By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– South Salem’s Sawyer Nelson was the equivalent of Cal Ripken Jr at the High School level.
In his four years as a Saxons, his last High School game just coming back on May 25, Nelson played in 115 games, played nearly 750 innings, standing at 742 and saw plenty of arms over his four years at South. Not to mention the records he holds Records in Stolen Bases, Home Runs and RBIs at the team level as he’s getting ready to graduate here in the coming days.
A team-first player, he knew it was just part of the plan: To help the Saxons win as many games as they could and ultimately did through his time playing.
“You make a relationship with your teammates and they have trust in me, so I just wanted to keep playing for them and keep playing for those people watching and wanting to see us win. I just go out there, play for my teammates and I don’t care how I feel, just play the hardest I can and have fun,” said Nelson. “I was just out there having fun. I don’t pay attention to stats or anything. If something happens, that’s awesome. But I’m out there playing for my team and playing to have fun.”
Nelson joined the Marion Berries this Summer in preparation for his freshman year at Loyola Marymount baseball and already the experience has helped him in the preparation for the collegiate level.
His first game of the year, back on Friday, Nelson drew three walks against the Port Angeles Lefties in a tough 5-3 defeat to open the season.
“It’s going to be super helpful. And like we saw (Friday), there’s guys throwing hard and it’s not what you’re used to in High School. It’s definitely a big jump and I’m just excited for the challenge,” said Nelson. “(Friday) at school, I had teachers telling me that they’re going to come out to the game and it’s awesome and I’m just really excited to play for my community and being out here with all the guys.”
On Saturday, in what became a 7-3 victory for the Berries, Nelson drew another three walks as the Marion Berries even the series with the Lefties going into Sunday’s series finale at Chemeketa Community College.
First pitch is at 5:05pm.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
