By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The Sprague Baseball team has built itself in recent years as a scrappy team under Head Coach Luke Buchheit.
They’re faceless in a way, no one part greater than the others. But together, as a cohesive unit, they’re a well-oiled machine. Each player does their job and the end result is usually in favor. And it’s led to success year after year and after year.
“It’s just everyone doing their job, everything coming together and not relying on one person. It’s everyone doing their thing,” said Riley Wilson. “Everyone stepping up a little bit. Not everyone’s going to be Andrew (Mhoon) or do what Jace (Dalton) did, but everyone’s a little better than we were last year and everyone can make up for that.”
“We always had a good bond, when you have great team chemistry it always works out,” adds Holden Rasmussen. “You got to use your experience to your advantage.”
Rasmussen and Wilson each were first team Central Valley Conference selections. As was Grant Moyer. Cameron VanKempen was a second team selection returning. All are looking to fill the void left by those who graduated from last year’s State Playoff qualifying squad.
But that’s when that scrappiness comes back into play. They’re going to once again take risks and see where the chips may fall and land. The pride in that is there and they own it as they battle through the elements of early March in Oregon on Monday afternoon. All while in their element as a scrappy, yet determined, squad.
“We’re going to have to be really scrappy with at-bats and come up clutch in clutch situations and that’s all we need to do.. Coach (Luke) Buccheitt always likes to take that risk and that’s such a good thing because he has so much faith in the hitters on our team and we have the guys to do it. It’s a really good thing,” said Moyer.
The Olympians will start the season on March 16 at Grant. Their home opener will be on April 3 versus Tigard.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
