By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– It’s becoming almost tradition for the Blanchet Catholic baseball team to be practicing on Memorial Day Monday, preparing for the Semi-Final round and being one of four teams left in their respective classification.

“We’re coming out here, every Memorial Day, happy to be here. Knowing that we’re one of a few teams still playing and knowing that it’s a special thing to be out here,” said Dylan Cuff.

The junior knew the role he was stepping into, replacing Spencer Kowalski this Spring following Kowalski’s graduation last year, and he’s making sure that the presence behind the dish hasn’t dropped a bit. Earning first-team All-League honors and was hitting over .500 and had over 50RBI’s hitting entering the postseason.

A postseason run has the Cavaliers one win away from back-to-back trips to the 2A/1A State Championship appearance after achieving their first-ever appearance as a program last year.

“We really looked up to Spencer a lot last year. To be able to take his place is really special, taking his role being a leader and Spencer taught all of that and passed it on to me,” Cuff said. “Being a leader has meant a lot. Just talking out to the infield and outfield and letting them know where to go. Being able to see the whole field and commanding the game.”

Interesting, in that Championship Game last Spring, there was a family tie. Dylan Cuff was playing against his cousin, Kennedy-grad Andrew Cuff. And though the elder cousin got the win on that June day at Volcanoes Stadium, it was still a pretty cool thing to have happened, said Cuff.

“It’s awesome. Just knowing that you can look over to the other team and saying that’s my cousin over there…it’s awesome,” said the younger Cuff.

But now, as they wrapped up their Monday practice, the focus is on Umpqua Valley Christian in the 2A/1A Semi-Finals on Tuesday. And Cuff points to them having to have a hot start to make sure they can continue their season beyond tomorrow.

The pitching and defense has been there, but they were slow when the two teams met a few weeks ago, taking until the third inning before they really got rolling in the 11-1 victory on March 18.

“It’s going to be a long bus ride, but we’re ready. We got to come out firing, get our bats alive early. We came out the last two times we’ve played them, we’ve come out a little slow and picked up at about the third inning,” starts Cuff. “But we got to come out hot in the first inning.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald