEASON GOALS: Improve every day, win league and district championships, and make a push in the playoffs. ROGERS’ KEY TO THE SEASON: “Getting better every day, regardless Riverside Pirates Longtime basketball coach and athletic director Clair Costello will coach his fourth sport at Riverside this season. The Pirates have several returning starters and are looking for improvement after a three-win season in 2016. HEAD COACH: Clair Costello, 1st year ASSISTANT COACH: Sean Shimer, 1st year RETURNING STARTERS: C Sterling Bither, jr.; OF Mason Hegar, jr.; IF Aramis Corpus, jr.; IF Andruw Sorensen, jr.; OF Ulises Calvillo, jr.; OF Anthony Rodelo, so. OTHER SENIORS: Marvin Calvillo, Kyler Sorensen, Marino Pena, Andrew Martinez SEASON GOALS: Learning the game of baseball through fundamentals. COSTELLO’S KEY TO THE SEASON: “To stay positive and play hard everyday.” BIGGEST STRENGTHS: The Pirates may not be a large team, but they’re committed to a team-first attitude, staying positive and are willing to learn. Heppner Mustangs HEAD COACH: Andy Stelk, 1st year ASSISTANT COACH: Tim Wilkins, 1st year RETURNING STARTERS: 3B Tim Jaca, sr.; 3B Lane Wilhelm, sr.; SS Coby Dougherty, jr.; UT Kevin Smith, jr.; UT Wyatt Steagall, jr. OTHER RETURNERS: UT Beau Wolters, jr. OTHER SENIORS: UT Kaden Corbin IMPACT NEWCOMERS: IF Payton Lehman, jr.; IF/OF Keegan Gibbs, so.,; UT Matt Orem, fr.; UT Tyler Canter, fr.; UT Kannon Wilkins, fr. SEASON GOALS: Coming off a five-win campaign in 2016, the Mustangs are focusing on getting better every day and becoming more competitive in 2017. STELK’S KEY TO THE SEASON: “Work hard every day and focus.” BIGGEST STRENGTHS: Stelk said not only are Mustangs working hard, they’re working together and supporting each other off the field. March 24 at Umatilla 4 p. m. March 25 vs Irrigon (2) 11 a.m./1 p.m. March 31 vs Kennedy (2) Noon/2 p.m. April 3 vs Umatilla 4 p.m. April 11 at Dufur (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 15 vs Weston-McEwen (2)*11 a.m./1 p.m. April 18 at Culver (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 22 vs Pilot Rock (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. April 25 at Grant Union (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. April 29 vs Elgin (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. May 6 vs Union (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. March 13 March 17 March 17 March 21 March 24 March 28 March 29 April 3 April 7 April 14 April 18 April 21 April 28 May 1 May 2 May 5 May 8 May 12 Pilot Rock Rockets The Mustangs have a new head coach and lot of new faces looking to make an impact in the lineup. 2017 Schedule of opponents and weather. There are a lot of things that we will not be able to control, but we will focus on the three things that we can: attitude, concentra- tion, and effort.” BIGGEST STRENGTHS: With so many upperclassmen, the Tigers are second to none in experience and have a great understanding of the intricacies of the game. That also gives them a deep bench and deep bullpen with nine players capable of throwing from the mound. They’ve been together since tee-ball, and Rogers said it’s like a family in the dugout. 2017 Schedule March 14 vs Irrigon L 9-5 March 17 vs Joseph (2) W/L March 21 at Irrigon 4 p.m. March 23 at Stanfield 4:30 p.m. April 8 at Weston-McEwen (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. April 11 vs Umatilla 4 p.m. April 15 at Grant Union (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. April 18 vs Sherman (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 22 at Heppner (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. April 25 vs Elgin (2)* 2/4 p.m. April 29 at Dufur (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. May 6 vs Culver (2)* 11 a.m./1 p.m. May 12 vs Union (2)* Noon/2 p.m. HEAD COACH: Shane Leasy, 1st year ASSISTANT COACH- ES: Kris Thieme, 1st year; Skylar Leasy, 1st year RETURNING STARTERS: OF/1B Josh Willingham, sr.; C/ OF Chris Weinke, jr.; P/SS Levi Thieme, jr.; SS/P Bryson Pierce, jr.; UT Sean Simmons, so.; 3B/P Braydon Postma, so. NEWCOMERS: Joe St. Pierre, sr.; Cade Munkers, so.; Logan Weinke, fr.; Cody Hill, fr.; Austin Drake, fr.; Ty Dick, fr.; Payton Thurmond, fr.; Quinton Orr, fr.; Steven Bautista, fr.; Ben Combs, fr.; Michael Van Pelt, fr. PHOTO CAPTION: The Rockets’ Braydon Postma winds up for a pitch during a game against Jo- seph this season in Pilot Rock. Staff photo by Kathy Aney Weston-McEwen TigerScots HEAD COACH: Corey Thacker, 2nd year RETURNING STARTERS: OF Shaw Broncheau, sr.; 3B Brendan Dearing, sr.; C James West, sr ; 1B/P Hunter Sater, sr.; SS Brett Speed, jr. OTHER RETURNERS: 1B Jordan Runnels, sr.; SS Parker Munck, jr.; 1B Gavin Smith, jr.; C/OF Garrett Shell, jr.; OF/P Travis Hendley, jr. 2017 Schedule March 21 vs Mac-Hi March 25 at Stanfield (2) March 28 vs Scio (at Riverside) March 29 vs TBD (at Riverside) April 8 vs Pilot Rock (2)* April 11 vs Sherman (2)* April 15 at Heppner (2)* April 18 vs Dufur (2)* April 25 at Union (2)* April 29 at Culver (2)* May 6 vs Elgin (2)* May 13 at Grant Union (2)* 4 p.m. 1/3 p.m. 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 11 a.m./1 p.m. 2/4 p.m. 11 a.m./1 p.m. 2/4 p.m. 2/4 p.m. 11 a.m./1 p.m. 11 a.m./1 p.m. 11 a.m./1 p.m. 2017 Schedule vs Dufur 4 p.m. vs Kennedy 11 a.m. vs Columbia (WA) 4:30 p.m. at Dayton (WA) 4 p.m. at Columbia (WA) 3:30 p.m. vs TBD (Columbia Bash) 1 p.m. vs TBD (Columbia Bash) 11 a.m./2 p.m. vs Mac-Hi 4 p.m. vs Nyssa (2)* 1/3 p.m. vs Vale (2)* 1/3 p.m. vs Umatilla* 4 p.m. at Stanfield (2)* 1/3 p.m. at Burns (2)* 2/4 p.m. at Mac-Hi 4 p.m. at Umatilla* 4 p.m. vs Joseph (2)* 1/4 p.m. at Dufur 4:30 p.m. at Irrigon (2)* 1/4 p.m. 2A/1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 6 T wo small-school districts are combined for one nine-team league this season, and both league champions have moved up to Class 3A, which should creat a lot of opportunity and excitement for the new league season. Projected Finish Sherman Huskies Weston-McEwen TigerScots Pilot Rock Rockets Dufur Rangers Elgin Huskies Grant Union Prospectors Culver Bulldogs Heppner Mustangs Union Bobcats 2016 Final Standings SD6 Conf. Irrigon 10-2 Dufur 6-6 Sherman 8-4 Heppner 4-7 Ovr. 18-6 12-15 17-8 5-13 Culver 1-10 6-14 SD7 Burns Ovr. 25-5 19-9 17-9 9-16 0-19 Conf. 12-0 Weston-McEwen 8-4 Pilot Rock 6-6 Grant Union 3-8 Union 0-11
