By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
STAYTON, Ore.– Monday afternoon signaled the start of the Spring Sports Season around Oregon. Opening Day as some would coin it as team’s begin preparation for their Spring campaigns that begin here in about two weeks.
And for Stayton’s Colton Connally, the Opening Day signals the start of the last first day of practice for baseball.
“It’s awesome, I couldn’t ask for more,” Connally starts. “The team’s great friends are great. There’s nothing more, it’s the last year we got, hopefully we can do some good things this year and shock the world.”
Connally pieced together a strong junior year where he was named to the Oregon West Conference First Team as an Outfielder and was selected to the 4A All-State Honorable Mention team at the same
Coming off a strong junior year, Connally was an Oregon West Conference First Teamer as an Outfielder and was an 4A All-State Honorable Mention as he helped lead the Eagles to a State Playoff appearance in 2025. But, the now Senior, credits his teammates in his success as they begin his final season in a Stayton uniform this Spring.
And the expectation is still as high as it has been: To work as a cohesive unit out in the Outfield. ATC as first-year Stayton Head Coach Kyle Baker said, ATC standing for Air Traffic Control.
“I wouldn’t say that I was a ball hawk…I just play I guess. I play hard,” laughs Connally. “We got good outfielders and we do our job…we got a good team, we’re doing what we’re doing.”
Baker arrives from Regis to take over the Stayton Baseball program following the departure of Steve Salisbury. Baker brings with him an impressive résumé, highlighted by a successful tenure as head baseball coach of the Rams, where he guided the program to multiple 2A/1A State Playoff appearances.
Connally is already familiar with his new head coach. The two have crossed paths in recent years, as Connally played for Baker with the Post 58 Crushers American Legion squad over the past few summers. This past Summer saw the Crushers win their first American Legion Triple-A State Playoff Game since 2013 as the squad went 1-2 in the Tournament in July. Connally has nothing but positive things to say about his new High School Baseball Coach.
“I played under KB, he’s our new coach, so that makes it a really easy transition. He just watches the game and tells me what I need to fix, shows me how to do it and that’s how it goes,” said Connally of Baker.
Stayton opens the season March 17 at home against Valley Catholic.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
