Look for official preseaon MWLnow prediction Sunday, April 2

This is for you weirdo's who, like me, can't wait for February 20th and the start of baseball season.  I haven't heard who has senioritis and won't turn out.  I have heard that Franke has transferred from North to Churchill.  Marshfield's Bunnell blew out his ACL in football and is unlikely to see action.  So, other than those two, my prediction is based solely on last year's info.

Top 3.

The no brainers are Churchill, North Eugene and Sheldon.  They'll be going to the playoffs - I just don't know which slot. Anywhere from first to fourth.  I think it's Churchill and North for the top two.

1. Churchill.  Franke's decision to toss his kilt and pick up a lance should put Churchill over the top.  The Lancer's lose Travis Larsen at catcher, Kent at short and Matt Irsfeld in the outfield.  But the Lancer's will build their team around a super solid pitching staff -- Jared Thompson is back after a first team all league pitching season (2nd All-State), Schu is back, Drew Irsfeld is back and then toss in the Jacob Franke transfer.  Bringing back a pitching staff doesn't necessarily mean a title, but Coach Hoberg has mastered the relief pitcher position.  That's rare in high school ball, where every pitcher's Dad wants his kid to start - or else.  Infielder Josh Hogan (HM all-state) and Andrew Schumacher both had 12 rbi's in league last year.  Better take the Lancer's down in the first round of league play.  I don't think they'll be losing much after the first round.

2. North Eugene.  These guys could put together an infield which could be all first teamers. Start with Andrew Stiltner (2B) and Shawn Peterson (SS).  Toss in Steven Humble behind the plate.   Danny Winterstein (2nd team all-state) will double in the outfield and on the mound.  Crachiola is back. (Crachiola moved to California)   Best of all for the Highlanders is Killer Jon Keller (3rd team all-state) on the mound.  There should be a ton of good pitchers in the league this year.  I already mentioned Thompson from Churchill.  Thompson, Keller and South's Ward will be worth going out of your way to see.  Peterson started six games last year, so the Highlanders return two starters who started in 12 of their 13 wins last year.  Add the talented infield and they are a lock for first or second.

3. Sheldon.  I just have to say who is back.  Micah McJunkin (HM all-state), Corey Moran, Alex Besaw, Adam Powell, Tyler Martell and Brandon Hayes were all stars.  Add in returnee Tyler Manley.  If you know Sheldon's bloodline, you know we are talking decades of Irish baseball tradition.  Pitching is the potential Achilles heel for the leprechauns.  They have a ton of experience, but it wasn't necessarily a good experience.

4. South Eugene.  Tough call here because I am putting almost all of it on the arm of one man - Michael Ward (HM all-state).  Ward is the second highest ranked MWL  player in Oregon in Baseball Northwest's rankings for the class of 06.  (Churchill's Jared Thompson is our league's highest ranked player).  South's D should be okay with Carpenter returning at 2nd and Wilson-Traisman at 3rd, both were all league.  The Axemen return a hitter in Jack Carpenter, but hitting is where South has been weak the past few years.  I'm calling South at fourth based on Ward picking up a lot of low scoring wins (six or seven) and South pulling off three other wins.

5.  Thurston.  The Colts suffered on both O and D last year.  But I think their defensive game was poor more because of fielding rather than pitching.  Several players are back, including a couple of pitchers.  The Colts should be much more solid fielder's.  Dan Straily and Grant Willis return on the mound.  Jordan Gross and Willis were great sticks. Soph Darrell Hunter and senior Chad Alber will have to come through at the plate.

6. Marshfield.  The league was really young last year, and that included the Pirates.  In any other year, I would have the Pirates picked to go to the playoffs based on three freshmen and a sophomore who started in their playoff game last year; but as you can already see, the league is returning an unusually high  number of players with talent. Ricky Rexine returns on the mound and should be one of the better pitchers in the league.  Flamethrower Shane Rose, a junior, also returns.  Unfortunately, the Pirates aren't expected to have a lefty on the staff.  Sophomores Jesse McClintock, Adam Reed, and Fred Kuehn return from their playoff starts.  Senior Chad Bunnell, the only returning Pirate with more than 8 rbi's in league may not be available as he tries to recover from a November ACL surgery.  Count the Pirates as sleepers.

7. Lebanon.  The rest of the league should pay Lebanon's pitching coach to put on traveling seminars because the Warriors always have great pitchers.  Maybe payment should be that each team has to trade a hitter.  What else is there to say about Lebanon.  Great pitching, no hitting.  Junior Mike Greene returns and he started all four of Lebanon's wins last year. Lebanon can start their bats with some good returning hitters, Kyle Dziedic, Nathan Hiebert and Brent Trask.  They are going to pull up at least one really good JV pitcher, so if they find hitters, they are in the hunt for the last playoff spot.

8. Willamette.  Just the opposite of Lebanon.  They can launch the ball, but need pitchers. Maybe the two teams should merge.  Lebanette.  Jerred Hughes, Travis Woodke and Chad Metzel return as all-stars.  Grant Dahlgren returns on the mound

9. Springfield.  Jay Scott returns for the Millers.  Usually there are four or five teams truly rebuilding.  This year, there is only one and it is the Millers.  Great opportunity for young players to gain experience while the other teams let their seniors graduate.

Don't agree, have comments, corrections or news?  Please email me at [email protected] .  I am Gary Haliski.  Unfortunately, I have a full time job this year, so reporters from other schools are more important than ever.

 I live in Coos Bay and help the Marshfield baseball team when I can, mostly with pitching.  My two sons went to Sheldon.  One will graduate from the U of O this year and has interned for ESPN and the athletic department. My other son graduates from OSU spring term with something cum laude - I have forgotten my Latin.  I just know he has a high GPA in biology. One of my stepsons is a junior at WSU (the quarterback) and my other stepson swam at Tennessee and swam in the Olympic Trials. My wife and I have been blessed with wonderful experiences through sports, and have learned that athletics are a tiny part of life.  Here's to a great baseball season for all players, teams and coaches.

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." Steve Prefontaine