By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SCIO, Ore.– This past Spring saw Stayton’s Ryland Thiessen come into his own as the Eagles starting catcher at the Varsity level as a junior.
He had big shoes to fill with Hudson Hughes graduating back in 2025, but Thiessen put in the work and got rewarded with a first-team All-Oregon West Conference Catcher selection this year. All the while helping the Eagles reach the 4A State Quarterfinals and winning their first playoff game in over two decades in the process.
Thiessen credits his teammates in the smooth transition and the success behind the dish. A team-first guy, Thiesen knows the importance of the old mantra of ‘We over Me’
“It was really a team award out there. I can’t do it without the other guys, it felt great. I love to do it with my teammates and next guy up,” Thiessen said.
“It helps me so much. It helps me with my future to be able to lead people, lead teams and help me in the future with management,” Thiessen said of being a ‘team first’ guy.
This Summer, Thiessen is bridging this past Spring into his senior year with playing with the Post 58 Crushers American Legion squad. It’s an opportunity to get better and getting those reps in as the Crushers defeated the Marion Berries 15U squad 11-0 on Tuesday.
“It keeps on helping me getting better each day. I can’t do it without my teammates and without these coaches, it’s great,” Thiessen said.
The Post 58 Crusher squad will host Central Linn on Wednesday at Regis High School before opening Area-3 League play Monday at Newport against the Mid-Coast Dungies.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
