By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.—It’s been a long time coming for South Salem’s Danny Alvarado. 

Baseball has been in his blood since he was nine-years-old in the days of playing with Scott Ackerman’s Bat Company, being apart of a Premier Baseball Club squad at one-point ranked fourth in the nation between 11 and 13. 

The days with Swat, Gunderson Baseball Club and the DBacks Elite in between.  Playing up even in some situations, all developing the young ballplayer mentally as well as the physical aspect of the game entering his Senior Year with the Saxons.

Through the highs of success and the lows of defeat, Alvarado keeps returning to the diamond.  Putting in work on defense and becoming a feared hitter on offense.

“I was able to learn so much and develop as a player and mature as a person at such a young age. I can almost vividly remember having to wake up at 5am to get to my 8am pool play games, without my parents support through this crazy journey there is no way I would be able to have this amazing opportunity,” said Alvarado.  “I have always enjoyed being on the field. Even when we lost back to back semifinal games, my freshman and sophomore years, there isn’t another team I would’ve wanted to take the field with, and there isn’t another coach I would’ve wanted to play under.

“With that being said I would like to thank Coach Price and the South Salem program for their role in my development.”

All that years of hard work drew in some four-year looks, but Alvarado decided to go to the two-year route first.  For the South Salem catcher and infielder, that decision will see him traveling to Wenatchee, Washington to play at Wenatchee Valley.

The conference that WVC, the NWAC East Region, saw Spokane and Yakima Valley each reach beyond the Super Regional round with Spokane reaching the NWAC Championship Game before falling to Everett.

For Alvarado, what drew the power hitter to the Evergreen State was their ability to get players ready for the four-year level.  And while he waits for the opportunity to suite up for his collegiate squad, he’s in the lab preparing for whatever lies ahead between now and then.

“The number one reason why I chose Wenatchee Valley is because of the amazing player development, and their ability to transfer their players to four-year schools,” Alvarado said.  “I am going to continue to work with Jake at Forshey Training Systems and Antonio Gutierrez at Iron Gorillaz Gym, to improve both my strength and conditioning. I want to show up in Wenatchee as both a student and athlete, ready to make an impact.”

The High School Spring Sports season is set currently for the May-June timeframe, Season 4, of the OSAA Sports Calendar.