History repeats itself:
Huskies come up a win shy

North Marion takes
Experience an asset for Cougars

By Sean Patterson
Canby Herald

If experience counts for something, then count on the Canby High School baseball team to make a charge at a Pacific-9 Conference baseball title this spring.

The bulk of his varsity team returning, head coach Marty Hunter is understandably confident as the Cougars prepare for their season opener against Lakeridge on March 12.

At the same time, he's taking a cautious approach, knowing full well this game is about as predictable as Oregon's spring weather.

"This is a good, solid group, but we're also a little banged up right now," admits Hunter, now in his seventh year with the program. "We're also still in the midst of trying to figure out who will fit best where. Fundamentally, this is a sound group, and we have three decent pitchers who have already proven themselves in school and legion ball.

''It'll be interesting, particularly in league play. I don't think you'll see one team like Forest Grove dominate like it did last year. There should be a lot more parity.''

The Cougars wound up third in the conference race last year, posting a 10-7 Pac-8 mark, but they didn't last long in the Class 4A playoffs, dropping a first-round game to Redmond.

The vast majority of that team is back, including three pitchers who logged a significant number of innings last spring.

First a foremost, junior all-league outfielder Josh Cushing is back after hitting .430 and playing solid in the field. He played some third base last year and will likely be a fixture there this season.

And, when he isn't at the hot corner, he'll probably be on the mound. Cushing, a right-hander, figures to be the team's go-to pitcher, along with fellow righty Marco Zamora and left-hander Marcos Quintero. None of them throw particularly hard, but all possess good control and finesse.

"They won't blow batters away, but they have nice command of their pitches," Hunter said. "We'll rely on them pretty heavily, but we have a bunch of guys who can throw."

Among others, senior Garret Miyake may see time on the mound when he isn't chasing grounders as a shortstop. He primarily played second base last season but will make the shift to the left side of the infield.

On the right side, Hunter figures to go with Quintero at first and either senior Blake Holmes or junior Brett Henry at second. On those occasions Quintero is throwing, junior Hunter Benedict, who missed all of last season with a broken hand, can take over first base.

Canby also has experience returning in senior outfielder Jake Norquist, perhaps the team's biggest base-stealing threat; junior Drew Bayless, an outfielder trying to shake off a shoulder injury; junior Jess Driggers, a possible third baseman or designated hitter; and senior Steve Young, an outfielder/pitcher recuperating from a compression fracture to his spine.

In addition to the three primary hurlers, Canby will look to Henry, Miyake, Young or varsity newcomers Tyler Christler or Brett Bailie to log time on the mound.

"Like I said, we've got kids who can throw," the coach said. "Obviously, those first three guys will do the most, but we also have some younger kids, like juniors Blake DuPont and Grant Kruft, who can pitch. I'd say we've improved our pitching depth over the past year. We look kind of young on paper, but we've got young guys with experience."

In fact, the Cougars have a number of players who could potentially make an impact at the varsity level. That list includes juniors Jefferson Coyle, DuPont, Kruft and Matt Oss, and sophomores Chris Kyllo, Michael Lockwood and Chris Sandner.

Still another sophomore, Jason McCall, may compete for the starting catching job.

As a team, the Cougars figure to challenge defending league champion Forest Grove and runner-up Tualatin for a league crown. Last year, Canby played right with those teams, as five of the six games against those two clubs were either one-run games or decided in the final inning.

Huskies hope to carry on
winning tradition with
revamped lineup

It is hard to replace legends. And this baseball season, that is exactly what North Marion High School baseball Randy Brack coach has to do.

Replacing the last two Class 3A players of the year, Tucker Brack and Kory Casto, as well as all-state player Derek Marsh and all-leaguer Ryan Paradis, is not going to be an easy task.

As a matter of fact, it is an impossible task. But Brack isn't worried about replacing them. He is more concerned about scoring runs and playing good defense.

"One of the things we were able to do in the past was help our pitchers with outstanding defense," he said, "so we are going to have to solidify that. We have to make the routine plays so our pitchers don't have to feel they have to strike out every batter.

''We are also going to have to manufacture runs this year. We can't sit around and wait for the big home run like we were able to do last year.''



Pitching is definitely going to be a strength for the Huskies. The squad returns two all-league hurlers in Jeremy Miller (first team) and Bryan Goff (second team) as well as Adam Kraft.

Goff and Kraft were integral parts of the AAA Legion team that went all the way to the state tournament last summer, and Brack expects that experience to pay off for the two.

''I like our pitching staff,'' he said. "We have two all-leaguers back, and during the summer Adam stepped up huge for us. We are going into the season with three pretty good arms. I feel real good about them, and I am expecting those guys to step up and have good years. Adam and Bryan pitched in some huge games this past summer against some very good players. That experience is going to help them big time."

North Marion also has some key returning lettermen.

The outfield will be anchored by junior Kyle Castor, whom Brack believes is a true outfielder.

"Castor is going to be the rock out there for us," he said. "He will be out there every day. Last season, he showed some flashes of brilliance and then did a good job in the summer. Hopefully all those at-bats last summer will help him this season at the plate."

When Miller and Goff are not on the mound, they will fill the other outfield positions.

The infield will have a completely look this year, and Brack isn't quite sure how it shapes up. "Kraft and Ty (Brack) will be in the infield," he said. "I don't know what I'm going to do with them. When Adam is pitching, then people are going to have to be moved around and I don't know yet who the others will be to fill the holes."

The leading candidate behind the plate may just be junior Derek Doubrava, but Brack likes his versatility and ability to play other positions as well.

"Derek is very versatile and can play a few other positions," the coach said. "He's a tough kid, and with his versatility we may use him in several positions. There is also a freshman, Jacob Lambert, that looks pretty good, so I'm really not sure how that position is going to work out."

With the basketball team's success, coach Brack has been able to look at some younger players.

"I am getting a good to look at a lot of the younger guys and see where the pieces are going to fall," Brack said. "The preseason games are just going to be extended practices. The real season starts when league starts. The biggest question mark for this team will be the offense.

''The mesh with the group that graduated last year was outstanding. Casto's 16 home runs doesn't just get replaced. We are dealt a different hand for the first time in a while, now we just have to get it to work in our favor."

One advantage these younger players have had is watching what has taken place over the last four years. With three state semifinal and a quarterfinal appearance the last four years, winning is expected.

"These kids expect to win, and that is nice," Brack said. "When you have kids that go out there and expect it, it makes a huge difference. I am really fortunate that they have that mental attitude."

When looking at the Capital Conference race, Brack said it is going to be wide open for the first time in a long time.

"A lot of the coaches in the league are still gonna probably look at us," he said. "Traditionally, we have always been good, but I think the team with the most talent coming back is Central. They were very young last year and now they have more experience. Cascade will be tough and Sisters has a couple of outstanding players coming back.

''The league is really wide open, and I think that is the way the rest of the teams think. There will probably be some teams that step up and win some games that people won't think will. I don't see any real weak teams. The league could really beat up on each other this year.''

The Huskies have another loaded preseason schedule with games against Class 4A power Madison along with Philomath, who beat North Marion in last year's state semifinals. They also play perennial playoff teams Newport, Baker, Grant Union and Pleasant Hill.

The Huskies open the season on Monday, March 12, at home against Madison.

Canby has numbers on its side

A number of familiar names will be taking to the track when the Canby High School track and field team opens its season at a David Douglas Invitational on Thursday, March 15.

Once again, the Cougars have numbers and boast experience, with some 80 boys and 45 girls turning out for preseason workouts as of last week. And, as the season draws nearer, those figures should only rise as winter sports and other activities come to an end.

Such a big turnout will allow the Cougars to cover each event and give head coach Tom Millbrooke plenty of depth as he tries to assess who fits best where.

"We're still going through that process, and we'll continue to go through it as more kids come out," Millbrooke said of assessing the team.

"The bottom line is, we'll cover events well and should be one of those teams battling for a high district placing. A lot will depend on the usual factors - turnout, injuries and the progress of our athletes as the season goes along."

On the boys' side, the Cougars return the bulk of their scorers in the throws, pole vault and the hurdle events.

In fact, two of the team's three state qualifiers are back in hurdlers Rob Bolton and Spencer Porter, who reached state in the 110-yard high hurdles and 300 intermediates, respectively.

The squad also has depth in the throws, with the likes of Michael Eiker, Aaron Johnson, Brian Sauvain and Kevin Downing returning. Eiker specializes in the shot put, while Johnson can throw the shot, discus and javelin. Both Sauvain and Downing figure to be factors in the javelin.

Two of the team's best pole vaulters from last year are also back in the form of senior Richard Walker and junior Devin Deller.

Unfortunately, not all the news is good for Canby, as the team graduated one of the state's best distance runners in Eric Logsdon, tops at the 4A level in the 1,500 and 3,000 meters last spring.

Filling his big shoes will be a group that includes Kurt Sommer, Matt Zwicker, Jason Parker and Buck Stone. Stone, Zwicker and Parker all ran cross country in the fall, while Sommer is a soccer player who should factor in the 800 and 1,500.

"Obviously, the graduation of Eric is a big loss, but we have our share of returning lettermen," Millbrooke said. "You don't replace a kid like Eric, and that's not what I'm asking these kids to do."

Canby will also look to Erik Martinez to score points in the long jump (he cleared 21 feet at district last year), and hope senior David Roberts can score consistently in the triple jump.

On the track, look for Derek Gitts, Erik Wiesehan and Jon Freid to run the sprints and relays. Millbrooke also likes what he sees in high jumpers Bolton and Doug Burnett, although Burnett has struggled with injuries.

Canby's girls aren't quite as loaded when it comes to numbers and overall experience, but they too have their fair share of proven performers.

First and foremost, the Cougars return one of the state's best pole vaulters in senior Bethanie Evans. She holds the school record in that event (10 feet, 6 inches) and she placed sixth at state a year ago. She can also run relays.

Canby also has a proven pole vaulter and relay runner in Lindsey Morgan and will cover the other jumping events well with Michelle Boeckman in the high jump, Corrina Marcotte in the triple jump and Desa Swaim in the long jump.

Swaim can also run the sprints, where the Cougars will rely heavily on Julie Garcia.

"We have a few kids who can run the sprints and relays, but we're still sorting that list out," Millbrooke said.

In contrast, Canby is deep when it comes to the distances, where several of the girls who helped Canby win a Pacific-9 Conference district cross country title are out for the team.

Among those covering the distance between 800 and 3,000 meters are Jean-Marie Peterson, a district champ in cross country, and fellow cross country standouts Jessica Johnston, Zoe Anton and Lexi Newman.

Likewise, Canby covers the throws well, with Kacy Goettel in the shot put, Julia Hill in the discus and Danielle Palmer in the javelin all returning to the fold.

As always, Tigard, Tualatin, McMinnville and Newberg figure to be the primary teams Canby will have to contend with in duals and the district meet.