Polk County
Sports
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Polk County Itemizer-Observer • June 10, 2015 10A
2015 ITEMIZER-OBSERVER ALL-REGION BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10
Baseball: American Le-
gion: Demarini Dirtbags at
Canyon Crushers (DH), TBA.
Division I Junior Baseball:
North Salem at Dallas, 6
p.m. Division II Junior Base-
ball: Dallas at Lebanon, 6
p.m.
Taking his chance
Senior ready for next step
THURSDAY, JUNE 11
Baseball: Division I Jun-
ior Baseball: Dallas at Cas-
cade, 6 p.m. Division II Jun-
ior Baseball: Dallas at
South Salem, 5 p.m.
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Baseball: American Le-
gion: Medford at Demarini
Dirtbags (DH), noon. Divi-
sion I Junior Baseball: Cen-
tral at South Albany, 4 p.m.
DALLAS — Dallas pitcher Logan Hatley’s high school ca-
reer didn’t end the way he had hoped.
But his journey made him the Dragons’ top starter for
the second season in a row. Hatley went 6-2 on the pitch-
er’s mound. He gave up just 10 earned runs for a 1.19 ERA,
the lowest among the Dragons’ starters. He also gave up
just 38 hits, holding opponents to batting .182. Hatley also
led Dallas with 102 strikeouts and was named the Mid-
Willamette Conference’s Pitcher of the Year for the second-
straight season.
It’s all these accomplishments that makes Hatley the
Itemizer-Observer’s Player of the Year for the 2015 season.
—
While Hatley’s high school career may be finished, he’s
hoping this is just the beginning of something special.
From the moment he played T-ball, there was little ques-
tion what sport was Hatley’s favorite.
Yet, as he turned 10 and players began settling in posi-
tions, Hatley felt unhappy with his role.
See HATLEY, Page 11A
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Baseball: American Le-
gion: Eugene at Demarini
Dirtbags (DH), 2 p.m.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Baseball: Division I Jun-
ior Baseball: Dallas at
Sprague, 5 p.m. Corvallis at
Central, 6 p.m. Division II
Junior Baseball: Dallas at
Crescent Valley, 6 p.m.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Baseball: American Le-
gion: Demarini Dirtbags at
Corvallis, 7 p.m. Division II
Junior Baseball: Sprague at
Dallas, 6 p.m.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Baseball: American Le-
gion: Corvallis at Demarini
Dirtbags (DH), 2 p.m. Divi-
sion I Junior Baseball:
Lebanon at Dallas, 6 p.m.
Crescent Valley at Central, 6
p.m.
—
By The Numbers
Schedules Subject to Change
QUICK HITS
Learn to row at
Riverview Park
INDEPENDENCE — Inde-
pendence Riverview Park
will play host to Learn to
Row Weekend Saturday and
Sunday.
Local rowing club mem-
bers will be provide two
days of classes designed to
teach people how to row in
four- and eight-person row-
ing shells.
Cost is $25 and includes
two lunches, instruction
and all necessary equip-
ment.
For more information:
Natalie Jennings, Salem
Rowing Club President,
702-759-9206 or visit
www.facebook.com/salem-
rowing2.0.
Wolves hold
fundraiser
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon University held its
29th annual Wolves Athletic
Auction May 30.
The event had more than
320 guests and raised more
than $60,000 for scholar-
ships for WOU student-ath-
letes.
WOU graduate Katherine
Cook hosted the event,
while cross-country and
track and field athlete
Stephanie Stuckey also
spoke about the impact of
scholarships and support.
"This year's Wolves Ath-
letic Auction was unique in
many ways,” WOU athletics
director Barbara Dearing
said. “From an increase in
attendance to the standing
ovation for Stephanie
Stuckey's story, where she
shared what her athletic
and educational experience
has meant to her at WOU,
all of these provided an en-
ergy and excitement to this
year's event.
www.polkio.com
1.19
4
102
Hatley’s Earned
Run Average dur-
ing the 2015 sea-
son. The mark
was the lowest
for Dallas.
The number of
complete games
Hatley threw
during his senior
season with the
Dragons.
The number of
strikeouts Hatley
recorded during
the 2015 season,
the most for Dal-
las.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Senior Logan Hatley earned the Mid-Willamette Conference’s Pitcher of the Year honors for the second season in a row.
PREP HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
CLASS 5A PREP SOFTBALL
Football coach thrives in dual role at CHS
away from Dallas
Hedrick having a blast Perkins stepping
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
INDEPENDENCE —
Central football coach
Shane Hedrick is getting
ready to learn.
Hedrick will serve as one
of the South team’s assistant
coaches at the Les Schwab
Tires Bowl, an all-star foot-
ball game for high school
seniors in
Class 5A
and 6A on
Ju n e 2 0 .
The Pan-
ther’s Al-
b e r t o
Meza and
Wes Rid-
dell and
Hedrick
Dallas’
Spencer McCarron will see
game action.
“With those three boys
representing the commu-
nities, it’s going to be a lot
of fun for myself as a
coach,” Hedrick said. “I’m
going to spend a week with
some of the best coaches
in the state of Oregon and
some of the best football
players in the state of Ore-
gon.”
The experience is as valu-
Les Schwab Bowl
What: Les Schwab Tires Bowl.
When: June 20, 6 p.m.
Where: Hillsboro Stadium, Hillsboro.
Tickets: Adults, $15; students/seniors $12 reserved; $8 and
$6 general admission.
Local participants: CENTRAL — Wes Riddell (running
back/defensive back), Alberto Meza (offensive/defensive line),
Shane Hedrick (assistant coach). DALLAS — Spencer McCar-
ron (tight end).
Next week: Look for a story on local players participating
in the game in the June 17 issue of the Itemizer-Observer.
able for Hedrick as it is for
the athletes playing.
“Working with the coach
from Sheldon High School
(and being able) to see
what they do at one of the
top 6A programs is very
educational,” Hedrick said.
“It does a lot of good when
you open your eyes and
see what your colleagues
are doing. It’s a lot of fun
and a good learning expe-
rience.”
But as the Les Schwab
Bowl provides a bridge be-
tween school years for
Hedrick, his work extends
far beyond on the football
field.
—
When Hedrick agreed to
become Central’s athletic
director in 2006, one thing
was made clear — it was
temporary.
“When I signed on as
(athletic director), it was for
a one-year stint to fill the
gap,” Hedrick said. “They
had gone through four ADs
in consecutive years, so I
said sure, I will (step in).”
One year turned into two.
Before long, Hedrick’s post
wasn’t so temporary any-
more.
“Here I am doing it on
year 10,” Hedrick said.
While he may be enjoying
his post, there are things he
misses from his days as a
teacher.
See HEDRICK, Page 12A
Coach confident the Dragons
are set up for future success
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
DALLAS — The Dallas
High softball team will be led
by a new face come next
spring.
DHS Athletic Director Tim
Larson an-
nounced
Saturday
that Al
Perkins has
stepped
down as
the Drag-
ons coach.
“ We l l ,
Perkins
I’m finish-
ing up my work in January
at church and so I’m at a
point of transition with my
work,” Perkins said. “Things
are a little bit up in the air
with what I’m doing in the
spring. Although we had six
seniors graduate this year,
there will be several new
players coming into the
program and several excel-
lent candidates to take over
www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209
Mon -Fri 8am - 6pm • Sat 8am - 5pm
DALLAS 121 Main St • 503-623-8155
INDEPENDENCE 1710 Monmouth St • 503-838-6340
www.LesSchwab.com
Perkins File
• Al Perkins coached the
Dallas softball team for six
seasons.
• The Dragons advanced
to the OSAA Class 5A state
quarterfinals twice in 2012
and 2013.
• Dallas finished 16-10
overall and 15-6 in Mid-
Willamette
Conference
play during the 2015 sea-
son. The Dragons ad-
vanced to the state play-in
round before falling to
North Eugene 2-1.
(as coach).”
Perkins coached Dallas for
six seasons. He advanced to
the OSAA Class 5A state
play-in round during his
final two seasons.
The Dragons finished the
2015 season with a 16-10
record overall and went 15-
6 in Mid-Willamette Con-
ference play to place third
in the league standings.
See PERKINS, Page 12A
www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports