PRE - LEAGUE

Churchill opened pre-league with three games against Mid-Willamette teams including last year's state runner-up, Corvallis. The Mid-Willamette league will have three of the better teams in state this year. Churchill lost to two of those teams, Corvallis and Crescent Valley, 1-6 and 2-5, respectivily. The Lancer's then pinned a 10-2 loss on stuggling Mt. View before getting snowed out at 6A Redmond.

A potential great game against Marist, a 4A quarterfinalist from last year, was lost to the weather. Churchill split games with the local 6A schools, beating Sheldon 6-5 and losing to South Eugene 3-8.

LEAGUE

The Lancers open league on the road against the Millers. Churchill will have a huge target on thier back as league favorite. Springfield will be very good this year and this will be a huge game for Springfield. The Millers have the pitching and overall talent to make it to the playoffs this year, something that hasn't happened in ten years.

Churchll has home game advantages over North Eugene and Willamette. The Lancers should be favored for the league title and should have it rapped up by the last two league games. But if they don't, they'll host North in the next to last league game and close at Thurston, last years state champs.

PLAYERS (from Feb 15 Way Too Early Prediction)

Churchill was one of only two 5A schools to beat Thurston last year. The Lancers lost some pretty good players to graduation, but look who is returning, and they are all seniors: All Leaguers Sam Kiesse, Spencer Jorgensen, Brad Birch and Ben Straka. Classmates Alex Priaulx, Daniel Weyers and Nathan Rheuban had fine years last year, too.

Coach Hoberg is going to have some very difficult decisions as he had 10 juniors on last years roster. If they all try out, do you keep them all? Or do you groom some younger ones? Thurston kept their seniors last year and won state.

2009 Churchill All Leaguers Returning / League Stats
1st DH Sam Kiesse                 4 RBIs, 1 HR, 3 2b
2nd P   Spencer Jorgensen       6 RBIs, 2 2bs, 2-4 in league, 2.81 ERA
2nd 1B Brad Birch                 15 RBIs, 6 2bs, 1 3b, 2 HR, Watch list BBNW
HM  IF  Ben Straka                 4 RBI, 5 2b, 23rd on BBNW Class of 2010

Also:
Daniel Weyers                               4 RBI, 1 HR
Alex Priaulx                                   3 RBI, 1 HR
Nate Rhueban                             3-1 in league, 3.00 ERA

Jesse St. Clair RHPitcher      Baseball Northwest Watch List
Bennet McKee LHPitcher/OF Baseball Northwest Watch List