By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

VANCOUVER, Wash.–  The very active Summer for incoming Kennedy senior Ethan Kleinschmit is in its twilight as he found himself pitching in the annual Baseball Northwest showcase Saturday afternoon up at Evergreen High School.  After an rough start to his four inning start against the Washington Metro East squad, Kleinschmit pitching for the Oregon State 2023 Orange team in his lone outing of the four-day event, Kleinschmit settled in and found his groove that made him one of the most dangerous pitchers in 2A/1A this past season.

From playing with the NW Diamond Sports squad to a pitching a game with the Portland Gherkins in the Wild Wild West League and adding in a few games in June with his High School team, it’s been one of those fun Summers that saw one of the top arms in the classification get better and improving following helping the Trojans to a 2A/1A State Championship back in June.

“It’s been busy.  A lot of baseball I’ve been playing.  Threw a lot of innings and had fun doing it,” Kleinschmit said.  “I saw a lot better hitters over the Summer.  It was a lot more competitive and I thought it was good to compete and find better pitches, hit my spots.  I’ll be ready because I’m just keeping getting better, it’s good to know that I’m staying ahead of everyone else.”

Kleinschmit and St. Paul’s Warren Rose, who pitched Thursday, were the only guys who were from the 2A/1A level on the Oregon State 2023 squad this year.  Playing with guys from 4A-6A like Sprague’s Will Hassoun and Grant Strother, Summit’s Justice Zachary, South Eugene’s Leo Reeves and Thurston’s Molony Maddox.  The latter three are committed to the University of Oregon while Hassoun went 2-for-2 with 2RBI’s and a walk in Saturday’s game.

Another that was committed to play at the next level, one of two 4A guys on the roster and had come in for relief of Kleinschmit in the fifth inning was North Marion’s Rex DeAngelis.  The UC-Santa Barbara-commit pitched the final three innings with two strikeouts before bouncing on over to the Ridgeview Sports Complex for the Pro Scout Game following the Oregon State 2023 victory over the Washington Metro East team.

Coming off of helping the American Legion Single-A Marion Berries to a deep run at the American Legion Single-A State Tournament in late July, the incoming Huskie senior is honored to be a part of it and represent North Marion High School in the big Pacific Northwest showcase.  Putting to bed a great Summer season as he prepares for 

“It’s a great experience.  I’m very happy that I got an opportunity to play in this thing.  I’ve seen past years of this so it’s been pretty fun and I’m so stoked to go play in it this year,” DeAngelis said.  “It’s been pretty big and it’s felt great with the last couple of weeks and days with the commitment, just playing in these games and playing loose and relaxed.  It’s been really fun, it’s been really good and really nice.”

Sunday marks the final day of the Baseball Northwest Championships up in Vancouver, Washington.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald