THE DALLES pitcher Colin Noonan (front) throws a pitch while teammate Boston Bate (rear) plays defense in a game played earlier this season. Both Noonan and Bate were named all-Columbia River Conference baseball award winners for their solid junior campaigns for the 10-15 Riverhawks.
THE DALLES pitcher Colin Noonan (front) throws a pitch while teammate Boston Bate (rear) plays defense in a game played earlier this season. Both Noonan and Bate were named all-Columbia River Conference baseball award winners for their solid junior campaigns for the 10-15 Riverhawks.
Colin Noonan and Boston Bate were named to the first team, Ross Kohl earned a second team bid, and the duo of Colton Walker and Kellen Mathisen had their names called as honorable mention selections in the year-end Columbia River Conference all-league baseball voting Tuesday.
After losing five all-league winners to graduation, The Dalles had the seventh-strongest schedule, won 10 games, five against playoff teams, and ended the season with a No. 23-ranking in the 5A classification.
Former two-time Coach of the Year J. R. Runyon was proud of the job his quintet did this past spring campaign.
“I’m happy for these players,” Runyon said. “To receive all-league recognition is an honor and an accomplishment they should be proud of.”
Noonan played multiple positions on the field and did his best work in the infield with a .871 fielding percentage and was recognition as a utility player.
The junior had a team-high .364 batting average, .455 slugging percentage and a .451 on-base percentage with four doubles, two triples, a team-high 22 runs scored and just 11 strikeouts in 91 plate appearances.
He also was a perfect 7 for 7 on stolen bases.
On the mound, Noonan struck out 31 batters in 26 1/3 innings, and allowed 31 hits and 31 earned runs.
Against Roosevelt on March 16, the right-hander tossed four innings of one-hit ball with nine strikeouts and no walks to lead the Riverhawks to a 4-3 win.
Another first-team winner for his play at first base, Bate had 13 hits, scored eight runs, drove in seven runs and walked four times in his 65 plate appearances.
In the field, Bate committed two errors and had 106 putouts for a .983 fielding percentage.
“It’s pretty cool to be recognized like that, it took a lot of effort and keeping your head into every game 100 percent,” Bate said. “Since little league, it’s been about just getting the muscle memory and quick twitch muscles. I guess you could say it takes a lot of offseason work.”
When pitching, Bate went 3-0 in 29 2/3 innings pitched and posted a 3.54 earned run average. The junior struck out 17 and allowed 15 earned runs on 33 hits and stranded 37 base runners.
With another year of eligibility remaining, Bate is looking forward to helping the team get back to the postseason and a chance to win a state championship.
The pieces are back in place with himself and six other juniors making up the core.
“It feels good to see all the work I’m putting in being recognized,” Bate said. “Feels like you just got to work harder for the next season because you can't ever be complacent.”
On the season, the Riverhawks averaged 4.7 runs per game and had a team on-base percentage of .346 with 27 extra base hits coming in 750 plate appearances.
Kohl patrolled left field for his second-team honors and committed one error, 22 putouts and totaled two outfield assists.
In his 14 games, Kohl had nine hits, drove in five runs, four runs scored and four stolen bases.
After losing Clay Copper to graduation at the start of the season, Mathisen was thrust into everyday duties at catcher.
He called the pitches and handled a staff that held opponents to four runs or less six times in 25 games.
Mathisen had 13 hits, scored seven runs, drove in 12 runs, good for second-best on the team, walked nine times and had a team-high three RBI sacrifice flies.
In all, Mathisen had 140 putouts with nine assists and five errors for a team-best fielding percentage of .968.
When it comes to preparation, Mathisen credits work ethic and desire as his driving force in his first extended varsity season.
“My game has evolved enough to get the job done to the best of my ability,” Mathisen said. “It’s nice to be rewarded for hard work, and congrats to my teammates as well for the accomplishment. And I think we have a good shot to be a solid team next year.”
On the mound, Walker showed he can be a player to be relied upon for some big innings to hold the opposition at bay.
In a road game on May 8 in Hermiston, Walker tossed a complete-game three-hitter with three strikeouts and three walks, as his team lost 1-0.
In a win against Hermiston on April 18, the junior pitched all seven innings and held the Bulldogs scoreless with eight strikeouts in a 4-1 win.
In a win versus Ridgeview, the right-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters and allowed three earned runs on six hits to lead in TD’s 15-8 victory.
Walker had 57 strikeouts in 58 2/3 innings pitched and allowed 41 earned runs in those innings for a 4.89 earned run average.
“For the people that were awarded, I’m sure it’ll make them want to elevate their play even more to get higher honors and to use their talents to help better others while providing an all-around team,” Walker said.
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