Summer time and baseball – they go hand-in-hand. There are a couple of teams from Tillamook County heading to a state tournament this weekend.
The Neah-Kah-Nie Junior Baseball Organization (JBO) – Junior (5/6 graders) and Senior (7/8 graders) are heading to Gladstone tomorrow for their first games (see below for schedules.) Nestucca also has a team heading to the state tournament.
Coach Rob Herder got JBO started when he started as head coach at NKN in 2015. “I’d coached in the Junior Baseball Organization, and the style of baseball played in High School, has the same rules as high school and it’s the most beneficial program that helps to develop High School program,” he explained. After a decade, there are more teams now and JBO follows school district boundaries so they play against many of the 2A/3A teams they’ll see in high school — Gaston, Banks, Warrenton, Seaside teams. This gives the teams a sense of community, kids actually play with in the school.
The NKN JBO Senior team has had an undefeated season. The success they’ve had has been with only 4 returning players, so the team is made up of mainly 7th graders. “It looks like we are doing everything right, but that’s not always the case,” said Coach Herder. “It’s about the fundamentals, I know, but it’s become our trademark. The world of baseball opens up when they can consistently play catch with each other,” he continued. This “trademark” has showed up in their play – their ability to make plays, it’s the basic things.
“We’ve had some younger players really develop and veteran players have really been some nice surprises – pitching, plays in the field, aggressive play in the field,” said Herder.
Two pitchers in particular – 8th grader Isaac Peters – out for part of the season, and has been a great spark plug for the pitching late in the season. “He really gave us a boost, even though we have a decent pitching group,” Herder commented. “We’ve got a 7th grader – developing into a good pitcher, Mercer Ward. These two players have really helped us on the mound – good play, good pitching.”
“We’ve also had consistent hitting – Blake Buys an 8th grader has been the prototypical lead off hitter, he always gets on base. Helps everyone else’s stats. He’s been a stand out player.”
“Our 7th graders have steppe dup – Asher Vandecoevering has just kept getting better and better as the season has gone on. Picking up RBIs, adjusting to all kinds of pitching styles; opposite fields – adjusted to everything he’s seen,” added Coach Herder
NKN has been participating in JBO for a decade, and with Westside Division Coach of the Year – Rob Herder helping to build positive teams.
When asked about how the coach views the team’s chances at the State tournament, he said, “The competition level is top notch, I like our chances based on what we’ve done so far, if we can just play consistently,” he continued, “I’m also realistic as the baseball come bounce in strange ways.
I’m excited to see how we do.” This isn’t Coach Herder’s first rodeo – he took the NKN JBO team to the state tournament in 2017, and won.
We will be in contact with the team during the weekend and provide updates on how they are doing.
For more information about the program – there is also a minors team – 3/4 grade, contact Crystal Dietrich, NKN JBO/RBI Baseball Secretary at
cry.rich11@gmail.com.
Here’s the schedules for the State Tournament games on Friday, see below for brackets:
Juniors @ the Meldrum Bar Park Baseball Field in Gladstone ~ Round 1 July 11th 11:30am. Round 2 July 11th 4:30pm…… 8-Team Bracket, Double Elimination
Seniors @ Hood View Park (16223 SE Stadium Way, Happy Valley) ~ Round 1 July 11th 7pm…… 8-Team Bracket, Double Elimination
Youth Baseball Program. Our Area Head, Minors (3/4 grade) & Juniors (5/6 grade) Head Coach is Steve Overstreet; Seniors (7/8 grade) Head Coach & Westside District Senior National Coach of the Year Rob Herder.
Season Records
Minors: Regular Season 7 wins, 6 loses ~ Divisional Finalist. Westside District Tournament Wild Card ~ lost
Juniors: Regular Season 14 wins, 2 loses ~ Divisional Winners. Westside District Tournament 4 wins 2 loses ~ 2nd Place. JBO State Tournament 5th seed
Juniors (5/6)
Ty Scalabrin
Ryder Pfeifer
Oliver Arnold
Cydney Massender
Eli Kirby
Andrew Goodell
Pierce Houser
Alex Wilson
Harrison Houser
James Seume
Scarlet Maxfield
Seniors: Regular Season 16 wins, 0 loses ~ Divisional Winners. Canby Invitational 2nd Place. Westside District Tournament 5 wins 1 lose ~ Champions. JBO State Tournament 1st seed
Seniors (7/8)
Asher Vandecoevering
Isael Macedo
Blake Buys
Broden Devore
Levi Sargent
Isaac Peters
Emery Dietrich
Ernin Scott
Riley Barr
Robert Laviolette
Wyatt Miller
Mercer Ward
Spencer Buys
Tanner Mautner