SPORTS
A10 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2019
Hermiston’s Ramirez
taking his game to
California
good season and I’m looking
forward to it.”
The Bulldogs struggled in
Jordan Ramirez was a their fi rst year in the MCC,
standout football, basketball but Ramirez said the quality
and baseball player at Herm- of pitching he faced will help
iston High School, but the him at the next level.
“The Washington kids
recent graduate put his focus
on baseball his junior year in throw fast and know where
hopes of getting a chance to to place the ball,” Ramirez
said. “I think what really
play at the college level.
threw me off was all the
That day has come.
left-handed
pitch-
Ramirez signed to
ers — and their ball
play at Santa Barbara
moves.”
City College three
Blue Mountain
weeks ago after mak-
and Columbia Basin
ing a visit to the Cali-
College in Pasco
fornia school.
showed interest in
“I went for a visit
Ramirez, but he was
and it was nice,”
Ramirez
hoping for a little
Ramirez said. “The
more. Moore was
coach (Jeff Walker)
was really cool. I had inter- able to help him out.
“When you are in a coach-
est from Blue Mountain, and
no offense, but this is a better ing community, you know
coaches in certain areas,”
experience.”
Led by pitcher Ian Chur- Moore said. “I called around,
chill, the Vaqueros fi nished and someone gave me the
24-15 last year, including name of the Santa Barbara
a 13-7 record in the West- coach. They had a couple of
ern State Conference North. openings. I made the connec-
They have reached the play- tion, it was up to him.”
Moore said Ramirez, who
offs nine consecutive years.
Ramirez is coming off his also pitched a few innings
senior year, where he was a this past season, is well
fi rst-team all-Mid-Columbia suited for the outfi eld.
“There is space for him to
Conference outfi elder. He hit
.396 and struck out just four roam,” Moore said. “He has
a lot of range and a strong
times in 48 at-bats.
“Jordan deserves to go arm. This will be a good
play (at the college level),” opportunity for him. In Cal-
Hermiston coach Kevin ifornia, you can play all year
Moore said. “It also lets peo- around.”
Ramirez, who plans to
ple in the Hermiston com-
munity know that a kid can study business, knows he
go play college baseball. couldn’t have reached the
It makes our program look next level without a little
help, and he was quick to
good.”
The 5-foot-11, 170-pound give credit to his coaches
Ramirez, who was a receiver along the way.
“I want to thank coach
in football and a guard on the
basketball team, said it will (Lance) Hawkins and coach
be good for him to focus on (John) Christy for believing
in me my sophomore year
just one sport.
“I can’t wait to get down and helping me develop my
there and show my skills,” game,” Ramirez said. “And
he said. “Since my junior coach Moore, for making me
year, I chose baseball to be trust the system. I learned a
my main priority. I had a lot of things from him.”
By ANNIE FOWLER
STAFF WRITER
Staff photo by Ben Lonergan
Hermiston’s Robert Sloan makes a handoff to a fellow player during a drill on the fi rst day of Hermiston football practice
Wednesday afternoon.
Hermiston football opens camp
By ANNIE FOWLER
STAFF WRITER
When 118 high school
guys show up for football
practice at 5 a.m., that is
commitment.
Hermiston coach David
Faaeteete was pleased to
see so many players bright-
eyed and bushy tailed last
week as the sun was rising.
“It was super energetic,”
Faaeteete said on Aug.
21. “They were all on the
same fi eld and had a lot of
energy. It brought smiles to
the coaches’ faces. It was
fun with a lot of positive
energy. Not a bad fi rst day.”
The players weathered
a strong wind and rain in
the afternoon practice ses-
sion, but they did not seem
to care.
“Honestly, by the grace
of God, we got a bad day,”
senior Garrett Walchli said
of the weather. “You fi nd
out who the dogs are, and
who the pups are. We’ve
been training and lifting,
and to fi nally get the hel-
mets on, that is the fi rst
step. I think kids are getting
an idea of what Hermiston
football is all about.”
The Bulldogs, who will
be entering their second
season in Mid-Columbia
Conference, are having to
replace their backfi eld with
the loss of three-year start-
ing quarterback Andrew
James, and running back
Wyatt Noland. The second-
ary also was depleted by
graduation.
There will be battles for
all jobs.
“I’ve been in this coach-
ing game 11 or 12 years,
and you don’t know what
you have until you get
into camp,” Faaeteete said.
“Other teams have to get
ready too. Other teams lost
players, but we lost the
most.”
Walchli and senior
offensive lineman Dustyn
Coughlin said senior lead-
ership will be key until the
younger players learn the
ropes.
“You see the older kids
dancing and feeling good,”
Walchli said. “We have
worked for this moment.
Now we need to see who
will fi ll the spots — who
will step up. We are here to
help them.”
The Bulldogs open the
season Sept. 6 against Pasco
at Edgar Brown Stadium.
The volleyball team will
open its season Sept. 7,
hosting Walla Walla.
The boys and girls
cross-country teams also
began practice Monday, as
did the girls soccer team.
The girls swim team was in
the pool Tuesday.
The girls soccer team
begins MCC action Sept. 7
against Kamiakin at Lamp-
son Stadium in Kennewick.
The cross-country teams
will have their fi rst meet
Sept. 7, hosting the Runner
Soul XC Fest.
The swimmers will be
in the pool in Richland on
Sept. 6 for a twilight meet.
Complete schedules for
all teams can be found at
www.mid-columbiaconfer-
ence.com.
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