Honored By The Opportunity

By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

CORVALLIS, Ore.– West Salem’s Crosby Albee made a quick weekend trip up to Corvallis to take part in the Richardson Oregon All-Star Series at Goss Stadium at Oregon State University.

The recent Titan-graduate has been in Medford, playing with the Medford Rogues Collegiate Baseball team and playing in this past Tuesday’s game against the Cascade League All-Starts where he had a solo Homerun in four at-bats. But to come back north to represent West Salem and play alongside Coach Taylor Blair one last time was something special.

“It’s a lot more intense and everyone is really good at baseball so you get to learn a lot. It’s been a lot of fun because you get to get to the field really early and you just get to chill out with everyone. Get a bond,” Albee said of the Rogues. “(This weekend) is great. I get to play with Coach Blair one more time, just getting better.”

Albee, as a member of the South team, lined up at shortstop where he played for the first four innings of the two nine-inning games Saturday afternoon. Silverton’s Drew Kaatz lined up to his left at second base with South Salem’s Danny Alvarado to his right at third base.

Alvarado too had the weekend off from playing in the Mavericks League in Salem, going up against and catching some top end talent playing at Volcanoes Stadium. Alvarado drove in the first run of the game for the South Team, tying the game up at one apiece, off a sac-fly in the bottom half of the second inning.

“It means the world to me, I’m really thankful to be selected to play in the All-Star Series. It has been a fun four years playing in the Saxon blue and red, I wouldn’t trade the moments spent on the field with my brothers for anything,” Alvarado said. “I also really want to thank the coaching staff on the Mavericks for allowing me to finish out my high school career.”

South Salem’s Danny Alvarado preparing to field a throw at third base during the third inning of Saturday’s game at Goss Stadium at Oregon State University (Picture By Jeremy McDonald)

But the North squad had begun to turn the tide by building a 5-1 lead going into the seventh inning before erupting for nine runs over the course of the seventh and eighth innings in their 14-4 victory in Game 1.

Sprague’s Jackson Muth, who played third in the seventh inning, came in during the eighth inning. The Olympian-Grad pitched the final two innings of the nine-inning game, striking out three in the process.

For Muth, who helped Sprague to a 15-4 record this past Spring, it’s just something amazing to see his hard work being recognized on this big stage.

“t’s pretty cool to be a part of this just to be recognized for my accomplishments this spring season. I don’t care how I do good or bad just because it’s cool enough that I made it. Everyone out there is pretty good so it for sure feels good to know I fit in,” said Muth. “To me there was no other jersey to put on more special than the Sprague jerseys. So, to be able to represent the school one more time was pretty cool.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald